June 30, 2019 (Saint-Georges, QC ) – The final day of road race competitions at the 2019 Canadian Road Championships saw perfect weather conditions as B.C.’s Adam de Vos (Rally UHC Cycling) claimed a career-first Elite Men’s RR title. Nickolas Zukowsky (QC) Floyd’s Pro Cycling took home his first U23 Men’s crown while Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (QC) Équipe du Québec earned a decisive victory in the Junior Women’s competition.

The Elite Men’s 186.2km race would see a new title holder crowned as defending champion Antoine Duchesne (Groupama FDJ) was sidelined with surgery for endofibrosis in the iliac artery of his left leg.

The attacks started early with 119 starters but every move was shut down as Rally UHC Cycling and Floyd’s Pro Cycling were the active teams in the pack. A lead group of 35 riders began the first of eight circuits but soon it was shattered on the brutal Saint-Odilon climb.

On the third lap James Piccoli (QC) Elevate Khs Pro Ccycling found himself alone out front and decided the timing was “right”. Soon he had over two minutes as the chasers were caught off guard and disorganized which the savvy lone escapee hoped might happen.

Despite lots of firepower with the likes of former champs Guillaume Boivin (QC) Israel Cycling Academy, Bruno Langlois (QC) Velo Cartel X Bello and legendary Svein Tuft (BC) Rally UHC Cycling the chasers seemed impotent or unwilling to find the momentum to reel in the lone leader.

As the pressure mounted Piccoli’s lead hovered around 2:50 as a group of nine chasers finally got organized including U23 riders Zukowsky and Chris Ernst (ON) Hewdog Racing, along with Ontario’s Bruce Bird (Wheels Of Bloor / Autostyle Collision) who holds four UCI World titles.

The small chase group also included De Vos and teammate Nigel Ellsay (BC) who worked together, and as Piccoli exited the circuits and headed back to Saint-Georges, his lead and hopes were dwindling – now under 2 minutes.

Ernst, Bird and Arvin Moazami Godarzi (Ncch Elite p/b MGCC) could not keep pace as Piccoli was now a marked man and after 120km away solo he was caught with 10km remaining.

Ellsay attacked promptly and Zukowsky did his best but was out-numbered as de Vos shadowed him and then took charge himself joining his teammate for a spectacular 1-2 finish for Rally UHC Cycling with Zukowsky taking the U23 title finishing third.

“We had seven super strong guys and just had to use our numbers as that’s our strength. James got away with a scary dangerous move but we had two guys in the final chase group and knew from Beauce that we could make up good time in the last section. Still I was worried, and Piccoli had an incredible day, but we caught him with about 10 kilometres to go and then Nigel jumped.

“I stayed with Zukowsky and Alexis [Cartier] and then went in the same spot that I attacked at the Tour de Beauce and made it up to Nigel in the last turn and then just rode as hard as I could. I’ve always wanted to represent Canada in the custom kit that national champions get to wear and I’m so excited to race all over the world and represent Canada and Rally UHC,” said de Vos – full interview here.

Zukowsky was appreciative of the fans and his team. “It helps so much when you’ve got family and friends cheering you on – it gives you that little of extra that so important. It was a super hard course even though it wasn’t necessarily as selective as last year. We started riding harder once we got off the circuit and I felt pretty good but I started to cramp up when Nigel attacked, so I couldn’t follow him and then he was gone. Of course the goal was the overall win but I’m super happy to take the U23 Men’s title.” – full interview here.

In the Junior women’s race, Vallières-Mill (Équipe du Québec) dominated from the very start, breaking away from the pack in the first kilometres along with four other riders. She eventually distanced herself from the lead group and finished more than 3 minutes ahead of silver and bronze medallists Laury Milette (Ottawa Bicycle Club) and Camille Primeau (Équipe du Québec).

“We started accelerating after the first 10 kilometers and we worked really well together which allowed us to get ahead of the pack and we managed to keep that gap until the end. I’m really happy to have won both races and I feel honored to be able to wear the Canadian champion jersey for the rest of the season,” said Vallières-Mill.

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