Weekend Review: Canadians raid Eastern States DH, enduro in B.C. and XC out East

Well it was another exciting weekend in a busy racing season, with Fort William World Cup delivering the drama by way of injuries and unexpected winners while an assortment of pro, former pro, and mountain bikers trying their hand at gravel racing by diving into the deep end and racing the Dirty Kanza 200. Geoff Kabush showed he’s as adept at drop bars as he is on flat bars (but refuses to ride aero bars), placing third in the greuling 200 mile gravel road race. Way over in Switzerland, Comox Valley’s Emilly Jonston landed on the podium in second at the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup in Gränichen, part of the UCI Junior Series.

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What a day! I had the best time racing some super fast girls and knocking bars ?? It was fantastic to race in such a strong field and I can’t wait to ride with these girls again next year!!! ? @freisina #girlpower #ridelikeagirl #rideordie #sending #tight #swisscup #mtb #xc #trekbikes #trekbcdevo #cycling #europe #raceday #proffixswissbikecup #ohya #sunny #paincave

A post shared by Emilly Johnston (@emilly_johnston) on Jun 2, 2018 at 9:05am PDT

Closer to home, Canadians were enduroing all over B.C., with the second round of Canadian National Enduro Series in Kamloops and Pemberton hosting Spud Crusher, the towns first Women’s only enduro. A crew of young downhill racers stormed across the border to take podium spots at the Eastern States Cup DH series and, finally, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia kept cross country going with the latest rounds in their provincial series.

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#chasethechaise Aerobars stand-off. Ironic? Yes. Funny? Definitely. I may have provocatively started a discussion about aerobars on gravel with @speedyace squarely on the opposite side but the important part is that we can both laugh about it. FYI – I don’t actually think anyone is an idiot, except @mattlieto, but I stand by my opinion that aero bars are a safety concern in mass start gravel events. Hopefully most people got my Canadian humour over the weekend in Emporia eh. ?

A post shared by Geoff Kabush (@geoffkabush) on Jun 4, 2018 at 2:28pm PDT

MEC Canadian National Enduro Series – Round 2: Kamloops, B.C.

With no EWS event on the calendar several B.C. enduro pros showed up to race on the Harper Mountain trails for CNEC Round 2 in Kamloops, B.C. Remi Gauvin (Rocky Mountain/Race Face) took the win with McKay Vezina (Giant Factory Off Road) and 2x Canadian national DH champion Matt Beer joining him on the podium. After finishing third at the opening round on Vedder Mountain, Jennifer McHugh moved up the remaining podium steps to win in Kamloops, with Round 1’s winner Georgia Astle close behind in second and Julie Marshall rounding out the top three.

Alex Silverthorne topped the U21 Men’s ranks, followed by Jacob Tooke and Elliot Jamieson while Julia Long repeated her first round U21 performance, winning again in Kamloops ahead of Sena Odyakmaz and Lucy Schick. Full results here.

Eastern States Cup DH/Enduro – Round 2: Thunder Mountain, Mass.

Rachel Pageau (Devinci Development Racing) doubled up to win the Pro Women’s DH and Enduro at Thunder Mountain, Mass. over the weekend, with Benjamin Després-Morin (Sports Aux Puces Fox Canada) winning the Pro Men’s race. Maxine Bergeron (Laferte / Trou du Diable) joined Pageau on the downhill podium in third, while Tristan Lemire (Kona) won the Jr. Men’s Expert race in a very Canadian weekend at the second round of Easter States Cup racing. Pageau also won the weekends enduro race, while her Devinci teammate Adam Robbins added to the Canadian podium tally by placing second in Pro Men’s enduro behind Boreal / Transition Bikes’ Franck Kirscher.

Pemberton Spud Crusher Women’s Enduro – Pemberton, B.C.

It was the inaugural running of the Spud Chrusher Women’s enduro in Pemberton, B.C., and 105 racers showed up to take on a choice selection of the Mackenzie trails. Carrie Meltzer was the fastest at the days end, winning all four stages on her way to the finish line, with Gloria Addario and Chrissy DeVail following close behind. B.C.’s next Women’s only enduro is the Hot on Her Heels event in Squamish, B.C. Full Spud Crusher results here.

Sask Cup #3 Pine Needle Classic XCO – Prince Albert, Sask.

Pine Needle Bike and Music Festival hosted the third round of Sask Cup XCO racing in Prince Albert, with Cory Zetterstrom and Andrea Bunnin winning the elite Men’s and Women’s races. Zetterstrom led Alex Vanneste and Jeremy Trask, while Erica Musyj and Renee Stuckel followed Bunnin. Racers were encouraged and after racing by several live music acts playing as part of the music side of the festival. Results here.

Bicycle Nova Scotia – Trenton Steele Wheels XCO – Trenton, N.S.

Way over on the East Coast, it was Brandon Curry (Banks Bikes) and Jenny Jones who were the elite winners at the Trenton Steele Wheels XCO. Shane Sommer (Banks Bikes) and Keeley Shipley (Pictou County Cycle Racing) led out the upcoming generation, taking top honours in the U17 categories. Full Trenton Steele Wheels results here.