July 11, 2006 — Bromont (QC) – The Track National Cycling Championships held in Bromont, July 6-9, showcased the best track riders from across Canada. The event particularly highlighted dominant figures in the men’s and women’s junior events, such as Alberta’s Eric Smith (Calgary), as well as Quebec’s Stephane Cossette (Chicoutimi) and Laurie-Anne Dupont (Montreal).

“We are truly satisfied with the outcome of the Canadian Junior, Paralympic and Masters Championships in Bromont,” said event organizer Louis Barbeau, General Manager of the Quebec Cycling Federation. “We had great participation from the best athletes from all over Canada, excellent weather conditions under sunny skies and it’s exciting to see how well the Team Alberta’s young talents Eric Smith and Danielle Kenny, and Equipe du Quebec’s Stephane Cossette and Laurie-Anne Dupont are doing, just one month prior to the World Championships in Belgium,” added Barbeau.

Stephane Cossette (Chicoutimi, QC) earned the National Champion jersey in the Junior Men’s Keirin on Sunday, as he did in the Madison with team mate David Bergeron, with 16 points to Team Quebec. “I did not have much expectations for my first participation at the Nationals,” said Cossette. “But I’m highly satisfied with my results. I really managed to improve my racing skills during the week.”

Ivanie Blondin (Team Ontario) is the National Champion of the Women’s Junior Scratch held Sunday as well, while Logan Cornel (Ottawa, ON) took the title in the Men’s U17 category. In the Masters category, Scratch National Champions are: Frank Kovacs, Master A (AB), Douglas Baron, Master B (AB) and Gerard-Louis Robert, Master C (QC).

Team Alberta proved very strong, as Eric Smith’s great performances in the men’s junior events on Friday and Saturday showed (he set a new Canadian record of 3-34.946 at the 3000m individual pursuit qualification on Friday, breaking the mark he established indoors at the 2005 Junior World Championships by 0.3s and at the Time Trial on Saturday). “The Team Alberta spirit is really good,” said Smith’s parents who were so thrilled, “and there’s a huge benefit for our kids to that. He just owes his great results to him, his daily training and his coach Jayson Gillepsie.”

Full results available at
http://www.fqsc.net/06/Comp/piste/InfoCourses.htm