July 31, 2006 (Munich, Germany) – Canada’s Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) won the Individual Time Trial event Sunday, while team mates Éric Bourgault (Orford, QC), Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC) and Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) made top tens among fierce world-class competition at the final European Cup event.

The two races held on July 29 & 30 in Germany were the final of a series of six European Cup races organized this summer in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Several thousands of spectators took to the streets of Munich to watch last weekend’s events.

Day 1 – July 29, 2006 – Criterium

Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) and Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) started the Criterium race on Saturday evening with a total of 22 riders. The 70-lap race was a combination of Paralympic categories including CP 3, LC 3 and LC 4 Men and Women. Brayden made his way to the front and helped keep the tempo up for the first 20 laps or so, eventually losing contact with the lead group, but he did a good job chasing and was the last person lapped by the lead group that included Quévillion with only 12 laps to go.

Quévillion rode a tactical race, keeping pace with his main competition. With only a few laps to go he made his big attack which worked perfectly, until just more than one lap to go he clipped his pedal and crashed out of the lead group. “Otherwise, he would have made it to the podium,” stated Stephen Burke, Head Coach of CCA Paralympic programs.

Quévillion was disappointed with the end result, which placed him in 8th, but he was happy with his overall performance in this circuit race. The course was just 600m long so it made for an exciting event with lots of action. Brayden held on for 10th place.
Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC) and Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) rode the second race of the evening in a 24-rider field. Early on Bourgault crashed and got back into the race after taking a lap, but never managed to do much with the group he was with. The race was a combination of CP 4, LC 1 & LC 2 Male and Female athletes.

Early on there was a key attack by two European LC 1 and LC 2 athletes who set a very fast pace and managed to lap the main pack. “The two European riders did a phenomenal job, as Head Coach Stephen Burke commented, and Mark had to be much more aggressive.” However, Mark played a very active role among the main chase group and finished in 8th place.

Day 2 – July 30, 2006 – Individual time trial

The time trial competition took place Sunday July 30, 2006 on a track of a 3,5 km distance in the countryside south of Holzkrichen. Riders completed 5 laps or 17.5 K on the slightly hilly route.

Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) enjoyed a great day, as he won the 17.5 K ITT. As Stephen Burke, CCA Paralympic Program Head Coach described: “His performance in the combined CP 3 and LC 3 race was quite impressive.” Quévillion’s time in the race was 25:57.93, and second place rider from the LC 3 division had a time of 27:38.72.

Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) completed the course in a time of 28:19.27, putting him in 5th place in the same combined LC 3-CP 3 event.

Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) set a 27:19.50 time on the same course, which was good for 5th place in the LC 2-CP 4. “Eric was happy with his ride today. He has improved a lot this year and is hopping to improve upon his performance at Worlds in five weeks,” said Coach Stephen Burke.

For LC1 rider Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC), the story was not as positive, as he only completed 4 laps when the race distance required that each rider complete 5 laps of the 3.5K course. “Mark was quite disappointed and I am sure that he will be better prepared at the World Championships in September,” said Stephen Burke.

Results Summary

Day 1 – Criterium
Р8th РJean Qu̩villion (Ste-Ad̬le, QC) РCP 3 & LC 3
– 10th – Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) – CP 3 & LC 3
– 8th – Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC) – CP 4, LC 1 & LC 2, Men & Women
– DN – Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) – CP 4, LC 1 & LC 2, Men & Women

Day 2 – ITT
Р1st РJean Qu̩villion (Ste-Ad̬le, QC) РCP 3 & LC 3
– 5th – Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) – CP 3 & LC 3
– 5th – Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) – LC 2 & CP 4
– DNF – Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC)

Canada’s Paralympic Cycling Team completed the summer racing successfully, and have still some work ahead in the next five weeks to prepare for the IPC-UCI World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, 9 to 18 September, 2006.