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Holmgren fends off strong challenges from Fortier and van den Ham to win PTBO CX

Under-23 Canadian champion takes big elite UCI win on greasy day at Nicholls Oval Park

On Saturday, Gunnar Holmgren of Orillia, Ont. convincingly won the under-23 title at the Canadian cyclocross championships in Peterborough but he arguably saved his best performance for Sunday. Against a stacked field of Canadian elite and under-23 men, Holmgren fended off strong challenges from national champion Michael van den Ham who won his second consecutive titled on Saturday and Marc-André Fortier.

Off the gun, van den Ham, Holmgren, powerhouse veteran Geoff Kabush and Fortier stormed off the front putting in early separation to the rest of the field. Van den Ham and Holmgren crossed the line with a handful of seconds on the two others after one lap. Behind Fortier was looking a little stronger than Kabush but there was enough separation that it was beginning to look like the battle was between the lead two.

The pair of champions would exchange the lead throughout the three opening laps of the race. Holmgren looking very strong on the climb up Hecklers Hill but a little more uncertain on the courses greasiest and most technical features. On the fourth lap, van den Ham began to show cracks and Holmgren responded by putting in some big digs to dispatch the elite champion. Behind, Fortier was making up ground and would pass a fading van den Ham to catch Holmgren riding the penultimate lap 10 seconds faster than the race leader.

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With van den ham struggling behind, Fortier lead through the finish line. Fortier, however, would pay for his efforts when Holmgren went back to work pushing the pace whenever he could. Holgrem pulled away with Fortier unable to follow. The lead between the two stretched when Fortier’s chain slipped, his crankset clogged with mud.

Holmgren took the UCI C2 win as Fortier scootered his bike in across the line for second with van den Ham riding in for third. Kabush, second on Saturday crossed the line in fourth.