August 7, 2004 (Calgary, Alta.) – Racers woke up to rain and gusts of cold wind this morning, which guaranteed that conditions would be slick on the 5.5-kilometre cross-country loop. The course was exactly the same as the one
used a month ago for the World Cup event in Calgary, and featured short power climbs and sections of twisty singletrack. The trails started out greasy and muddy, but dried out considerably as the races wore on.

Peter Wedge (Kona/Clarks/Les Gets), who rode most of the seven laps with National Champ Ricky Federau (Gears Racing), just nipped Federau at the line for the win. Despite missing victory by only a second, Federau was all smiles after the race, which started under cloudy skies, but finished on a sunny note. Kiwi Mike Northcott (Jamis) gave the other Canadians a run for their money when he cruised into third.

The women’s field had a bit of a surprise at the start line when National Champion and Olympic Team member Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) pulled up. Premont, who was using the race as a final preparation for the Olympic race on August 27, had flown in from Quebec the day before and flew back home that tonight. As expected, Premont was in good form and handily won by nearly eight minutes over second place, Catharine Pendrel (Oak Bay Bikes). Wendy Simms (Frontrunners), who was with Pendrel for much of the race, just couldn’t hang on at the end. She finished third.

In the junior men’s race, Quebec’s Raphael Gagne (La Vie Sportive) took a decisive victory. He finished over four minutes ahead of Alexandre Fortier (DM Cycle Sport), who took second place. Jonathan Boulanger (Perigny/CIBC) rolled into third.

Emily Batty (3 Rox Racing) won the junior women’s event, but not by much. Quebec’s Isabelle Jacques (La Vie Sportive), who placed second, trailed Batty by only 41 seconds. Evelyne Pichette (Durand Sport) took the third spot on the podium.

Results
Men
1. Peter Wedge (Kona/Clarks/Les Gets) 1:53:13.92
2. Ricky Federau (Gears Racing) at 1.19
3. Mike Northcott (NZL, Jamis) 1:48.46
4. Guido Visser (Equipe du Quebec) 3:48.45
5. Stuart Houltham (NZL, Trek/Pearl Izumi) 3:53.32
6. Martin Lazarski (Gears Racing) 4:18.81
7. Andrew Watson (Gears Racing) 4:43.81
8. Mark Webster (Bianchi/The Bike Shop) 6:10.40
9. Andrew Kyle (Sugoi Clothing) 6:52.72
10. Adam Coates (Gears Racing) 7:55.88

Women
1. Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) 1:47:43.81
2. Catharine Pendrel (Oak Bay Bikes) at 7:46.03
3. Wendy Simms (Frontrunners) 7:52.02
4. Mical Dyck (Terrascape Racing) 11:09.66
5. Trish Sinclair (Gears Racing) 12:05.53
6. Martina Feldmann (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) 12:08.76
7. Jean Ann McKirdy (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) 15:06.36
8. Carissa Wilkes (Velo Sport Roturua) 15:45.49
9. Amanda Sin (Schwalbe) 16:00.11
10. Sue Trimble (Gears Racing) 17:02.97

Junior Expert Men
1. Raphael Gagne (La Vie Sportive) 1:37:33.97
2. Alexandre Fortier (DM Cycle Sport) at 4:07.41
3. Jonathan Boulanger (Perigny/CIBC) 5:15.89
4. Matthew Cottrell (On the Edge Biking) 5:27.76
5. Jean-Nicolas Lavertu (Durand Sport) 5:43.04

Junior Expert Women
1. Emily Batty (3 Rox Racing) 1:32:07.31
2. Isabelle Jacques (La Vie Sportive) at 41.33
3. Evelyne Pichette (Durand Sport) 1:26.56
4. Kylie Case (VW/Kal-Tire) 2:32.24
5. Kylie Morin (Northern Bush Rastas) 5:59.41