July 17, 2010 (Canmore, Alberta) – Geoff Kabush (BC) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain is certainly a rider to be reckoned with. The defending National MTB XC Champ, with eight titles to his name, showed his experience on Saturday on a dry and dusty course at the Canmore Nordic Center in Canmore, Alberta. Under a blistering afternoon sun Kabush battled with long-time rivals Max Plaxton (BC) Team Sho Air/ Specialized and Derek Zandstra (ON) 3 Rox Racing for the entire five laps, as the trio dropped the rest of the men’s field on the first lap and never looked back.

They took turns sharing the workload over the first three laps, though at times things looked like they might be starting to fray. On the third lap Plaxton seemed to be losing his grip on the other two, dropping about 10 seconds back, but was able to pull it back in. When asked whether they’d intentionally let Plaxton get back on, neither Kabush nor Zandstra commented.

The three leaders could have been mistaken for teammates at times; such was their cooperation to put even more time into the rest of the chasing field, gaining a significant lead. But that camaraderie was shattered near the end of lap 4 when Kabush proved why he’s got eight titles to his name.

“I was trying to take advantage on a few sections where I felt I could recover a bit more, and gain some time,” he said at the finish. At the top of the ‘Oven’ (the highest point on the course) Kabush said he was feeling good and noticed he was gaining ground on the other two, so he decided to keep his foot on the gas and open up a gap. That gap clinched the race for him, a much more decisive victory than last year’s competition which came down to a close sprint between him and Zandstra. This year Plaxton took second and Zandstra settled for third.

The U23 men’s competition was led for almost the entire race by Jared Stafford (ON) Bikesports Racing, who eventually took the win. The fight for second was interesting, with Zachary Hughes (Norco) and Francis Morin (QC) Team Quebec/ Specialized trading blow for blow. During lap three Hughes began bleeding time and was overtaken by Morin. In the end Stafford claimed the title with Morin taking home the silver while Hughes faded as Simon Lalancette (QC) Equipe du Quebec/Devinci took the final spot on the podium.

Elite/U23 Women

In the Elite women’s race things were much more straightforward from the get-go. Heavy favourite Catharine Pendrel (BC) Luna Pro did not disappoint and took a commanding lead right from the start and didn’t let up, finishing with nearly five minutes to spare over Amanda Sin (ON) 3 Rox Racing in second. However, there was a surprising battle for the bronze. For much of the race the third spot was filled by Mical Dyck (BC) Trek Canada/Terrascape Racing, but young-gun top U23 rider Emily Batty (ON) Trek World Racing was making gains charging through the field behind her, eventually overtaking the veteran to claim the bronze position overall while defending her U23 title.

Mikaela Kofman (3 Rox Racing), who challenged Batty until lap 3, took 2nd in the women’s U23 race while Rebecca Beaumont (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma) wound up 3rd. “Mikaela was having an awesome race, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to shake her,” said a modest Batty. Even so, it was obvious that Batty had her sights set on bigger targets than just her fellow U23 competitors. When asked whether her plan had been to tear through the Elite field like she did, she replied, “It totally was.”

Junior/U17 Races

While Batty seems entirely at home in front of a camera, Junior men’s winner Evan McNeely (ON) Team Ontario/EMD Serono/Specialized was a little taken aback by his win. While a contender McNeely was not the favourite today, making this performance a big success for him. That said, he had a relatively easy go of it, breaking away on his own from the small lead group around the half way point. He built up a gap of over a minute which he held on to for the victory over eventual 2nd place finisher Steven Noble (ON) Team Ontario/Jetpower and 3rd place Antoine Caron (Equipe du Quebec).

The Junior women’s race was also no surprise, being won by Canada MTB Cup leader, Kristina Laforge (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma), followed by Lauren Rosser (Cycling BC) in second and Valérie Meunier (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma) in third. Laforge established and early lead and could not be reeled taking the title.

