Team Manitoba Cycling: A Canada Summer Games Story
The 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland brought together Canada’s top young cyclists, and Team Manitoba proved they could compete with the best. From hard-fought road races to challenging mountain bike trails, the squad showed determination, teamwork, and resilience.
Soren Weselake: Leading the Way
Portage la Prairie’s Soren Weselake made history for Manitoba by claiming the province’s first medal of the Games with bronze in the men’s individual time trial. He followed it up with gold in his specialty, the mountain bike cross-country, completing an impressive two-medal performance. His leadership and sportsmanship earned him the honour of being Team Manitoba’s Closing Ceremony Flag Bearer. “It’s really nice they thought of me for this. I really liked winning my gold medal, but I also enjoyed getting to hang out with the other athletes,” Weselake reflected (Sport Manitoba, Aug. 24, 2025).
Praised by teammates and coach as a role model, Soren also helps grow mountain biking in Indigenous communities throughout Manitoba, inspiring the next generation of riders.
Strong Performances Across the Team
Manitoba’s cyclists delivered across both road and mountain bike disciplines. On the road, Tyler Hartle was a model of consistency, finishing top ten in four of his five individual races, including 7th in the road race and time trial. Weselake added a bronze in the time trial and 9th in the road race, despite a dropped chain. Marcus Huebner finished 10th in the road race, while Loïc Savard and Ewan Dalling rounded out the top 20.
On the women’s side, Rielle Champagne rode much of the road race solo to finish 20th, with Pinja Hyytiainen, Isla Thomas, and Addy Champagne gaining valuable experience in a challenging field.
Mountain bike events highlighted Manitoba’s versatility. Weselake took gold in cross-country and 4th in sprint, while Hartle added 9th in cross-country and 10th in sprint. Savard finished 11th in the sprint. Sisters Mia and Kate Sawatsky excelled in women’s mountain biking, with Mia 11th in cross-country and 10th in sprint, and Kate 21st and 22nd. Pinja Hyytiainen, competing in both disciplines, finished 16th in cross-country and 15th in sprint.
Several athletes raced in both road and mountain bike events — Weselake, Hartle, Savard, and Hyytiainen — showing endurance, adaptability, and tactical skill. From medals to consistent top-ten finishes, Manitoba’s cyclists proved the team’s depth and resilience.
Growing Together as a Team
For head coach Nick Bergen, the Games were about more than medals. “It’s about figuring out how to work together, building connection, and learning how we ride as a unit” (Team Toba, Aug. 2025). The athletes embraced that spirit. “Just to ride my bike and explore new places. It’s my favorite way to explore a new place,” said Hartle. Loïc Savard added, “It’s fun to hang out with all the different people you’re with in biking, and to talk to people all the time” (Team Toba, Aug. 19, 2025).
From breakthrough medals to hard-fought top-ten finishes, and from multi-sport athletes to first-time competitors, Team Manitoba’s 2025 cycling squad embodied resilience, camaraderie, and pride.
Photo Credit:
Justin R Batten, Matt Murnaghan, Justin Brown, Volodymyr Stehliha