May 2026 Update
Spring Greetings to our IGNITE Supporters!
The IGNITE Junior Cycling Team has just returned from a Spring racing block in Belgium and France and has lots of news to share.
It has been quite a month. The team spent this block gathering experience, learning lessons, and developing their confidence among the large European pelotons. Their consistent efforts paid off, and they earned some podiums and some cash prizes before heading home. Fortunes began to turn when the team worked hard to place Heron Land-Gillis on the podium at the GP Fernand Durel, a French Junior National Cup race. He won silver and earned the green Points jersey. Building on this success, the team earned some primes (cash prizes) in a few kermesse races. At the Leuze-en-Hainaut kermesse, IGNITE had three riders in the top five: Jake McLean gold, Elliot Perreault bronze, and Heron Land-Gillis 5th. We've got some momentum going!
“This block was exactly what we needed, a variety of races and levels” said Luc Arseneau, Team Director Sportif. “The results are encouraging, but more importantly, the riders are starting to understand how to race in Europe — positioning, timing, and resilience. You can see their confidence growing day by day, and that’s the real win at this stage.”
In addition to all the racing, the team was able to explore the local area. They rode some of the famous Paris-Roubaix cobbles and cheered on fellow Canadian Michael Leonard at the La Flèche Wallonne race. The team was also privileged to ride with 1970s professional cyclist Michel Lhoest. He regaled them with stories over coffee and rode with the team on the Mur de Huy in Belgium.
Back on home soil, Ben Glover and Jared Rauwerda raced at the Canadian National Track Cycling Championships at the brand new velodrome in Edmonton. They represented IGNITE and Team Ontario very well, bringing home some medals and a National Champion jersey. Jared was 2nd in the Elimination, Ben was 3rd in the Points race and they earned bronze together in the Madison. Ben additionally represented Team Ontario in the Team Pursuit to earn a gold medal and the top step of the podium.
IGNITE Junior Cycling was also on hand at the famous Paris to Ancaster (P2A) race this past weekend. We managed the bike rinse service at the end of the race, raising funds to support the rest of the season. Over 600 bikes were rinsed, which might be a course record. A huge THANK YOU goes out to management, riders, parents, families and supporters who came out to help make the day a great success.
The team is looking forward to some local races, the GP Charlevoix at the end of May, and a camp in Gatineau from June 13th to 23rd. The Canadian National Road Championships will be held in St. Georges QC from June 25-28. Please follow us on Instagram @IGNITEJuniorCycling for all the details.
