By Ed Arnet
The Commonwealth Games takes place once every four years and is a multi-sport contest between the nations of the empire. This year the event is being held in Manchester, England on July 25 to August 4. To the countries involved the Commonwealth Games ranks only second to the Olympics in status. Still a month away from opening ceremonies, the controversy is already in high gear. The first shock came when Canadian National Champion and three-time World Champion Alison Sydor opted to pull out of the games. Said Sydor, "My sole objective this season is representing Canada at the World Championships." It's said that Sydor believed the additional travel would take the peak out of her form.
Canada's Commonwealth High Performance committee voted to replace Sydor with Marie Helen-Premont. The committee also selected Chrissy Redden. Kiara Bisaro, winner at the Games trials -- stop 3 of the Canada Cup Series -- will be the third member on the team.
Having the best rider refuse to represent her country pales in comparison to what happened in the men's team selection. As World Champion, Roland Green is an automatic seat. By winning the selection race, Geoff Kabush was the second rider to make it on the team. But it's the selection of the third rider that has mountain bikers worldwide up in arms. The committee selected Seamus McGrath over Ryder Hesjedal! Although McGrath did finish second to Kabush at the trial race, the Haro-Lee Dungarees rider simply doesn't have the results that Hesjedal has. Ryder placed second in the 2001 NORBA Championship and second at last year's World Cup finals in Mont-Ste-Anne. So far this year Hesjedal won the Short Track at Big Bear and finished on the podium at two other 2002 NORBA events. In comparison, McGrath's best National finish was a third at the Wisconsin Short Track last week.
It definitely smells like an inside arrangement to most. Which ever way, the decision ranks right up there with our committee railroading National Champion Steve Larsen off the '00 Olympic mountain bike team.
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