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MSA UCI Masters Worlds Results: Canadians win eight world championship titles

Home team thrives among international stars at Mont-Sainte-Anne

mont-sainte-anne

Canadians thrived when UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships landed on home soil.

A total of eight world championship titles will be staying in Canada after two days of finals at Mont-Sainte-Anne. Over 600 athletes competed across downhill and cross country events, with ages ranging from 30 well into the 70’s.

Canada’s best went shoulder to shoulder with an elite crowd of international riders, including current downhill world champion Loic Bruni’s father, Jean-Pierre Bruni. The elder Bruni leaves MSA with a rainbow jersey to match his sons, winning the men’s 50-59 category downhill. Loic will be in Quebec next week to defend his title when elite world championships return to Mont-Sainte-Anne, from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.

Other international stars showing age aint nothing but a number at MSA include Spain’s Thomás Misser. The Orbea rider took home two rainbow jerseys, winning both downhill and cross country events in his 45-49 age category. To so, he had to beat the legendary American mountain biker Brian Lopes.

Canadians capture gold at home

Of course, Canadians, and local riders from the Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges especially, made the most of the UCI’s visit to North America. Olympic cross-country skier Alex Harvey showed he isn’t much slower on two wheels than two skis. He followed one spot behind Adam Morka (Brooklin, Ont.) in the Men’s 30-34 cross country race, with the pair finishing 5th and 6th. Alex wasn’t the only Harvey racing, either. His father Pierre Harvey placed 9th in the Men’s 60-64 XCO.

All eyes, though, were on the local world champions. Pierre Éthier, a standout member of the local community, won his rainbow stripes on his 70th birthday, in the Men’s 70+ XCO. Quebec City’s Caroline Villeneuve goes home a world champion, leading a sweep of the women’s 35-39 cross country podium. Joining Villeneuve on in the medals are Josee Heppell with silver and Julie Sanders in bronze.

Alana Heise of Calgary claims her rainbow stripes in the 40-49 women’s XCO, with Ontario’s Lisa Holmgren joining her on the podium in third. Cathy Zeglinski of Whistler reclaimed her world champion title, winning the women’s 55-59 XCO. Zeglinski was joined by France Arseneault in 3rd, with Christine Bouchard finishing close behind in 5th.

Bernard Perreault claims Canada’s final cross country masters world championship title, winning the men’s 60-64 event.

Rosamond Simson added one more medal to Canada’s efforts, finishing third in the women’s 30-35 age class.

Masters Downhill world championships

On the downhill side, Canada claimed three world championship titles, all in the women’s events. Audrée Vaillancourt (35-39), Audrey Boily (40-44) and Karaleen Gioia (45-49) all take rainbow jerseys home from Mont-Sainte-Anne’s infamous downhill track.

Julien Laramée was the close to capturing the title for Canada on the men’s side. He finished in the silver medal position behind Mathieu Gallean of France in the men’s 30-34 race. Cody McArthur was 6th, and David Boisjoly was 10th in the same event.

Mathieu Laurin was third in the men’s 35-39 downhill, adding another medal to Canada’s tally. In the men’s 50-54 race, François Soucy also finished third, with Bryan Gioia close behind in 4th.

Other top Canadian downhill finishers include Jimmy Coll in 4th (45-49), Michael Dalgleish in 5th (55-59), Aroussen Laflamme in 5th (40-44), and Marc Andre Daigle in 5th (35-39) and Andy Thibodeau in 7th  (40-44).

Full results from UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships can be found here.