2016 has been a good year for Tristen Chernove, who was recently announced as Canada's Para-Cyclist of the Year by Cycling Canada.
Chernove, a triple-medallist from the Rio Paralympic Games, also took the top award for Best Individual Performance based on his gold medal ride in the men's Road Time Trial.
“2016 has been the stuff of fantasy,” said Chernove. “A year of new and life changing experiences and directions. My first year as part of Cycling Canada; new challenges, new people, new places and a whole new element to my life. Just trying to figure out how I’m going to top a year that includes 2 UCI rainbow jerseys [world championships], a complete set of Paralympic medals and a couple World Cup Golds?”
“I’ve been so fortunate to have found such talented coaching support, training friends and teammates, [and] feel like they own this recognition at least as much as I do. Canada’s cycling community brings me a tonne of joy and inspiration.”
The Canadian Cyclist Awards are the oldest and most recognized cycling awards in Canda, voted on by thousands of cycling enthusiasts from across Canada and the world.
And what a year 2016 was.
The Paralympics is the obvious highlight, as Chernove pedaled his way to a gold, silver and bronze medal in track and road events. He won a silver in the Individual Pursuit and a Bronze in the Kilo while competing at the velodrome, but capped off his medal collection with a gold at the Individual Time Trial in the road event.
But it's not just about his results at the Paralympics; Chernove is also a World Champion in four World Cup events over the last year.
Chernove only recently got into competitive track cycling less than two years ago but had been road racing for years. He was diagnosed with Charcot-Tooth Marie disease, a degenerative neurological condition, in 2009, but hasn't let that interfere with his athletic passion as he strives to live by example to his wife and two young daughters.
He is training over the winter and is planning to hit the World Cup circuit for 2017 season and is already planning to take a run at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.