Waterloo rookie headed to World Junior Cycling Championships
17-year-old cyclist Ethan Powell has ridden his way from rookie to rock star in just two years.
“I thought it was just going to be for fun, a little casual thing to get some exercise,” the young Waterloo cyclist said of his career. “But I am really happy with where it’s gone.”
After impressive result at nationals, Powell is one of five who will represent Canada in Israel this August at the 2022 World Junior Cycling Championships.
The team of five he will be competing with consists of four junior cyclists from Ontario.
KW Cycling Academy head coach and President Rob Good is very impressed with how quickly Powell has risen to the top of his game.
“A first year junior racing at his level, it’s fantastic,” Good said.
“There are only two Ontario riders that are 17-years-old, going to junior worlds.”
Ethan Powell appears with his coach on the cycling track. (Submitted/Beatrice Powell)
BOOM IN LOCAL CYCLING TALENT
Powell’s not the only local name making recent cycling headlines.
Good says Baden's Tyler Rorke and Kitchener's Chris Ernst will be competing for Canada this week at the Nations Cup, being help at the Milton velodrome.
Both are graduates of the KW Cycling Academy and are now training with the national team.
“This will be my fourth Nations Cup,” Ernst said, adding that it’s a points qualifier for worlds.
“My first one was in 2018 but because of Covid and bunch of restrictions I haven't had a lot of opportunities to race on the track internationally,” Ernst said.
Ethan Powell (left) stands on a podium. (Beatrice Powell)
Although the pandemic interrupted some competition, Good believes it did help increase the sports popularity.
“COVID was terrible, but it helped cycling because it was an activity we could do outside,” Good said.
He added that to have three local names who all started at the KW Cycling Academy make it to the world stage in the same season is rare.
“In hockey terms, it would be like Elmira putting four athletes on the junior national team,” Good said.
Ernst believes, “it’s really good to see the growth and development, especially of home grown talent.”
“We're not really known as cycling enthusiasts, back in K-W. We're normally known for hockey or basketball with Jamal Murray,” Ernst added.
Ethan Powell leads a pack of cyclists. (Submitted/Beatrice Powell)
Powell, who played a lot of basketball before starting to cycle, is a student at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo. He admits he’s never travelled outside of North America before, but says sight seeing won’t be his first priority while he’s at championship.
“Maybe a little bit after worlds, but I am mostly focused on the racing,” Powell said.
He credits his quick success to the club.
“I think it’s the club and the environment we have around us,” Powell said.
“My coach is top notch,” he added. “[He’s] always encouraging me, always making sure I am on top of the training and its also the hard work, you've got to put in a ton of hard work to be this good.”
“We've got a lot of kids that have come through the pipeline that over the next two or three years are going to be just as good as Ethan or maybe better if the stars align,” Good said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.