Canadians podium in Cycle-Smart International
A series of Canadian cyclocross contenders made top-10 appearances at the UCI C2 Cycle-Smart International held in Northampton, Mass. One of those riders was Raphael Gagné (Rocky Mountain Factory Team) who won the elite men’s race on Saturday.
Gagné was a part of a six-man lead group that formed during the opening laps of the men’s 60-minute race. Also in the mix were his fellow countrymen Mike Garrigan (Van Dessel) and Evan McNeely (Norco Factory team).
Despite crashing on the last lap, Gagné caught and sprinted for the win ahead of Shawn Milne (Keough Cyclocross presented by Felt Bicycles) in second and Garrigan in third. Other Canadians in the top 10 places were McNeely in fifth, Derrick St. John (Stevens Racing presented by The Cyclery) in eighth and Jeremy Martin (Rocky Mountain Factory Team) in ninth on the day.
. Suddenly don't feel so bad losing today. Who's gonna get away from this guy @raphaelgagne luckily there's tomorrow pic.twitter.com/6FNRI7cEdn
— Shawn Milne (@Shawn_Milne_) November 3, 2013
A tough race today, finished just outside of points again (11th). After a slow start, was just too beat contest the finish in my group.
— Michael van den Ham (@bikemikevdh) November 3, 2013
In the elite women’s race, Maghalie Rochette (Cyclocrossworld.com) placed just off the podium in fourth and Natasha Elliott (Rare Vos Racing-Stevens) took seventh place. The pair were involved in an all-race chase to catch the day’s winner Crystal Anthony (Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies).
During the second day of racing, Milne outsmarted the field with a last-minute attack for the win ahead of Gagné in second and Curtis White (Cannondale presented by Cyclocrossworld.com) in third.
Canadians were well represented in the top 10 places with Garrigan taking fourth, Michael van den Ham (Cycle-Smart) in seventh, McNeely ninth and St. John in 10th place.
Laura Van Gilder (Van Dessel presented by Mellow Mushroom Pizza) won the women’s race while Rochette and Elliott settled for fourth and sixth place on the day.
Gagné won double UCI C2 events at the Ellison Park Cyclocross races in Rochester, N.Y. in October.
The Cycle-Smart International event is apart of the Shimano NEPCX series that also includes Gran Prix of Gloucester, Providence Cyclocross Festival and NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross, all in New England.
