June 24, 2017 (Ottawa, ON) – New champions were crowned on the opening day of the 2017 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Lexus as Allison Beveridge (AB) Rally Cycling, of Olympic track fame, won her first national road title winning the Elite Women’s road race while Catherine Ouellette (QC) The Cyclery-4iiii captured the U23 Women’s crown for her first national jersey as well.

Charles-Etienne Chretien (QC) Equipe du Quebec took home a career-first Junior Men’s road race title and Laurie Jussaume (QC) Equipe du Quebec also claimed her first Junior Women’s road race Maple Leaf jersey.

Sunny skies were the order of the day with a strong cross wind as 67 riders stretched their legs in the Elite/U23 Women’s 12-lap, 120km contest in Tunny’s Pasture. By the third lap four riders had escaped putting the peloton on it’s heels as Sarah Bergen (Rally), Jamie Gilgen (Rise Racing), Alison Jackson (Be Pink) and Karol-Anne Canuel (Boels) soon had 35 seconds on the chasers.

Despite numerous attempts the peloton was held at ransom until there were four laps remaining as the gap started to come down and six riders bridged putting four Rally team members in the 10-strong break which became the winning move.

Leah Kirchmann (Sunweb), the historic nationals triple winner in 2014, missed the break and led the pack in vain to catch the leaders. Joelle Numainville (Cyclance), also a national road champ twice before, had bike problems and was out of the running.

Olympic bronze medalist with Beveridge on the track as well, Jasmin Duehring (Shoe Twenty20), struck out on her own to bridge but her effort was also in vain as Bergen pushed the pace at the front again putting everyone in the break on the defensive.

Rally’s stategy was paying off and in the final push to the line the team took control as Beveridge was unmatched at the line for her first national road title with Lay in second for good measure. Jackson, the 2015 Crit champ, took third in the final sprint to the line. Catherine Ouellette (QC) The Cyclery-4iiii captured the U23 Women’s crown for her first national jersey.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” said Beveridge. “But we were in the hunt for the podium and things went well. We planned to put in some digs and take control and it all worked out in the end.” – full interview with Beveridge and Lay here.

Earlier in the day the Junior Men kicked things off with their 120km competition similar to the Elite women. All attacks were shut down until a break of four riders gained 15 seconds with three laps to go. Chretien joined the leaders with two to go as two were dropped leaving three in the break with a 10-second gap.

On the final lap the gap stretched to 18 seconds but pack came alive as Chretien and Ontario’s Graydon Staples (NCCH) took the lead. But Staples was caught in the end as the pack almost swallowed up Chretien as well but he survived for the win with Felix Boutin (IAMGOLD) in second and Michael Foley (ON) Team ON/La Bicicletta in third.

The Junior Women’s 70km race saw the pack remain intact until the final lap when defending champ, Erin J Attwell, was challenged by Jussaume as the two came barrelling down to the finish as Atwell settled for second with Simone Boilard (QC)  Equipe du Quebec in third.

Up next is the Elite Men’s 160km road race on Sunday for more fireworks.

Junior Men’s results here.
Junior Women’s results here.
Elite/U23 Women’s results here.