Ten years from now, Derek Gee-West and Alison Jackson will (in theory?) be retired. Unless they pull a Bruno Langlois they will hang up their racing cleats, and there will be other riders taking over the reins from Canada’s finest. And they may very well come from an event like the The Future Champions Camp
The camp celebrated its very impressive 17th edition this spring. Nearly 100 riders to Penticton, B.C., for a weekend that combined racing, coaching and athlete development.
Bigger than ever
The camp’s popularity is not slowing one bit, either. In fact, it’s very much the opposite Organizers said registration for the 2026 event sold out within 48 hrs. They even needed to mix things up, and expand with an under-15 category. That made and this year’s camp the largest in its history. Thirty-five riders competed in the under-15 ranks, while under-17 remained the biggest age group.
Sarah Van Dam second after chaotic Tour de Suisse stage
There have been a bunch of names you’ve seen on the pages of Canadian Cycling Magazine. Some of the cyclists who have taken part include Paris-Roubaix winner Alison Jackson, Olympic medallist Jasmine Duehring, Sarah Van Dam, Riley Pickrell, Maggie Coles-Lyster and Mara Roldan. That’s a pretty fine selection of talent.
This year’s camp opened with a 5-km individual time trial at the Area 27 motorsport circuit. The young cyclists then competed in road races designed for their age groups. Finally, there was the annual climbing challenge.
Younger athletes tackled the Carmi climb, while older riders faced the ascent to Apex Mountain Resort, gaining more than 1,200 metres of elevation.
The weekend concluded with a downtown crit around Penticton’s Gyro Park. Everyone got to give’r on a fast six-corner circuit in front of family members and spectators.
The camp’s coaching staff featured a mix of national-level coaches and former professionals. Head coach Richard Wooles was joined by National Road Coach Nigel Ellsay. There was also former WorldTour rider and Olympian Leah Kirchmann, former pro cyclist and coach Andrew “Pinner” Pinfold, and under-15 development coach Kurt Innes.
The Belgium project
The camp also continues to offer a pathway to international racing through its Belgium Project. For a second year in a row, the top-performing male and female riders in the under-17 and under-19 categories earned spots on a development trip to Belgium, where they will gain experience racing in one of cycling’s most competitive environments.
Organizers plan to return with the same format in 2027, with pre-registration opening in October. Based on this year’s response, participation is expected to continue growing, particularly among younger riders.