The U17 class saw Amanda Wakeling (Cycling BC) take the women’s win ahead of Gabrielle April (Lessard Bicycles) and Emily de Freitas (Team Alberta). The U17 Men’s title went to Antoine Perreault (CVM Val-David) with Marc-Antoine Nadon (Team Ontario/Hardwood) in 2nd and Quinn Moberg (Cycling BC) in 3rd.

All in all it was a great day of racing characterized by some impressive competition and strong performances. As they say in Canmore… on the mountain, as in life, always ride the high line – something many athletes competing today definitely knew how to do.

Full results pdf here.

Results

U17 Women – 14km – 2 Laps
1. Amanda Wakeling (BC) Cycling BC 59:51.2
2. Erin Middleton (AB) Team Alberta 2:49
3. Zoe Dahl (AB) CMC/Bow Cycle 5:51
4. Hana Boersma (AB) Portage Junk Yard Dogs 9:34
5. Gabrielle April (QC) Lessard Bicycles 11:57
6. Emily De Freitas (AB) Team Alberta 13:15

U17 Men – 21km – 3 Laps
1. Antoine Perreault (QC) CVM Val-David 10:19.0
2. Marc-Antoine Nadon (ON) Team Ontario/Hardwood 0:24
3. Quinn Moberg (BC) Cycling BC 1:41
4. Louis Dillon (BC) Cycling BC 2:17
5. Michael Girolametto-Prosen (ON) Cyclepath Markham 3:42
6. Alexandre Vialle (QC) CVM Val David 4:38
7. Vincent Belhumeur (QC) Specialized 7:20
8. Kevin Stafford (AB) Team Alberta 7:46
9. Samuel Beaudoin (AB) Team Alberta 8:46
10. Gabriel Thibeault (QC) Kona Biomax 10:43
11. Tommy Beaulieu (AB) Juventus 11:13
12. Eric Ewert (AB) CMC/Bow Cycle 14:14
13. Thomas Hardy (BC) Independent 19:49
14. Dylan Smith (SK) Team Saskatchewan 22:19
DNF William Elliott (ON) Team Hardwood Cycling and Ski Club
DNF Ben Marquardt (AB) CMC/Bow Cycle

Junior Women – 21km – 3 Laps
1. Kristina Laforge (QC) Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma 22:53.3
2. Lauren Rosser (BC) Cycling BC 0:53
3. Valérie Meunier (QC) Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma 1:23
4. Laura Bietola (ON) Team Ontario/3Rox Racing 1:35
5. Emily Fisher (ON) Team Ontario/Angry Johnny’s/Cycle Solutions 3:05
6. Cayley Brooks (ON) Team Ontario 6:05
7. Caeli Barron (AB) Team Alberta 10:38
8. Andréane Lantheir Nadeau (QC) Rocky Mountain Factory Team/Équipe Québec 12:59
9. Emily Flynn (ON) EMD Serono-Specialized 12:59
10. Samantha Wagler (ON) Two Wheel Express 16:10
11. Kristin Drygas (BC) Team Squamish 20:50
12. Hannah Cooley (SK) Team Saskatchewan 27:41:00
13. Sarah Witzke (AB) Team Alberta 29:19:00
14. Stéphanie Vialle (QC) CVM Val David -1 lap

