Batty, Zandstra seal XC Canadian national titles in Baie-Saint-Paul
Fincham, Hanford seal junior titles while Peter Diseria and Catherine Fleury win under-23 category
The typically rainy venue in Baie-Saint-Paul was treated to a pleasant day for the racers contesting the Canadian national cross country mountain bike titles. The course hardened up but still provided ample room for technically skilled riders to gain advantage on the numerous downhills and over-camber sections. Fans were treated to a twisty figure-eight course that allowed fans multiple opportunities to view racers each lap.
The racing started at 9 am with the junior and cadet racers getting the first laps of the day on the course. Both junior races had very tight two-way battles. The junior men’s race was an exciting battle between Sean Fincham and Quinton Disera. A bobble late by Disera on the technical course opened a gap that he was unable to close and Fincham took the victory with Disera in second. Gunnar Holmgren took the third spot in the men’s junior race.
The junior women’s contest was won by B.C.’s Emily Handford with Sophie-Ann Samson putting in a very strong challenge. The two riders traded the lead several times during the race. Dana Gilligan was caught in a crash on the first corner but recovered quickly and chased up to third. The cadet women’s race was won by Roxane Vermette of Quebec by only seconds over the second and third place riders, after two laps of racing, which bodes well for competitive racing in the future. Tyler Clark of Ontario won the cadet expert men’s race.
The second race was the elite and under-23 women who took to the course for four laps. Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) was the favorite and aiming for a second national championship jersey with momentum from several strong world cups and at the world championships in the weeks prior. While a battle with fellow Rio-Olympian Catherine Pendrel was anticipated by many, Pendrel was absent from this year’s event due to injury and Olympic preparation. Hunting for her second national title, Sandra Walter put in a strong effort allowing Emily only 90 seconds advantage at the finish. Quebec’s Cindy Montambault was third with Norco’s Haley Smith just behind in fourth. The espoir women’s four-lap race was won by Catherine Fleury.
The final race of the day featured the elite and under-23 men. The field featured both 2016 Rio Olympians, Raphael Gagné and Léandre Bouchard. Three-time Olympian and multi-national champion Geoff Kabush and his team-mate Derek Zandstra were also in attendance looking to return the jersey to the Scott-3 Rox trailer. Derek battled tightly with the two Quebec riders much of the race with a last lap attack up the new switch-back climb sealing the win over Bouchard. Kabush was able to bridge from the chase group of Jeremy Martin (Focus) and Davis Ross to overtake Gagné on the final lap. Zandstra’s win gives Scott-3 Rox their second national title of the weekend after Erin Huck won the elite women’s race at U.S. mountain bike nationals on Friday. Peter Disera took the under-23 race.
The Canada Cup resumes next week in Saint-Félicien. With the Norco team and several top riders, including Sandra Walter and fifth place elite from this weekend, Davis Ross, registered for the event. The final Canada Cup event in Whistler will take place on August 19 as part of the Crankworx Festival.
For full results from the mountain bike Canadian championships visit cyclingcanada.ca
