March 2026 Update
Greetings to all of our IGNITE sponsors and supporters!
Spring is almost here!!!
We would like to take this opportunity to tell you about our winter activities and give you a preview of what is to come.
The entire IGNITE roster of 9 riders from across Canada, spanning from Nova Scotia to Yukon, recently completed a two-week training camp in Altea, Spain, from February 13 to March 2.
Over the course of 2 weeks, the riders completed more than 41 hours (1114km) of well-controlled structured riding, accumulating approximately 18,500 metres of elevation gain. The workload was demanding but carefully managed, and the athletes responded exceptionally well. The camp included guest speakers including a nutritionist, a former pro rider, and a U23 rider just entering the pro peloton. A chance encounter on the road with pro Guillaume Boivin (NSN) led to some exhilarating descents before he dropped the team and carried on with his own training.
The team also gained valuable learning experience: pacing strategy, fueling discipline, recovery habits, climbing efficiency, group riding dynamics, and mental resilience. These are foundational lessons that will carry forward into the season.
Equally important, the intensive camp allowed the riders to bond. They’ve grown together, supported one another through challenging sessions, and have come away not just fitter—but as a cohesive team. The growth in maturity, accountability, and team culture has been evident.
The team capped off the camp with the GP Memorial Juan Pujalte race, to prepare them for European racing later this season. Although they were fatigued from camp, riders reported that "Even though you are tired, you can learn." They said that the race was "A really good opportunity to get our first race of the year out of the way when we’re tired so we could focus more on learning and a bit less on the results so we would know exactly what to expect for Belgium."
Several of our riders have been active on the track all winter. Fresh off the plane from Spain with no time for jet lag, Ben Glover earned silver in the Omnium and bronze in the Individual Pursuit at the Ontario Track Championships at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre. Junior Track Nationals are scheduled for March 27-29 in Edmonton, Alberta, on the brand new velodrome. Then it's a full focus on the road season.
The foundation has now been set for a solid season with an ambitious international race calendar. We're off to Belgium in April for our first European racing block of the 2026 season.
