Home > News

Benjamin Perry wins the men’s criterium at the Nationals, with Alison Jackson winning the women’s

Yesterday's men's criterium at the Nationals in St.-Georges, Que. was a day all but owned by Benjamin Perry, while Alison Jackson took the jersey for the women.

Ben Perry
Ben Perry
Double threat: Silber Pro’s Ben Perry, who won yesterday’s criterium, is seen here at the Milton International Challenge earlier this year. (Image credit: Kevin Mackinnon)

Yesterday’s men’s criterium at the Nationals in St.-Georges, Que. was a day all but owned by Benjamin Perry (Silber Pro Cycling), while Alison Jackson, riding for Twenty16 p/b Sho-Air, took the jersey for the women.

In the men’s race, it was an example of a successful aggressive strategy, with attacks coming early and sticking. Benjamin Perry, driving for the title, sped out ahead during the race’s first kilometres and kept that power going, maintaining a strong lead through all 40 km. With 15 laps of the race to go, it was Alex Cataford who attacked next, soon to be chased by a third Silber rider, Nigel Ellsay. Emile Jean of Équipe du Québec followed.

The Silber surge kept coming, with Matteo Dal-Cin taking the opportunity to join the chase, leaving the peloton behind. With four Silber riders in all, Emile Jean dropped off the back, opening the way for Nicolas Masbourian — also with Silber — to cement 5th place.

With Perry also winning Stage 5 of the Tour de Beauce earlier in June, the 21-year-old rider has had an impressive season with this National criterium win. “I’m just going to keep rolling with how things have been going,” he said in conversation with Canadian Cycling Magazine before the Nationals, looking back at those high points.

Evidently, that approach has worked out pretty well so far.

In the women’s race, Alison Jackson, a fresh racing face on the pro scene, came out ahead. With ten laps of the 28-lap course left to go, Alison’s attack put her out ahead, shadowed closely by Denise Ramsden. Gapping and staying with her until 500m were left, Ramsden finished second after Jackson, in a final burst of uphill strength, sprinted to the win.

Leah Kirchmann, last year’s champion in the race, finished the women’s criterium in third place .

Men – Criterium
1. PERRY, Benjamin (Silber Pro Cycling) 1:07:07
2. ELLSAY, Nigel (Silber Pro Cycling) 1:07:54 +0:47
3. DAL-CIN, Matteo (Silber Pro Cycling) 1:07:54 +0:47
4. CATAFORD, Alex (Silber Pro Cycling) 1:07:54 +0:47
5. MASBOURIAN, Nicolas (Silber Pro Cycling) 1:08:12 +1:05

Women – Criterium
1. JACKSON, Alison (TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air) 1:06:01
2. RAMSDEN, Denise (Trek Red-Truck p/b Mosaic Homes) 1:06:08 +0:07
3. KIRCHMANN, Leah (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) 1:06:18 +0:17