Junior Men – 28km – 4 Laps
1. Evan McNeely (ON) Team Ontario/EMD Serono/Specialized 26:42.8
2. Steven Noble (ON) Jetpower/Team Ontario 0:58
3. Antoine Caron (QC) Equipe du Quebec 1:18
4. Mitch Bailey (ON) Team Ontario 1:26
5. Jérémy Martin (QC) Equipe du Québec/Rocky Mountain Factory Team 2:51
6. Léandre Bouchard (QC) Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma 4:28
7. Felix Wilberg (AB) Team Alberta 5:27
8. Thomas Neron (QC) Équipe Québec/Subway-Genetik 5:32
9. Mo Lawrence (BC) Cycling BC 6:14
10. Daniel Varga (ON) Jetpower 6:21
11. Etienne Moreau (ON) Team Ontario/Hardwood-Trek 6:24
12. Preston Wagler (ON) 3 Rox Racing 7:38
13. Karl Hoppner (ON) EMD Serono-Specialized 10:10
14. Bretton Matthews (ON) Jetpower 10:11
15. Philippe Paradis (QC) CVM Val-David 12:48
16. Xavier Perreault (QC) CVM Val-David 14:20
17. Jordan Doner (ON) Team Spoke O’Motion 24:20:00
18. Michael Van Den Ham (MB) Brandon Bike Club 29:17:00
19. Simon Boisvert (QC) Le Yéti 31:08:00
20. Ragnar Robinson (SK) Team Saskatchewan -1 lap
DNF Joshua Thomas (ON) ThinkSL.com/CarsonElectric

U23 Women – 28km – 4 Laps
1. Emily Batty (ON) Trek World Racing 43:31.2
2. Mikaela Kofman (AB) 3 Rox Racing 1:28
3. Rebecca Beaumont (QC) Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d’Alma 11:13
4. Ashley Barson (ON) Coach Chris.ca/Ted Velikonja 11:33
5. Cassandre Olivier-Lapierre (QC) Équipe Québec/Subway-Genetik 15:32
6. Marie-Claude Surprenant (QC) Équipe du Québec/Xprezo 18:50
7. Anna Schappert (MB) Team Manitoba 18:59
8. Krystyn Ong (AB) River Valley Cycle 20:26
9. Samantha Grover (AB) Pedalhead Racing Club 22:35
10. Sarah Moore (QC) CVM Val David -1 lap
11. Marjorie Lavoie (QC) CVM Val-David -1 lap
DNF Andréanne Pichette (QC) CVM Subway-Génétik – Équipe du Qc

Elite Women – 28km – 4 Laps
1. Catharine Pendrel (BC) Luna Pro Team 37:41.3
2. Amanda Sin (ON) 3 Rox Racing 5:00
3. Mical Dyck (AB) Trek Canada/Terrascape Racing 6:58
4. Catherine Vipond (ON) Norco Factory Team 9:11
5. Sandra Walter (BC) Local Ride Women’s MTB Team 9:46
6. Cindy Montambault (QC) CVM Val-David 10:32
7. Brandi Heisterman (BC) Northlands Medical Clinic 12:24
8. Jean Ann Mckirdy (BC) Local Ride Women’s MTB Team 13:33
9. Wendy Simms (BC) KONA 14:02
10. Caroline Villeneuve (QC) Norco Factory Team 16:42
11. Katy Curtis (AB) CMC/Bow Cycle 18:00
12. Karen Trueman (BC) Oak Bay Bicycles 21:24
13. Jennifer Schulz (BC) Fresh Air Concept/Balance Point Racing 23:54
14. Shantel Koenig (AB) Redbike 24:00:00
15. Alana Heise (AB) Terrascape Racing 26:00:00
16. Bridget Linder (AB) Hardcore Cycling Club -1 lap
17. Erica Musyj (SK) NBR/BCW/Horizon -2 laps
DNS Marie-Hélène Premont (QC) Team Maxxis/Rocky Mountain
DNS Trish Grajczyk (AB) DeadgoRacing

