A Pitt Meadows cyclist is making his Pan American Games debut this fall as part of the Team Canada cycling squad.
Ryan Tougas has been making waves in the BMX racing community for quite some time now, but only started competing in the Elite division last year.
“Last year was really good,” Tougas said on the Coffee Chatter BMX Podcast. “It started off really well, but then there was the big crash in June, which put me out for three months.”
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When reflecting on his first few Elite races, Tougas said he enjoyed the change, but noted that it does come with new challenges as well.
“In Elite, every race is super competitive, which is really nice,” said Tougas. “You start the day and you have to be on all day. I really like that.”
His next challenge will be the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile, where he will be one of only four Canadian BMX racers trying to pedal to the podium.
And despite this being his first appearance at the Pan Am Games, Tougas said he has adopted a more relaxed mindset as a pro.
“I put less expectations on myself now that I’m racing pro,” he said. “When I was younger, I had to win, but now, it’s just about getting into the top four and seeing what I can do.”
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The BMX events at the 2023 Pan Am Games will take place on Oct. 21 and 22.