July 24, 2005 (White Rock, B.C.) – Junior riders Karol-Ann Canuel (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) and Joelle Numainville (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) from Quebec picked up the top two spots in the 80-kilometre women’s road race this morning, proving that the future is bright for Canadian road cycling. In the men’s race, Kirk OBee (USA, Navigators Insurance) pulled off a courageous solo breakaway and won the 135-kilometre event.

Canuel’s ride was perhaps even more courageous, however. She almost didn’t start because of illness, which prevented her from racing in the criterium yesterday and kept her up all night. The 17-year-old from Amos, Que. couldn’t face watching the women’s field roll off the start line without her, so she gave it a go. She said she considered dropping out of the race, but her teammate and friend, Numainville, encouraged her throughout. “Joelle is a good teammate,” said Canuel.

“It’s like a dream,” said Numainville of her strong race today, which bumped her up to third-place in the omnium. Canuel and Numainville will represent Canada at the Junior World Road Cycling Championships in Austria this August, along with Naomi Cooper (BC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team), who placed 12th.

Anna Tratnyek (ON, Terry) finished third. Brei Gudsell (NZL, BikeNZ) won the omnium by placing fourth today and first in yesterday’s criterium.

The men’s field powered around 11 laps of a hilly 10-kilometre course, followed by 6 laps of a shorter, 3.8-kilometre loop. An early three-man break, including Eric Wohlberg (ON, Symmetrics), Gord Fraser (ON, Health Net) and Brandon Crichton (ON, ItalPasta), built up a gap of 1:48 minutes before getting caught with seven (one long and six short) laps to go. OBee made his move on the 11th lap and built his advantage up to 2.5 minutes. In the end, he had two minutes on second place, Pablo Araya (CRC, Costa Rica) and third place, Christian Meier (NB, Symmertrics).

Broadmark’s Dustin MacBurnie (NS, Broadmark) won the omnium with 18 points and placed fifth in the stage. Derek McMaster (SK, Team Coastal) also had 18 points in the omnium, but he finished behind MacBurnie in the stage.

The long loop, which gave riders a great view of the ocean, contained two significant, steep climbs and several tricky corners. Three riders from the men’s field went to hospital after two crashes on a high-speed descent.

The White Rock Road Race was the seventh stage in BC Superweek, which kicked off with the Tour de Delta last weekend, continued with the exciting Tour de Gastown criterium Wednesday and wound up with the White Rock events.

Results

Women, 80km

1. Karol-Ann Canuel (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) 2:37:44.8
2. Joelle Numainville (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) 2:37:45.0
3. Anna Tratnyek (ON, Terry) s.t.
4. Brei Gudsell (NZL, BikeNZ) s.t.
5. Christina Briante (BC, Symmetrics) 2:38:02.0
6. Jean Ann McKirdy (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) s.t.
7. Heather Lamson (BC, Wentings Cycle) 2:38:03.3
8. Marni Hambleton (BC, Symmetrics) s.t.
9. Mandy Poitras (BC, Symmetrics) s.t.
10. Leah Guloien (BC, Sugoi-Giant) s.t.
11. Jo Ryder (NZL, BikeNZ) 2:38:04.1
12. Naomi Cooper (BC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) s.t.
13. Alena Radomsky (BC, Team Coastal) s.t.
14. Lisa Sweeney (BC, Team Coastal) 2:38:05.1
15. Jenny Trew (BC, Team Coastal) 2:39:13.0

Omnium

1. Brei Gudsell (NZL, BikeNZ), 27 points
2. Christina Briante (BC, Symmetrics), 21
3. Joelle Numainville (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team), 21
4. Lisa Sweeney (BC, Team Coastal), 18
5. Jenny Trew (BC, Team Coastal), 14

Men, 130km

1. Kirk OBee (USA, Navigators Insurance) 3:32:56.4
2. Pablo Araya (CRC, Costa Rica) 3:34:50.5
3. Christian Meier (BC, Symmetrics) 3:34:59.9
4. Tyler Farrar (USA, Health Net) 3:35:11.1
5. Dustin MacBurnie (NS, Broadmark) s.t.
6. Philippe Abbott (AB, Team Alberta) s.t.
7. Phil Zajicek (USA, Navigators Insurance) s.t.
8. Sean Dawson (MB, Trek-Red Truck Ale) s.t.
9. Derek McMaster (SK, Team Coastal) s.t.
10. Andrew Fischer (USA, Broadmark) s.t.
11. Svein Tuft (BC, Symmetrics) s.t.
12. Tom Peterson (USA, Broadmark) s.t.
13. Siro Camponogara (ITA, Navigators) s.t.
14. Justin Davis (AUS, Wentings Cycle) s.t.
15. Tim Sherstobitoff (BC, Kelowna Cycle) s.t.

Omnium

1. Dustin MacBurnie (NS, Broadmark), 18 points
2. Derek McMaster (SK, Team Coastal), 18
3. Tyler Farrar (USA, Health Net), 17
4. Kirk OBee (USA, Navigators Insurance), 16
5. Andrew Pinfold (ON, Symmetrics), 15