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Gagné and Dyck are the 2015 Canadian cyclocross champions

October 24, 2015
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Mical Dyck (B.C./Naked Factory Racing) dominated the women’s elite race at Saturday’s Canadian cyclocross championships in Winnipeg, while in a fantastic men’s battle, Raphaël Gagné (Que/Red Truck-Garneau) became the first male Quebec rider to become national champion in 18 years. There was plenty of action where the Assiniboine River ran into the Red.

The day was sunny and the course, initially chewed and slippery, dried up over the course of several races before the elites heard the gun. Here’s a partial list of new Canadian champions:

In the women’s elite race, Mical Dyck flashed away from Sandra Walter (Liv Cycling Canada) and favourite Maghalie Rochette (Luna) in the triple sand pit of the first lap and led Walter by seven seconds after one circuit. Dyck pulled out a larger gap in the second lap, and Rochette fell back of Walter, with Natasha Elliot (Red Truck-Garneau) overtaking the third spot.

Dyck still looked fresh on the third lap’s carry-up and stairs. By the fourth lap, Winnipeg’s own Leah Kirchmann (Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies) had moved close to Rochette and the battle for the podium between Elliot, Rochette and Kirchmann became the hot competition.

On the fifth and final lap Dyck looked composed riding alone at the front, though she had to pass plenty of under-23 and elite women she was lapping. Walter moved up from third in last season’s contest at the Forks to take a silver medal. Kirchmann, who looked like she was falling off at the end of the fourth lap, outsprinted Elliot for the bronze.

Ontarian Ruby West was the women’s under-23 winner.

In the men’s race, Michael van den Ham (Alta./Red Truck-Garneau) and reigning champ Mike Garrigan (Van Dessel/Shimano/Velocolour) took the hole shot, and, while van den Ham continued to lead the small gang in the first lap, his teammate Gagné took over the lead on the second lap. Five-time national cyclocross champion Geoff Kabush (B.C./Scott-3Rox) edged ahead of van den Ham on the third lap while Gagné maintained front spot.

Derek Zandstra was the next Scott-3Rox rider to attempt to pull back Gagné, with van den Ham glued to his wheel. By the fourth lap the trio had a gap back to their chasers, with van den Ham taking his turn out front.

The trio soon had company in the form of Aaron Schooler (Alta./Focus CX), Cameron Jette (Scott-3Rox) and three-time under-23 champion Evan McNeeley (Ont./Norco Factory). Garrigan had disappeared. Van den Ham pulled out a little time on the muddy descent of lap four. Kabush moved into second and Schooler third as the leading riders compacted again.

On lap five, Kabush pounced and finally Red Truck relinquished the front of the race. Kabush, van den Ham, Gagné, Schooler and Zandstra were together heading into the sixth lap, with van den Ham marking Zandstra when Scott-3Rox switched the lead.

Schooler, outmanned, assumed the lead before lap seven of eight, but soon Gagné spurted ahead and the Scott-3Rox riders slipped back. Kabush caught up to Schooler and van den Ham on the run-up, but Zandstra was beginning to falter. Heading into the bell lap, Gagné held a five-second lead.

Kabush made his charge heading into the triple sandpit but Gagné would not be denied. Schooler and van den Ham skirmished for the final podium spot. Schooler outsprinted van den Ham, who gave a philosophic wave crossing the line, his teammate having taken the gold.


2015 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships Elite Women
1) Mical Dyck (BC/Naked Factory Racing)
2) Sandra Walter (BC/Liv Cycling Canada)
3) Leah Kirchmann (MN/Optum)

2015 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships Elite Men
1) Raphaël Gagné (QC/Red Truck-Garneau)
2) Geoff Kabush (BC/Scott-3Rox)
3) Aaron Schooler (AB/Focus CX)

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