Nationals hat trick for Kirchmann with criterium win, Remi Pelletier-Roy captures men’s title

Leah Kirchmann (Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies) took the national women’s elite triple crown Sunday when she won the Global Relay Canadian Road Cycling Championships criterium in Lac-Mégantic, QC. Remi Pelletier-Roy (Garneau-Québecor) took the elite men’s title.

Kirchmann added her second consecutive crit title to Thursday’s time trial triumph and Friday’s road race win by nipping Joanie Caron of Garneau Factory. The women completed 28 laps of the 1.3 km circuit. Jamie Gilgen of Real Deal/Gears presented by WaspCam edged Carrie Cartmill (Stevens-The Cyclery) to round out the podium. All four women finished in a time of 57:24.

GO JAMIE! RT @cdncyclist: Women's Criterium podium #GRCanRoadChamps pic.twitter.com/Apd9LMe1RN

— Aron Solomon (@aronsolomon) June 29, 2014

The men had 33 laps of the rolling circuit to negotiate. A crash in the chasing group as it closed in on a quartet of escapees made for a tense finish, with Pelletier-Roy breaking the line before H&R Block’s Ryan McDonald, who becomes Canada’s U23 champion. Trek-Red Truck’s Dustin Andrews was third place.

Rode to 3rd place in the #GRCanRoadChamps crit – @EnergyLabCo carbon hoops made it hurt just that little bit less, thanks for the support!

— Dustin Andrews (@andrews_dustin) June 29, 2014