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Horseshoe 2016 Canada Cup race recap

The third round of the Canada Cup delivered close and exciting races

The third round of the Canada Cup cross-country race circuit delivered a fast-track and several very tight races. The Horseshoe Resort in Barrie, Ont. course featured perfect soil as the very sandy conditions of the week before were remedied by rain the night before race day. Several steep climbs and rock gardens challenged the riders physically and technically. The junior races featured very fast speeds rivaling the elite field.

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The elite men’s race was won for the second year in a row by Peter Disera, who lives locally. Disera has had a busy spring racing both road and mountain bike with a win at the Sea Otter Classic road race in April. The battle for second was very tight with Disera’s Norco teammates all working to eventually overpower Derek Zandstra of Scott-3-Rox. Evan Guthrie claimed second after tailing Zandstra most of the race. Zandstra rolled in for the third spot.

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The elite women saw the return of Emily Batty to the domestic series after a successful world cup last weekend in France, where both she and Catherine Pendrel took podium spots. At Horseshoe, Batty was able to establish a lead on the second lap that extended gradually over the remaining laps. Haley Smith, Mikaela Kofman and Jena Greaser stayed marked each other all day, riding together until the final climb and descent of the day, where Norco’s Smith eventually claimed second over Kofman.

The junior races saw Quinton Disera take the win on his home course, over another local, Gunnar Holmgren and Quebec’s Félix Longpré. The top three junior men’s average speeds were competitive with the elite men’s top 10 pace, with tight racing throughout the 24 finishers, which is a strong indication for future performance.

The junior women’s race was won by Rocky Mountain Factory rider Emily Handford from B.C. ahead only 11-seconds on Sophianne Samson of Quebec and Juliete Tétreault who completed the podium in a very competitive field. The top-four junior women were completing lap times on pace with the top-five women.

Superfly Racing’s Canada Cup at Horseshoe Resort had great weather, several competitive races and community events. Racers and spectators were treated to a fine weekend which should carry over to another superb event next weekend for the next round at nearby Hardwood Hills.

Find the full results at ontariocycling.org