U23 Men – 35km – 5 Laps
1. Jared Stafford (ON) Bikesports Racing 57:37.0
2. Francis Morin (QC) Team Quebec/Specialized 0:26
3. Simon Lalancette (QC) Equipe du Quebec/DEVINCI 1:38
4. Jon Kinsie (AB) Lapierre 2:32
5. Félix Cote (QC) CVM Val-David 2:54
6. Tyson Wagler (ON) 3 Rox Racing 3:22
7. Andrew L’esperance (NS) Cyclesmith/Trek 4:39
8. Zachary Hughes (ON) Norco Factory Team 5:01
9. Alex Harvey (QC) Indépendant 5:28
10. Alexis Cartier (QC) CVM Val-David 6:13
11. David Gonda (AB) CMC/Bow Cycle 7:02
12. Jacob Mcclelland (ON) Team Ontario 7:35
13. Pierre-Louis Chamberland (QC) CVM Val-David 9:14
14. Matthew Krahn (AB) Redbike 10:44
15. Patrick Chartrand (QC) CVM Val-David 11:45
16. Peter Knight (AB) Hardcore Cycling Club 13:47
17. Brian Robinson (AB) CMC/Bow Cycle 15:35
18. Jeremi Bussieres (QC) CVM Val-David 18:46
19. Simon Wagler (ON) Two Wheel Express -1 lap
20. Tristan Geisel (MB) Team Manitoba/Olympia Cycle -1 lap
DNF Cody Canning (AB) ERTC/Revolution
DNF Sebastien Cadieux Duval (QC) CVM Val David
DNF Justin Middleton (AB) ERTC/Revolution
DNF Evan Guthrie (BC) Rocky Mountain Factory Team

Elite Men – 35km – 5 Laps
1. Geoff Kabush (BC) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 45:15.4
2. Max Plaxton (BC) Team Sho Air/Specialized 0:48
3. Derek Zandstra (ON) 3 Rox Racing 1:39
4. Matthew Hadley (NB) Xprezo-Borsao 6:18
5. Kris Sneddon (BC) KONA 6:21
6. Andrew Watson (ON) Norco Factory Team 7:04
7. Cory Wallace (BC) KONA 7:22
8. Eric Batty (ON) Trek Canada 7:37
9. Marty Lazarski (BC) Rocky Mountain Factory Team 8:32
10. Raphaël Gagne (QC) Équipe Québec/Rocky Mountain Factory Team 8:32
11. Peter Glassford (ON) Trek Canada 8:45
12. Craig Richey (BC) Aviawest-Blue Competition Cycles 10:08
13. Daniel Sessford (BC) Aviawest-Blue Competition Cycles 11:20
14. Adam Morka (ON) Trek Canada 11:56
15. Leni Trudel (QC) Équipe du Québec/Specialized 12:03
16. Cameron Jette (ON) La Bicicletta Elite Team 12:27
17. Ryan Atkins (ON) EMD Serono-Specialized 12:38
18. Sullivan Reed (BC) Prince George Cycling Club 16:14
19. Roddi Lega (AB) Pedalhead Bicycle Works 17:13
20. Marc-André Daigle (QC) Garneau/Club Chaussures-Ogilvy-Renauld 17:31
21. Manuel Fehlmann (AB) Pedalhead Bicycle Works 17:43
22. Greg Day (BC) Rocky Mountain-Different Bikes p/b KC Capital 19:47
23. Thomas Skinner (BC) Aviawest-Blue Competition Cycles 20:24
24. Cory Zetterstrom (SK) NBR/BCW/Horizon 22:36
25. Drew Mackenzie (BC) Island Racing p/b Robert W Cameron Law 24:34
26. Mathew Paziuk (ON) Trek Store Toronto -1 lap
27. Patrick Dennis (ON) Trek Store Toronto -1 lap
28. Carter Hovey (BC) Pro City Cycling -1 lap
29. Andre Sutton (AB) Hardcore Cycling Club -1 lap
30. Simon Tremblay (BC) Pedal Your World -1 lap
31. Jeff Neilson (AB) Terrascape Racing -2 laps
DNF Stefan Widmer (BC) Rocky Mountain Factory Team
DNF Brian Bain (AB) Specialized/CMC/Bowcycle
DNF Colin Kerr (BC) Rocky Mountain-Different Bikes
DNF Ryan Hopping (AB) Redbike
DNS Julien Fillion (QC) Equipe du Quebec/DEVINCI