Creating Opportunities: Burnaby Velodrome Club Partners with RBC Training Ground

Thirty athletes from Burnaby and across Metro Vancouver discovered track cycling this summer through a Burnaby Velodrome Club initiative delivered in partnership with Cycling Canada and RBC Training Ground. From first laps on the velodrome to sprint testing in the lab, the program created new opportunities for participation and performance development.

By Burnaby Velodrome Club

BURNABY, BC – August 2026 – This summer, the Burnaby Velodrome Club opened its doors to talented athletes from Burnaby and across Metro Vancouver, providing an opportunity to discover track cycling and explore where the sport could take them.

The initiative reflects the club’s commitment to growing track cycling locally, creating opportunities for athletes to develop new skills, challenge themselves, and become part of the Burnaby Velodrome Club community.

From New Sports to a New Track

Across three Try the Track sessions in June, the club welcomed 30 athletes aged 14 to 25, travelling from Burnaby, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, and as far as Chilliwack.

Participants came from a wide range of sporting backgrounds, including gymnastics, soccer, football, volleyball, ice hockey, alpine skiing, cross-country running, and track and field. For many, it was their first experience riding a fixed-gear bicycle or stepping onto a velodrome.

Following the introductory sessions, athletes interested in exploring the sport further were invited to join the Burnaby Velodrome Club’s RBC Training Ground Development Program. Led by coach Stephen McMullan, 14 athletes committed to and successfully completed the program.

Athletes progressed from basic bike preparation and safe fixed-gear riding to standing skills, bike handling, pace-line riding, rider exchanges, and introductory sprint drills. Each session built on the last, allowing athletes to develop their confidence while experiencing the technical and physical demands of track cycling.

A special addition to the Development Program was RBC Training Ground alumna Lauren Fridman, who joined the group for a couple of training sessions. Having experienced the RBC pathway herself, Lauren was able to share her experience with the athletes while helping lead pace lines and supporting riders as they developed their confidence on the track. Her willingness to mentor the group provided participants with a valuable connection to someone who had already experienced the journey they were beginning.

From the Track to the Lab

The final stage moved from the velodrome to the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific’s UBC satellite site, where 11 athletes completed a sport-specific cycling assessment.

The group included both athletes new to track cycling and experienced track cyclists pursuing the RBC Training Ground pathway. Testing focused primarily on sprint power profiling, allowing athletes to push themselves through maximal sprint efforts and compare their results with national-team benchmarks.

The athletes embraced the opportunity and went full gas. Among the standout performances, three male athletes produced more than 1,800 watts of peak power during the standing sprint assessment.

A special thank you goes to the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific staff at UBC for hosting the assessment and supporting the athletes through this stage of their RBC Training Ground journey.

With testing complete, eligible athletes now enter the pool for consideration for the 2026 RBC Training Ground National Final. Final selections have not yet been made.

Creating a Path Beyond RBC

While progressing to the National Final would be an exciting achievement, one of the most encouraging outcomes has already happened at the Burnaby Velodrome Club.

Four RBC Training Ground athletes (and counting) have joined the club and begun integrating into regular coached sessions.

For these athletes, the program was not simply a talent-identification experience. It became an introduction to a new sport and a community where they can continue learning, training, and developing.

One athlete who demonstrates where that journey can lead is Drue Nooyen. After producing a record-breaking performance at last year’s RBC Training Ground National Final, surpassing the previous Wattbike peak-power record held by Olympic Champion Kelsey Mitchell, Drue earned RBC Training Ground funding.

Today, she trains regularly at the Burnaby Velodrome Club under the guidance of Stephen McMullan, with support from the club’s coaches and volunteers, as she prepares for the 2027 Canadian Track Cycling Championships.

For this year’s participants, opportunities to continue include the club’s Learn to Ride sessions, youth development program, weekly coached group sessions, and Friday Night Race Series. Eligible athletes who are not selected for this year’s National Final can also continue developing and return to the RBC Training Ground qualifiers in 2027.

The Burnaby Velodrome Club would like to thank Board Director Scott Vigliotti, Club Manager Neil Salway, RBC Training Ground alumna Lauren Fridman, the club’s Track supervisors, coaches, and volunteers whose support helped make the program possible.

Reflecting on the initiative, Stephen McMullan, Junior Program Head Coach and Co-ordinator at Burnaby Velodrome Club, said:

“Programs like RBC Training Ground create opportunities for talented athletes to discover sports they may never have considered. By identifying raw athletic potential and connecting athletes with different Olympic sports, the program can uncover abilities that may otherwise have gone unexplored.

We have seen athletes make that transition into track cycling and go on to achieve significant success. The Burnaby Velodrome Club plays an important role in that journey by providing an environment where athletes can learn the sport, develop their skills, and discover how far they may be able to take it. Whether that leads towards a national performance pathway, competition, or simply becoming part of the cycling community, every journey starts with that first opportunity.”

By creating those opportunities, the Burnaby Velodrome Club continues to strengthen its role within the City of Burnaby, welcoming new people into track cycling while providing a place for the next generation of riders to learn, develop, compete, and belong.

Interested in discovering track cycling? The Burnaby Velodrome Club offers opportunities for young riders and adults to learn the sport, develop their skills, and become part of the track cycling community. To learn more, visit burnabyvelodrome.ca or contact [email protected]