Home > News

Van den Ham wins first UCI race in national colours

Under-19 national champ Tyler Clark also triumphs Sunday in Indianapolis

New Canadian elite men’s cyclocross champion Michael van den Ham of Garneau-Easton earned his first UCI points in the maple leaf jersey on Sunday in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tyler Clark (Kms Cycling–Killington Mountain School), Canada’s U19 national champ, joined van den Ham in victory in the Junior event on the second day of racing at the Major Taylor ‘Cross Cup.

Clark took the win on a muddy course under sunny skies. The day before he had been third in the Junior race when the course was lashed by rain and threatened by lightning. On Sunday he led the race with the winner of Saturday’s race Lane Haher and Sam Noel but made his move on the penultimate lap.

To triumph van den Ham had to track down a free-flying Gage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle Company–Groove Subaru), who had a huge gap going into the final lap. On his Instagram, van den Ham wrote, “with a lap to go, I thought @gchecht had it in the bag, but I managed to close 20″ on him and take it home!”

Last week van den Ham battled with teammate Craig Richey of Smithers, BC over seven grueling laps to win a race in muddy New Westminster, BC.