Anna Tykoliz
How did your cycling journey begin?
It all started back in 2002, my sister Angela and I had ridden a few Heart and Stroke bike charity rides. Sometime later, I was with my husband Wally working in the yard at his mother’s home when I looked up and saw the “Spring Lake to Lake Classic” Mountain Bike race fly by. It was quite impressive to watch a sea of mountain bikes with over 1,000 racers.
In that moment, I said to Wally, “I want to register for that race next year,” even though I had no previous experience in racing bikes. To Wally’s surprise I went ahead and registered both of us.
Before the race, I had many different emotions running through me. On race day, I arrived at the start line and eventually finished way, way, way at the back of the pack. But when I crossed the finish line, I had such a big smile on my face…and that’s when I fell in love with racing bikes.
My first Ontario Cycling OCup MTB race at Hardwood Hills was in 2005. Back then, the course included the Bone Shaker in the Sport category. I had no previous experience racing bikes, let alone mountain bike racing. My passion to race, along with a vision of one day standing on the podium.
How did your racing evolve from there?
I
n October 2025, Wally and I travelled to Australia, where I had qualified to represent Canada at the UCI World Championship Road and Time Trial Masters Races. I stood on the start line for both events proudly wearing the Maple Leaf jersey. Canada is so well respected internationally and everyone recognizes the Maple Leaf.
In the picture, Australia’s traffic flows on the left side of the road. It’s a windy spring day with temps at 10°C. I’m warm in my OCA kit and reconing/preriding the road race course. I was able to start and finish both races and captured a Bronze Medal in the road race for Canada in my age category. I’ve also stood on the top step of the Holy Grail of podiums at Cycling Canada’s Nationals in the Master age category.
What would you say to women thinking about getting into racing?
I want to encourage all women who have a passion for riding their bikes to go out and race. Talk to your family, support your local bike shop, get help from a coach, check the OC racing calendar, register, and then simply show up at the start line. That’s 95% of racing. The other 5% is everything you didn’t plan for during the race which makes it fun. When you adapt and cross the finish line, it becomes an incredible feeling.
How has Ontario Cycling supported your journey?
We are very fortunate to have the OC. At every event OC Staff welcome and treat all the athletes with the greatest of respect. The Commissaires officiate with kindness and professionalism and OC ensures every course is carefully inspected because safety is paramount before, during, and after each event.
That consistency has given me the confidence to race at Cycling Canada’s Masters Canadian Nationals and internationally at the UCI Masters World Championships. What you experience at an OC race really is no different from racing nationally or internationally.
What have you been focused on recently, and what’s ahead?
This past February, I raced in Cycling Canada’s four eSport Maple Cup races and the eSport Canadian National Championship, which helped maintain my fitness through the winter. Looking ahead, I’ve registered for the Canadian National Road, Time Trial and Criterium Masters Championships at Calgary, Alberta in August 2026, along with a full season of OC mountain bike, gravel, criterium, and time trial races.
Any final message you’d like to share?
I want to inspire more women to come out and be part of what Ontario Cycling offers every weekend somewhere across the province. It’s a beautiful place to ride—and an even more rewarding place to race.