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Jonathan Page starts Paris to Ancaster

U.S. cyclocross champion joins "Canada's spring cycling classic"

U.S. cyclocross champion Jonathan Page will join the 20th annual Paris to Ancaster Bicycle Race held on April 14 in southern Ontario. The New England native, who now splits his time between Belgium and Utah, will highlight the start list that also includes some of the top ‘cross, mountain bike and road racers in the country.

“I’ve been asked to do it for a few years now but it never worked out due to me being in Belgium and because it was a long way to travel to Canada,” Page told Canadian Cycling Magazine. “Now, I have the chance to fly from Utah, so I wanted to see what it’s all about.”

The race is dubbed Canada’s spring cycling classic because of its difficult point-to-point course the begins in Paris and finishes in Ancaster. The 70-km route travels along dirt and gravel roads, farm lanes, single track and old railway beds. The weather conditions are usually cold and wet making it a race of attrition.

“The first time the organizers invited me, and told me about the race, I thought it sounded like fun,” Page said. “I’m going to check out the course more in the coming weeks. It sounds a bit like Chequamegon in the U.S.”

Race organizers suggest using a mountain bike, hybrid or cyclocross bike because of the rough course conditions. Page said he will likely race on his ‘cross bike. “I’ll have to let you know for sure after seeing the course.”

The race typically attracts some 2,000 participants. Great Britain’s Roger Hammond highlighted the roster last year. Mike Garrigan and Mandy Dreyer won the elite men’s and women’s categories.

Page won his fourth U.S. cyclocross championship title in January in Wisconsin. “It was awesome, really awesome,” Page said. He has been one of the top cyclocross racers in North America for a decade. He was also the first American to stand on the elite men’s podium, in second place, at the world championships.

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