Maggie Coles-Lyster has been one of Canada’s most dominant cyclists in her age category since the time she took off her training wheels.
With multiple national titles under her belt, the 16-year-old Maple Ridge native is about to turn the corner and compete on the world stage.
Coles-Lyster is putting the finishing touches on an intense training regime in preparation for her first international events in Europe.
The Maple Ridge secondary honour roll student will compete at the World Cyclocross Championships in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium on Jan. 30. Before the world championships, Coles-Lyster will get her first chance to experience international racing when she takes part in a world cup event in the Netherlands Jan. 24.
“I’m excited about racing against the world’s best under 23-year old women in my first European bike race,” said Coles-Lyster. “ I am also looking forward to the experience of racing at an event that draws crowds similar to hockey games in Canada,”
The Maple Ridge cyclist qualified for the Canadian team to compete at the world championships by winning a bronze medal at the Canadian National Cyclocross Championship Oct. 24 in Winnipeg. The bronze came on the heels of Coles-Lyster winning five medals, including three gold, at the Canadian National Track Championships in Milton, Ont.
She finished off her 2015 cyclocross season with three consecutive victories, including taking the B.C. Elite Women’s Cyclocross Championship.
Barry Lyster, her father and coach, has been involved with the sport for decades and brought his daughter along for the ride from day one.
He said he’s extremely proud of the dedication and commitment she’s put into not just into the sport of cycling, but in all aspects of her life.
“My goal as a coach, and as her father, is to make sure her life is well balanced,” said Barry. “She’s a pretty go get ‘em kind of girl and I sometimes have to try and reign her in but she’s been able to balance her life and she’s very healthy and happy on the bike.”
That balance does require dedication. As she approaches the world championships in Belgium, which is expected to draw a crowd of more than 80,000, Coles-Lyster spends her week in the gym focusing on strength and endurance, combined with a couple of yoga sessions and of course, training totalling 15 hours a week.
He said it’s a juggling act for his daughter preparing for different discipline. While road races last as long as three hours, cyclocross focuses on shorter laps and the rider being forced to dismount and carry their bike over obstacles. He said the goal leading up to the world championships has been ensuring her aerobic endurance is high enough to handle the short bursts of energy needed to compete.
Barry said his daughter should be at “peak performance level” in a little more than a week. From there, it’s off to Europe for her first date on the international stage.
As for expectations, Barry said there’s a bigger picture in play ending up on the podium.
He said there’s no better place than Belgium and the Netherlands to make your debut, where cycling is held in the same regard as hockey is in Canada.
“Regardless of the outcome, the experience in itself will offer huge gains for her development,” said Barry.