A System in Crisis: The Women’s Pursuit Team Fallout

The decision by Cycling Canada to cut its women’s pursuit team from competing at the world championships has sent shockwaves through the athletic community. The national sport organization’s response, however, is even more disturbing – leaving athletes feeling undervalued, unsupported, and betrayed.

Two board members have already resigned in protest, with Becka Borody making it clear that her decision was not a knee-jerk reaction but rather a long-overdue recognition that athletes deserve better from their governing bodies. “Athletes deserve better,” she said. “Greater transparency, better communication, and to feel heard and respected within the system that exists to support them.”

A System Built on Lack of Transparency

The women’s pursuit team was effectively dropped without warning or explanation, leaving athletes feeling like they’re being held to impossible standards with no clear guidelines or support systems in place. This decision is not just about the women’s pursuit team – it’s about a broader cultural issue within sports culture.

Alison Jackson, a Team Canada road cyclist and national team athlete representative on the Cycling Canada board, notes that this situation raises serious questions about fairness, consistency, and whether female athletes are being afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts. “We need Cycling Canada to own up to the lack of current and historical framework for developing and building medal-winning performances,” she says.

Accountability in Short Supply

The decision to cut the women’s pursuit team has raised questions about fairness, consistency, and whether female athletes are being treated equally. The lawyers representing the five athletes who launched an appeal against Cycling Canada have expressed similar concerns, pointing out that the organization seems more interested in shifting blame than taking responsibility for its own failures.

Mathieu Boucher, Cycling Canada’s CEO, tried to spin this decision as a necessary measure to boost competitiveness, but his explanation rings hollow. “We need to re-shift our focus where we can really have an impact and rebuild that team,” he said. However, what about the athletes who were already working towards qualification? Didn’t they deserve a clear path forward?

The Human Cost of a System in Crisis

The fallout from this decision is not just about athletic performance – it’s also about the mental and emotional toll that uncertainty takes on athletes. As Jackson notes, “Athletes are resilient, but they’re not immune to the effects of repeated disappointment and frustration.” The women who were part of the pursuit team have invested countless hours, energy, hopes, and dreams into their training – only to see it all taken away without warning.

A Wake-Up Call for Cycling Canada

The resignation of two board members is a clear indication that something needs to change within Cycling Canada’s leadership ranks. It’s time for the organization to take a hard look at its priorities and policies, and to start putting athletes’ needs first. If Cycling Canada truly wants to rebuild its women’s pursuit team and restore faith among its athletes, it needs to start by listening – really listening – to their concerns and ideas.

The future of women’s cycling in Canada hangs precariously in the balance, but it’s not too late to make things right. The question is: will Cycling Canada seize this opportunity to rebuild and recommit to its athletes, or will it continue down a path that only serves to further erode trust and support?