AVRA isn’t a destination
It exists to teach important lessons in training, racing and coaching for competitive cycling. It provides foundations for and a launchpad to a future in high level competition.
Our success is the advancement of athletes to trade teams, national projects and national teams …
Kelsey Mitchell
Kelsey Mitchell was recruited by Cycling Canada in September 2017 from RBC’s Training Ground identification camp. She did not own a bike, and hadn’t cycled since she was 12. Juventus Cycling Club stepped in with equipment, and AVRA’s Alex Ongaro began turning the soccer player into a cyclist.
Kelsey spent the next year training and racing at the Edmonton Argyll Velodrome and clubhouse. “I could barely ride the rollers for four or five seconds without holding on to something.” Through 2017 and into 2018 Kelsey developed as a cyclist; she was ready to move to Milton to train with the Canadian National Team.
Kelsey surprised the cycling world at the 2019 Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Cochabamba, Bolivia, with a new world record! 200m in 10.154 seconds. She won the Pan Am Sprint Championship, bronze in the 500m Time Trial and Keirin, and teamed up with Lauriane Genest for gold in the team sprint.
At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Kelsey took her fierce four years in cycling to the world’s pinnacle of achievement: Gold in the Match Sprint!
Kinley Gibson
Kinley Gibson started with AVRA in 2012. She became a multiple junior national champion on the road and track, 2013 Junior Pan American Omnium and Team Pursuit champion, a silver medalist at the 2013 Junior World Track Cycling Championships, and was 9th in the ITT at the 2013 Junior World Road Championships. In 2014 Kinley joined Trek Red Truck, and in 2015 was part of the inaugural Cycling Canada NextGen Track Endurance Team.
Riding for Trek Red Truck, she won the 2016 Elite Women’s Canadian National Criterium Championship and was on the U23 national championship podium in both TT and road race. She continued to race well on the track, winning the Canadian Individual Pursuit Championship for 2016, and a silver in the Omnium. In 2016 Kinley was selected to the Women’s Team Endurance Olympic pool. Kinley raced with The Cyclery road team in 2017, and on the track repeated as 2017 Canadian Individual Pursuit Champion.
Kinley’s success at the Elite Pan Am Championships included gold in the Team Pursuit in 2016 and 2017, silver in the Individual Pursuit in 2017, and bronze in the scratch in 2019.
Kinley represented Canada at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on both the track and road. The same year, she raced to silver at the Elite Women’s Canadian National Road Race Championship.
Kinley’s Madison experience included a 5th against a full field in the 2017 Pruszkow World Cup and racing the 2019 World Championship. Kinley trained and enjoyed success with Canada’s Team Pursuit squad from 2015- 2020, winning gold, along with many podiums.
Devaney Collier
Devaney Collier began with AVRA in 2015. As a junior she competed nationally on both the road and track. In 2016 Devaney was a silver medalist at the Junior Track Cycling World Championships and also competed at the Junior Road World Championships. In 2017 she was selected to Cycling Canada’s NextGen Track Endurance Team, and in 2018 began riding for The Cyclery road team.
Evan Burtnik
Evan Burtnik began with AVRA in 2014. He became a junior national champion on the track, and junior national medalist on the road. Evan competed at the 2014 Junior World Track Cycling Championships and was a bronze medal finalist in 2015. In 2016 Evan was selected to Cycling Canada’s NextGen Track Endurance Team as well as Team RaceClean road team. Evan currently represents Canada on the Canadian NextGen Track Endurance Team and X-Speed United continental road team.
Ross Wilson
Ross Wilson started with AVRA in 2014. He competes in the C1 category for Para athletes on both the road and track. In 2014 Ross raced nationally and began racing internationally at World Cups. This led to his selection to race at the 2014 Para World Track Cycling Championships. Ross was a silver medalist at both the 2015 and 2016 Para World Track Cycling Championships. At the 2016 Paralympic Games Ross took silver in both the IP on the track and ITT on the road. Ross is a member of the Canadian National Para Cycling Team and continues to compete internationally for Canada on the road and track.
Stefan Ritter
Stefan Ritter started with AVRA in 2015. Stefan was a junior national champion on the track and competed nationally in other disciplines. He competed at the 2015 Junior World Track Cycling Championships. In 2016, he became the Junior World Champion (Canada’s first ever) in the 1 km Time Trial (Kilo). Later in 2016 Stefan also set junior world records in the Kilo and Flying 200m. Stefan has been a Cycling Canada National Track Sprint Team member since 2017. Unfortunately, Stefan sustained a traumatic head injury in a crash at the Pan Am Track Championships in 2018. Still, he has pursued his long and challenging recovery with the dedication he applied to his cycling career. In the interest of his long term health, Stefan decided to retire in 2019. Among other things, Stefan is an avid photographer, and currently coaches with Juventus Cycling Club.
Anna Talman
Anna Talman began with AVRA in 2014. As a junior she competed nationally on the track and road. She was one of 3 AVRA athletes selected for the 2015 World Junior Track Cycling Championships. Anna rode for Trek Red Truck 2016-18 and currently rides for Instafund La Prima road team.
Cam Jennings – AVRA’s first Head Coach
Cam Jennings coached AVRA athletes from 2012 – 2015. He was selected as Cycling Canada’s Head Coach to the 2015 Junior World Track Cycling Championships, and then hired as the first Canadian Women’s Track Endurance NextGen Coach. Cam successfully developed and coached the NextGen program. He returned home to Australia with his family (wife Cally and 2 new little Canadians, Ruby and Ralph) in 2017. He now coaches the Australian National Para Cycling Team.