Laurie Arseneault wins the Canadian national short track championship for a second year running
Nicolas Gauthier and Rafaelle Carrier become the first U17 Canadian national short track champions
Photo by:
Hannah Marais
It was a hot start to the 2023 Canadian mountain bike championships in Kentville, N.S. on Thursday with the short track (XCC) races kicking off the weekend.
Six maple leaf jerseys were earned across men’s and women’s events in three categories. Junior, elite and, for the first time, under-17 racers all had their turn in the XCC race format.
Kentville crowns first Under-17 XCC champions
The day started with the U17 categories, which would determine the first-ever U17 Canadian national short track champion. Rafaelle Carrier for CVM Sigma Assurance took the gold medal in the women’s race, ahead of Juliette Raymond for Club Cycliste Mont-Sainte-Anne and her teammate Maude Ruelland.
In the men’s race, Nicolas Gauthier of Ride with Rendall became the first u17 Canadian national short track champion, ahead of Tristan Taillefer of Siboire QuiRoule and Maddox Johnson.
Close races in junior categories
In the junior women’s category, defending champion Marin Lowe for Stimulus Orbea took the title once again. After 20 minutes, Lowe finished ahead of Madeleine Pollock for Cycling BC and Anabelle Drouin for Équipe Québec – Sigma Assurances.
“I had a tactic to stay behind some people until I got enough energy and attack when I had enough energy and was ready to go. I executed it well so I’m happy and I’m tired!” Lowe said.
With defending champion Zorak Paillé racing in the elite men’s category, the junior men’s title was up for grabs. The race was close until the final two laps, when Ian Ackert for Stimulus Orbea made his move and took first place.
Repeat champions in both elite categories
The elite women’s race was close for most of the nine laps, with Jennifer Jackson of Liv Factory Racing and Haley Smith of Maxxis Factory Racing fighting for position in the front of the pack. The race would come down to a sprint to the finish line, with the defending champion Laurie Arseneault crossing the line just ahead of Jackson and Smith.
“It was such a hard race!” Arseneault said, “Jenn Jackson went full gas from the beginning and she crushed it completely, It was insane how much power she had.”
Arseneault says that it feels good to keep her title after a hard season. “I keep pushing and believing so it was very rewarding to win it. Even if it’s the short track it feels like a nice victory.”
The day of racing ended with a bang with the elite men’s race. The breakaway went early, with former Olympian Léandre Bouchard and defending champion Carter Woods at the front. It would be Woods who took the lead in the last lap, with Bouchard placing third. Raphael Auclaire of Pivot Cycles-OTE took second place.
“The short track is always a tough one because it’s anyone’s game,” Woods said. “Anyone can go out there and do a hard 20 minutes so it gets tactical. The track we had here was fast and flat so tactics were a big key.”
Woods says he put no expectations on himself but is proud to come home with the jersey for a second year in a row. “I’m happy to defend the title and have the national team kit on for the World Cup next year.”
Full results from Thursday’s Canadian short track championships are up on Zone4.ca
The Canadian cross country mountain bike championships will continue on Saturday, with the Olympic cross country (XCO) championship events.