July 15, 2015 (Rimouski, QC) – In the two short years of the team’s existence, the Centurion-Next Wave Cycling Team has emerged as one of the top development teams in the country, seizing the yellow jersey at the Tour de la Releve in Rimouski last weekend. the Rimouski squad consisted of Gunnar Holmgren, Graydon Staples, Brody Sanderson and Noah Simms.

The team stormed into the event’s spotlight after its team time trial win to open the annual 5 stage event in Rimouski, Quebec. The winning margin was large enough for Gunnar Holmgren to take the leader’s yellow jersey after the following day’s stage with a third place finish in the same time as the winner of the 78km road race event. Teammate Graydon Staples finished close behind in 6th place also in the same time.

The following day Holmgren padded his lead with a powerful individual time trial win. Holmgren covered the 15 km distance in 20:44 on a road bike setup. The penultimate stage consisted of a 35 lap criterium in the host town. With an excellent leadout by Staples, Holmgren would place second in a photofinish with Simon Jones of Hincapie Junior Development Team taking the win.

The result was enough to retain the yellow jersey. The fifth and final stage took place on Sunday: a four lap, hilly 76km road race featuring the infamous 12% grade Cathedral Hill. An 8-man breakaway formed containing teammates Holmgren, Staples and Sanderson. The trio would work together to bring Holmgren to the front at the end setting him up for solo victory to seal the overall title.

The race for the overall team title was closer and had whittled down to essentially two teams right from the beginning: Centurion-Next Wave Cycling and South Carolina based Hincapie Junior Development. Both teams had riders finish in the front group every race. The fight was close, with Hincapie Junior Development narrowly winning the team title.

Coach Kevin Simms was impressed with the strength, strategy and teamwork displayed by the team, noting that this result signifies the team as being one of the strongest in Ontario, if not Canada, for this age group. Graham Fraser of Centurion Cycling, the team’s title sponsor, congratulated the team: “Congrats to everyone. What a wonderful weekend for the boys. They continue to impress with their work ethic, teamwork and love of cycling”.

Holmgren was quick to credit the entire team and coach for his overall win, recognizing that it was the entire team which won the team time trial and his teammates who rode a tactically strong and smart race to protect the jersey on stages 2, 4 and 5.

Over the next few weeks the team members will focus on upcoming Canada Cup mountain bike events, road championships and upcoming cyclocross season. Younger members of the team will continue chase wins at the Youth Cup series, with the next race taking place at the Tour de Terra Cotta on the August Long Weekend. This recent win in Quebec will fill the team with confidence as they head into the second half of the season and next year.

Results

Stage 1 – July 8 – TTT 7km – Cadet M/W, Junior Women here.
Stage 2 – July 9 – 78km RR – Cadet Men here – Cadet/Junior Women here.
Stage 3 – July 10 – ITT 15km – Cadet Men here – Cadet/Junior Women here.
Stage 4 – July 11 – 35km Crit – Cadet Men here – Cadet/Junior Women here.
Stage 5 – July 12 – 76km RR – Cadet Men here – Cadet/Junior Women here.