Gagne makes it two in a row for Red Truck-Garneau at Cycle-Smart International

The day after teammate Michael van den Ham won day one of the 25th Cycle-Smart International cyclocross race, Canadian champion Raphael Gagné took victory on Sunday in Northampton, Massachusetts. On Saturday van den Ham and Gagné worked over their competitors to come 1-2. Canada’s sole professional cyclocross squad, Red Truck Garneau swept the two elite men’s races. Teammate Natasha Elliott placed sixth in the women’s race as Emma White replicated Gagné’s weekend by winning Sunday following a runner-up spot on Saturday.

Fourth at the national championships in Winnipeg, Elliott was sixth and top Canadian on both days, races that were also rounds 3 and 4 of the Verge New England Cyclocross Series. Canadian road ace Joelle Numainville (Bigla) raced the weekend, with a better result on Sunday at 22nd (+4:50) after Saturday’s 26th (+5:26).

Saturday’s champion, under-23 Pan Am champion Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) was runner-up to White (Cyclocrossworld Devo Team). Noble and White worked together to distance their rivals and then dueled on the final lap.

In Northampton’s Look Park, Gagné had to hold off Dylan McNicholas (Polartec) and Cameron Dodge, who completed Sunday’s podium. For the second day running Mark McConnell (Hot Sauce Cycling Club) was fourth; he finished 10-seconds back with van den Ham.

2/2 for @redtruckgarneau! @raphaelgagne took home an impressive win today. I had to settle for 5th after losing group for 2nd. Great weekend

— Michael van den Ham (@MVDHcyclocross) November 9, 2015