Gallery: Ice, snow and mud for Masters racing at Canadian cyclocross championships
Peterborough delivers epic cyclocross conditions to crown new national champions
The Canadian cyclocross championships kicked off with masters racers competing for the maple leaf jersey in cold and snowy conditions on Saturday morning.
Riders from across the country braved the wintery conditions on the challenging course in Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough, Ont. a week after many of the same racers competed in the first master Pan American championships at the Silver Goose.
Racing started with the sportif categories and then youth challenge category racing. Then it was the turn of the masters men 55+, masters women, men 55-54 and men 35-44.
The course was a challenging mix of melting snow and ice during the morning races challenging the riders to stay on their bikes during muddy run-ups, slippery descents and off-camber sections.
Check out all the action from men’s and women’s Masters championship racing at Canadian cyclocross championships in Peterborough
Racers were clinging to puffy jackets and extra layers as long as possible in the start corrall
Big fields in excess of 60 riders made for tactical racing in early laps
Alberta athletes were looking confident in the cool conditions. Edmonton's Caitlin Callaghan (Hardcore Cycling) rode to 3rd in the Master's women's race. Sarah Gilchrist (Edmonton Road and Track) won the race.
Lower sections were muddy bogs, with deep sections of off camber mud. Nanaimo's Sean Lunny (Rock City Cycles) slides his way to fourth in Men's 45-54
Wild Rock hill climb was somewhat rideable early on in the day, if you had the legs
Snow and slick corners spreads out the field
Crowded fields made line choice difficult early on
Traction was elusive on the semi-frozen off camber corners. This racer pulled this one back, somehow!
Line's down Heckler's Hill had brakes squealing all day
Thin lines of brown in the snow slowly expanded as racing advanced
Robert Holmgren battled for the lead in Men 45-54. Jean-Francois Blais took the win
Toronto's Velocolour crew was out in force in the Master's races. Noah Rosen on his way to 17th in Men's 35-44
Peterborough delivers proper, late season cross conditions, just a little earlier than in the rest of the world
Artisinal stakes were handed out as prizing
New Canadian cyclocross champions!
