June 6, 2006 (Hardwood Hills, Ont.) – It wasn’t a surprise when Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) won the 36-kilometre elite women’s race at Hardwood Hills on Sunday, but the race for the second and third was an exciting one. Prémont immediately controlled the race from the front, with last weekend’s winner, Catharine Pendrel (BC, Norco) and Kiara Bisaro (BC, Team R.A.C.E.) riding together until the third of four laps, when Bisaro passed Pendrel.

A few minutes later, Canada Cup leader, Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape) came charging from the back, overtaking Pendrel and eventually Bisaro to take second spot. Bisaro finished third and Pendrel fourth. Dyck is still in the series lead with 550 points, followed by Pendrel in second place with 510 points and Jean Ann McKirdy (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) in third spot with 390 points.

Ricky Federau (BC, Team R.A.C.E.) was on the offensive in the 45-kilometre elite men’s race, taking the lead in the first lap, followed by a chase group of half a dozen riders. Federau would eventually take the win on the fast, dry course, followed by Marty Lazarski (ON, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) in second place and Derek Zandstra (ON, Team Ontario) in third. The race for the men’s overall rankings are tight. Raphael Gagne (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) leads with 425 points, followed by Neal Kindree (BC, Kona-Les Gets) with 420 points and Andrew Watson (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) with 405 points.

Emily Batty (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) snared another victory in the 27-kilometre junior women’s race, putting more than 2.5 minutes between herself and second place, Kaitlin Michener (Arrow Racing-Team Ontario). Alex Hamelin Gelinas (Equipe Quebec-Cycle Outaouais) finished third. Batty leads the series with a perfect score of 300 points, followed by Gelinas with 225 points and Michener with 215 points.

Francis Morin (Equipe du Quebec-Devinci), who placed second at Tremblant the previous weekend, took the win in the 36-kilometre men’s race, followed by Paul Benson (Manitoba-Alter Ego-Trek) in second spot. Michael Mitchnick (Urban Athlete-Sportswap) placed third. Morin now leads the series with 219 points, followed by the winner of the first two races, Alex Harvey (QC, Devinci) with 200 points (Harvey did not start at Hardwood) and Cody Canning (ERTC-Redbike) with 190 points.

Women
Overall after three events
1. Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape) 550 points
2. Catharine Pendrel (BC, Norco) 510
3. Jean Ann McKirdy (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 390

Men
Overall after three events
1. Raphael Gagne (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 425 points
2. Neal Kindree (BC, Kona-Les Gets) 420
3. Andrew Watson (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) 405

Junior Women
Overall after three events
1. Emily Batty (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) 300 points
2. Alex Hamelin Gelinas (Equipe Quebec-Cycle Outaouais) 225
3. Kaitlin Michener (Arrow Racing-Team Ontario) 215

Junior Men
Overall after three events
1. Francis Morin (Equipe du Quebec-Devinci) 219 points
2. Alex Harvey (QC, Devinci) 200
3. Cody Canning (ERTC-Redbike) 190