Evan Russell, Devon Clarke win first Canadian gravel championships

On Sunday, it was a wet and muddy inaugural Canadian gravel championships, which were rolled into the annual Paris to Ancaster race. Due to the weather conditions, some changes had to be made to the course. The final route was 108.8 km, with 874 m of climbing.

Devon Clarke, from Collingwood Ont., is the first ever women’s Canadian gravel champion, taking first place in the women’s race. “It feels unbelievable.” Clarke said after the race. “I’m super excited.”

This is Clarke’s second year racing Paris to Ancaster. Her plan going into the event was to stay up front with her main competition, Ruby West and Maghalie Rochette.

Muddy and slippery

West placed second, while Rochette, the winner of last year’s women’s race got a puncture around 50 km in and pulled out of the race. Rafaelle Carrier placed third in the women’s competition.

“It was just a mudfest out there, a lot more slippery, a lot harder conditions compared to last year.” Clarke said of the conditions on the course. “I changed my tire choice at the last minute, which I’m happy I did, because it made a huge difference down the mud chutes.”

Evan Russell, from B.C., is the first men’s Canadian gravel champion, coming in five seconds behind the winner of the Paris to Ancaster Cento race, U.S. rider Curtis White.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in quite yet,” Russell said. “I would have obviously liked to beat Curtis and be the overall winner, but I’m pretty hyped about it.”

“Curtis and I were neck and neck.” Russell said of the final battle of the race, “And then 100 m to go he just had that extra little kick.”

This was Russell’s first year racing Paris to Ancaster and his third gravel race ever.

Adam Roberge placed third in the men’s race while current CX elite Canadian champion Tyler Clarke placed fifth. The winner of the 2022 edition, Michael van den Ham, placed ninth.

Full results for all categories are available at RaceTiming.ca