June 25, 2010 (Devon, Alberta) – Canada’s fastest riders gathered in Devon, Alberta, near Edmonton, for the 2010 Canadian National Time Trial Championships. As athletes wriggle into skinsuits, bikes are measured, and aero helmets are donned, national champions are made. The Elite and U23 women’s race got underway in the morning on a 20km out and back course featuring mainly flat terrain with one short climb.

Veronique Bilodeau (Team Quebec) was the first rider to break 30 minutes on the course, putting down an early fast time of 29:45. Bilodeau’s benchmark was soon surpassed by Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders) and Laura Brown (Total Restoration Cycling Team), and then three strong late-seeded women broke the 29-minute barrier.

Those three women were 2009 U23 TT champ Julie Beveridge (Vienne Futuroscope), former women’s national TT champ Anne Samplonius (Team Vera Bradley Foundation), and Tara Whitten (Specialized Mazda Samson G Conseil), the defending 2009 National Time Trial champion. Seconds separated these talented riders with Beveridge taking the gold in a time of 28:51, followed by Samplonius in 28:53, and Whitten in third with a time of 28:56.

“I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet!” exclaimed Beveridge who claimed her 5th national title. “The course was fast and hard, with a head wind on the way out. It’s great to win in Alberta, so close to home. I want to be sure to thank Racks Unlimited for helping me out today with racks for my support vehicle on course.”

It was a double victory for Beveridge who repeated as Canada’s U23 women’s National Time Trial champ as well, with Bilodeau in second, and Karol-Ann Canuel, also with Vienne-Futuroscope, in third with a time of 30:17.

Elite/U23 Men
In the afternoon the Elite and U23 men rolled out on their 40km course starting at 1:00pm. Rob Britton (Bissell Pro Cycling) rode the course in 51:26, coming in with a new fastest time that held through a number of athletes. Francois Parisien (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy) crossed the line eleven seconds faster than Britton, but ultimately missed the third step on the podium when his team mate, Ryan Roth, rolled across a further eight seconds faster with a time of 51:07.

The Yukon’s Zach Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies) powered around the course in 50:12, good for second place, and then BC’s Svein Tuft (Garmin-Transitions) successfully defended his 2009 National Time Trial title and drew cheers from the crowd, which included most of his competitors, when he crossed the line with a blistering time of 48:23.

“It felt smooth,” commented Tuft. “I was lucky to start behind Zach [Bell], he’s a really great guy to pace off of. It’s a difficult course with wind coming from every direction – you really had to focus out there.”

“I’m stoked – it went better than last year!” exclaimed Bell. “Last year, Svein passed me just after the turn around,” explained Bell, who crossed the finish line with Tuft closing in on him. “Last year’s course was much harder on me, there was much more climbing.”

Hugo Houle (Team Quebec) in 13th overall won the National U23 men’s title, with a time of 52:44. In second was Guillaume Boivin (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy) who crossed the line in 52:55, while an elated Jordan Cheyne (Mazur Coaching/Wheels of Bloor), rounded out the U23 podium taking the bronze with a time of 53:22.

Riders have one day to recover before the 2010 National Road Race Championships which take place on Sunday in Edmonton.

Women’s results and more photos here.
Men’s results and more photos here.