Mike Garrigan gives ‘er, wins Canadian cyclocross title in Winnipeg

Seven years after he first became the Canadian cyclocross champion, Mike Garrigan (Van Dessel Factory Team) crushed the course at The Forks in Winnipeg Saturday to repeat the feat. Garrigan took a large lead in the early laps and then held off Michael van den Ham (Trek Red Truck) and reigning champ Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) in a dramatic and thrilling finale.
Garrigan was second through the hole shot after Andrew L’Esperance (Norco), while 2013 runner-up Andrew Schooler (Focus CX Team) crashed on the first passage over the Knoll of Pain. Soon Garrigan took the lead with Van den Ham in third before the first assault of the sandpits. At the end of lap one, Garrigan had an 8-second lead over a half dozen riders.
This is racing, my friends! pic.twitter.com/E8j2bBJMLf
— CX Nats in Winnipeg (@WpgCX2014) October 25, 2014
Over the course of the second lap, Garrigan extended his lead while Van den Ham, Kabush and Evan McNeely (Norco) separated themselves to become the main chasers. After three laps Garrigan, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, had a 20-second gap. On the fifth lap, as the shadows lengthened, McNeely fell off, leaving Kabush and Van den Ham to work together in pursuit.
The fans are VERY excited! pic.twitter.com/QKGIjtVWRb
— CX Nats in Winnipeg (@WpgCX2014) October 25, 2014
Garrigan went into the final lap with a seven second lead. It was desperate stuff for Garrigan as five-time winner Kabush began to push hard. Then it was Van den Ham labouring to shut the gap. Garrigan turned himself inside out to hang on and beat Geoff Kabush by a handful of seconds. Van den Ham, last year’s U23 champion, took the bronze. Schooler, last year’s runner-up, fought back to place fourth.
Elite men results
Place | Name | City | Team | Time | Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mike Garrigan | Brooklyn, NY | Van Dessel Factory Team | 58:37:00 | |
2 | Geoff Kabush | N. Vancouver, BC | Scott-3Rox Racing | 58:39:00 | 0’02” |
3 | Michael Van Den Ham | Edmonton, AB | Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes | 58:44:00 | 0’07” |
4 | Aaron Schooler | Edmonton, AB | Focus CX Team | 59:35:00 | 0’58” |
5 | Evan McNeely | Kingston, ON | Norco Factory Team | 59:50:00 | 1’13” |
6 | Craig Richey | N. Vancouver, BC | Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes | 1:00:07 | 1’30” |
7 | Mark McConnell | Calgary, AB | Synergy Racing P/B Sri Importing | 1:01:02 | 2’25” |
8 | Derrick St John | Gatineau, QC | Silber Pro Cycling Team | 1:01:19 | 2’42” |
9 | Peter Glassford | Collingwood, ON | Trek Canada MTB | 1:01:27 | 2’50” |
10 | Shawn Bunnin | Calgary, AB | Deadgoat Racing | 1:01:28 | 2’51” |
11 | Dustin Andrews | Calgary, AB | Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes | 1:02:10 | 3’33” |
12 | Andrew L’Esperance | Halifax, NS | Norco Factory Team | 1:02:23 | 3’46” |
13 | Connor Wilson | Edmonton, AB | Juventus CC | 1:03:18 | 4’41” |
14 | Brett Wakefield | Maple Ridge, BC | Local Ride Racing | 1:03:30 | 4’53” |
15 | Cuylar Conly | Grasswood, SK | Range Road Racing | 1:03:36 | 4’59” |
16 | Evan Wishloff | Spruce Grove, AB | Pedalhead Race Room | 1:04:49 | 6’12” |
17 | Matthew Staneland | Jasper, AB | 1:05:09 | 6’32” | |
18 | Richard Machhein | Maple Ridge, BC | Local Ride Racing | 1:05:52 | 7’15” |
19 | Shane MacNaughton | Saskatoon, SK | BCW Cycling Cub | – 1 lap | |
20 | Nathan Poulton | Guelph, ON | Waterloo Cycling Club | – 1 lap | |
21 | Scott Theede | Saskatoon, SK | BCW Cycling Cub | – 1 lap | |
22 | Dylan Harris | Winnipeg, MB | Olympia CC | – 1 lap | |
23 | Graham Madden | Winnipeg, MB | Dark Red Racing | – 2 lap | |
DNS | Jaron Friesen | Winnipeg, MB | CMU Cycling |