July 9, 2007 (Saint-Georges de Beauce, QC) – As riders warmed up for today’s individual time trial championships two thoughts were surely on their minds; the rolling technical nature of the course, and the impending weather. Competitors sought shelter under tents and under the overhangs of buildings as the rain intermittently fell on the road race course in Saint-Georges de Beauce.

The Elite and U23 women were off first this morning at 9am. Today’s race boasted a stacked field with no clear favorite. Strong early times were set by last year’s Junior TT champion Julie Beveridge (Team Alberta) and multiple TT national champion and cyclocross superstar Lyne Bessette (Equipe de Quebec). Leigh Hobson (ON, Team Diet Cheerwine) rode strongly, missing Bessette’s time by 40 seconds, but good enough eventually for the final podium spot.

With few riders left to contest the 20km course the question on everyone’s mind was whether Bessette’s strong ride would be enough to hold off perennial stalwart Anne Samplonious (QC, Team Expresscopy.com) and Saskatchewan phenom and defending national TT champion Alex Wrubleski (Colavita/Sutter Home). Samplnious came blazing through several moments later with a new best time of 29.33 besting Bessette by 35 seconds. Wrubleski rode valiantly but today fell short rolling in for an eventual fifth place finish 1.19 back.

As the Espoir men took to the course the weather intensified and the strong crosswinds featured prominently on the back half of the out-and-back course. Jet Fuel’s Bryson Bowers (ON) set an strong early time of 41.50 for the 30km TT course but today’s race lived up to it’s hype as a battle between last year’s first and second place riders, David Veillieux (QC, Jittery Joe’s) and Christian Meier (BC, Symmetrics). As they were the last two off, spectators waited until the very last second to find out who would take the 2007 title. Veilleiux ended up sneaking in two seconds ahead of Meier to take his second consecutive Espoir National time trial Championship. Bradley Fairall (BC, Supersport 35 ACNC) returned from Europe just in time to round out the podium in third.

The espoir battle set the stage for the Elite men’s showdown. As if on cue, the skies opened up as the first men rolled down the start ramp for the 40 kms awaiting them. Zach Bell (BC, Symmetrics) added to his second place in the crit with a strong ride that was eventually good for 3rd place. He was only the seventh rider off but his time would stand until the final riders came in.

The elite men’s race came down to a battle between two riders, Ryder Hesjedal (BC, Health Net p/b Maxxis) and Svein Tuft (BC, Symmetrics). Hesjedal was a motivated man, finishing the last two years on the podium but never on the top step, and may have benefited from Tuft’s already long and hard season. Hesjedal took off down the start ramp and never looked back, putting time into Tuft throughout the rolling course eventually finished 38 seconds clear of Tuft to claim his first National Time trial championship.

Stay tuned for live updates from tomorrow’s Espoir men’s road race beginning at 10am EST followed by the Elite women’s RR at 3pm EST. The women are tackling 127 kms and the men 140kms.