May 30, 2017 (Baie-St-Paul, QC) – Round 3 of the Canada Cup XCO series saw new winners in all four categories at Baie-St-Paul, Quebec. In the overall standings, all leaders going into the third round kept their leaders’ jerseys.
Baie-St-Paul, one hour east of Quebec City on the shores of the St Lawrence river, played host to the national championships last year. The circuit offers a mix of single and double track, with a long climb at the start of each lap.
Sidney McGill (Focus CX Canada), the overall leader in Junior Women heading into the race, took her first win of the season, after finishing second and third in the first two rounds. Dana Gilligan (Team Ontario) was second and American Savilia Blunk (US National) third. McGill now has 255 points to Gilligan’s 200 in the overall standings.
In the Junior Men’s competition, Brody Sanderson (Centurion Next Wave) had his first Canada Cup win of the season, moving him up to second in the overall standings with 198 points. Holden Jones (Cycling BC), winner of Round 2 continues to lead the standings with 230 points after finishing third in Baie-St-Paul. Braydn Lange (US National) was second in his first Canada Cup race of the season.
In the Elite Women’s competition, Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team), the national cyclo-cross champion won in her first Canada Cup race of the year, followed by Soren Meeuwisse (Trek Canada) and Rebecca Beaumont (Marin X Peppermint). B.C. rider Jayne Rossworn, winner of Round 2, continues to lead the overall standings with 425 points, followed closely by Meeuwisse with 410 points.
In the Elite Men’s competition, Under-23 rider Quinton Disera (Norco Factory) was winning in Quebec on the same day that his older brother Peter was finishing third in a World Cup in Germany. Round 2 winner Evan Guthrie of B.C. finished second, with Ross Davis (AWI Racing) finishing third. Guthrie continues to lead the standings with 495 points, while Quinton Disera moves into second place with 450 points.
“The course was almost the same as last year’s Nationals,” said Disera, “but it felt like I was riding faster and smoother and my Norco Revolver FS was sucking up the course! The course played into more of my style with about five climbs spaced out and they were all steep and pretty punchy, which I like. The whole day started off well with hearing news about Peter finishing third at Albstadt! So that was extra motivation and set the tone.”
“Evan Guthrie was riding a strong race out in front, where I was about 5-20 seconds off of him the whole time. Sadly, at the end of the fourth lap he got a front flat and had to get a wheel change and that was where I got my gap to hold onto the top spot in the last lap.”
“Being first year U23 and winning a Canada Cup is exciting and a big confidence booster, knowing that all the time I have put in with my coach Adam Morka is paying off. I’m super excited to battle it out again in the next round of Canada Cups close to home!”
After a one week break, the XCO Canada Cup continues over the following two weekends with back-to-back races in Ontario.
Full results here.
