The national cycling community has been jolted by a series of developments following Cycling Canada’s announcement to not field a women’s pursuit squad at this year’s world championships. Within days of five national team riders lodging an appeal with the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, two members of the Cycling Canada board stepped down, citing broader concerns about governance and athlete treatment. One of the departing directors, Becka Borody, said she could no longer remain in a system where athletes do not receive adequate communication or respect, and she intends to focus her energy on supporting riders outside the national body.
The dispute centers on the decision that effectively ends the women’s pathway to qualification for LA 2028 via the world championships, while the men’s team pursuit remains scheduled to compete. Five athletes — Skyler Goudswaard, Fiona Majendie, Jenna Nestman, Lily Plante and Justine Thomas — have challenged the move, and their legal representatives argue it raises questions about fairness and consistency for female competitors. Meanwhile, members of the Cycling Canada Athletes’ Council have delivered a letter asking for structural reform of the organization’s high performance framework.
What triggered the resignations and appeals
The immediate catalyst was the removal of the women’s pursuit team from the world championships entry list, a decision that athletes say was presented without clear, measurable benchmarks for performance. Cycling Canada’s CEO, Mathieu Boucher, described the choice as driven by a need to concentrate resources on programs judged to be most competitive, saying the move was not funding-driven. Athletes and council members counter that the program never received transparent targets or a coherent development plan, leaving cyclists to train without defined power markers or explicit selection criteria. That gap in direction and accountability is central to the athletes’ appeal.
Responses from athletes and legal counsel
Riders affected by the decision have expressed disbelief and frustration, while the Athletes’ Council has demanded a revamp of strategy, governance and the mechanisms used to evaluate elite programs. Legal counsel for the five athletes, Amanda Fowler and Emir Crowne, issued a joint statement highlighting concerns about equitable treatment and procedural fairness between men’s and women’s programs. Many inside the sport see the resignations of two directors as a public signal that internal dissent over decision-making and communication breakdowns has reached a tipping point.
Athlete perspective and morale
From the athletes’ viewpoint, the issue is not just competitive math but also the emotional and logistical fallout. Team representative Alison Jackson, speaking from abroad, emphasized that those who filed the appeal are not defeated; rather, they are channeling frustration into renewed determination to train. Still, there is concern about the mental stress caused by uncertainty and the prospect that even a successful appeal could leave them drained before a major international event. Jackson and others are urging Cycling Canada to acknowledge the organization’s shortfalls and to actively support the riders if reinstatement occurs.
Leadership stance and next steps
Cycling Canada’s public explanation has focused on performance assessments, but critics say the explanation lacks detail about the metrics used and the timeline for rebuilding the women’s program. At the time of reporting, the national office had not provided additional comment on the board departures. The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada will now adjudicate the appeal, and its ruling could require Cycling Canada to either reinstate the team or supply a fuller justification for its decision. If the athletes prevail, stakeholders say the federation must move quickly to develop a robust, transparent high performance plan and to allocate resources that genuinely support medal pathways.
What to watch
Key developments to monitor include the outcome of the appeal at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, any further statements from the Cycling Canada board or leadership about governance reforms, and whether the organization produces a concrete timeline for rebuilding the women’s pursuit program. Reinstatement would not end the work: team staff would need to devise detailed training targets, selection criteria and logistical support to bring the squad to a competitive standard for LA 2028. Observers say this episode underscores a broader need for transparency and consistent communication between national sport organizations and the athletes they exist to serve.
