Alison Jackson’s dream season continues with Canadian championship win

Alison Jackson can add Canadian champion to Paris-Roubaix winner on her 2023 palmares. Jackson beat Olivia Baril and Simone Boilard in a sprint to wear the Elite Women’s maple leaf jersey on Sunday at Edmonton’s Canadian Road Championships. She was runner-up to Maggie Coles-Lyster in 2022. Third-place Sarah Van Dam is the new u-23 Women’s titlist.

The penultimate day of the 2023 Canadian Road Championships in Edmonton meant that the elite athletes would come out to play in the road races. Sunday started off with the Elite and u-23 Women’s race, 129.6 km or 12 laps of the circuit the Juniors and para cyclists had rolled on Saturday. Forty-three elite women and 37 U23s lined up.

The pack was intact until the third lap when Sara Poidevin (EF-Education-TIBCO-SVB) went on a solo attack. By the descent of Groats Road climb on Lap 5, Poidevin was nearly 4:00 clear.

2 minute gap for Sarah Poidevin pic.twitter.com/sxUqGqwOhE

— Canadian Cycling Mag (@CanadianCycling) June 25, 2023

The chase began in earnest on Lap 6, and when Olivia Baril made her own move, animating the group. Heading into Lap 9, the pink-clad rider was still 2:40 ahead of a pursuing group that was losing passengers. By the penultimate lap, Poidevin had retained only 35 seconds of her lead.

It was all together at the bell. Ariane Bonhomme (Roxo Racing) dashed away with a co-conspirator but they were brought back. Then Baril, Alison Jackson and Simone Boilard attacked, the dig surviving for the winning sprint. Van Dam finished third overall, and first u-23. Milette was only three seconds behind.

Elite Women
Gold) Alison Jackson (EF-Education-TIBCO-SVB) 3:31:25
Silver) Olivia Baril (UAE-ADQ) s.t.
Bronze) Simone Boilard (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) s.t.

U-23 Women
1) Sarah Van Dam (DNA Cycling)
2) Laury Milette (Grand Est/Komugi/La Fabrique)
3) Jenaya Francis (Grouwels-Watersley)