July 19, 2007 (Mt. Washington, BC) – The rain specialists were shining at Mt. Washington yesterday on Vancouver island at the resort was host to the 2007 Canada MTB Cup downhill finals on Wednesday, July 18. The 1.6km course dropped over 400m through rock and root infested woods and along high speed fireroad traverses and is touted as one of the best the Canada Cup DH circuit has seen in years.

Speeds were high, and technical riding ability was at a premium. It was a perfect blend of woods and open sections, and not only allowed those with the best overall riding abilities to rise to the top, but showcased what a downhill course should look like.

Just as race time approached for the elite riders, the sunny skies opened up and did their best to soak the course. The once dusty, loose track turned into a quagmire with small rivers running down in a few sections. Some of the most experienced veteran riders were licking their lips, knowing exactly what was ahead.

Nick Dent of Vancouver was first in “hot seat” and spent some time there with a time of 4:05. As riders continued down the course, the rain never let up, pouring gallon upon gallon of water onto an already waterlogged course. The top layer of silt turned into slime, making things that much worse. Eventually it was Giant Bicycles’ Luke Kitzanuk who turned in the fastest time, stopping the clock with a 3:56. Close behind was Mitchell Delfs (AUS, DHracer/Intersport). Jeff Beatty (Mojo/Orange) rounded out the top 3.

Kitzanuk talked about his run shortly after the race. “It was completely out of control from top to bottom. I almost died at least once. Two feet out on one of the earlier corners then I learned my lesson and had to keep it inline for the rest of the run. It was very slippery, hard to see, lots of mud on the goggles. I’m glad I wore flats,” said Kitzanuk.

For the women, it was Micayla Gatto (Rocky Mountain/Haywood) of Vancouver, B.C. continuing her domination of the elite Canadian women’s class. Gatto obliterated her competition winning with a time of 4:56.16. Sheila Morris of Ontario (Gravitesse) took second place and Katrina Strand (BC) Scott/Oakley took third.

Pedal caught up with Gatto just after her race run, and she was just happy to be safe in the finish area. “I’m just happy to have gotten down the hill today in one piece and with no crashes – not everyone was so lucky”

With their wins, both Kitzanuk and Gatto have locked up the overall Canada MTB Cup DH titles for 2007, congratulations.

Racing continues here Thursday with seeding runs for the Canadian National DH Championships on Friday, July 20.

Results

Elite Women

1. Micayla Gatto (BC) Rocky Mountain Haywood 4:56.016
2. Sheila Morris (ON) Gravitesse 5:12.341
3. Katrina Strand (BC) 5:25.011
4. Tanya Grunsky (BC) Cyclepath Kelowna-Utopia Optics 5:29.379
5. Miranda Miller (BC) Marin Bikes/Mad March Racing”¦ 5:29.795
6. Anne Laplante (QC) Équipe du Québec 5:35.633
7. Amber Zirnhelt (BC) Brodie Bikes/Loeka 5:39.782
8. Kelly Kozevnikov (BC) Steed Cycles 5:41.127
DNS Kerry-Anne Hamilton (BC) Epic Riders
DNS Marie-Eve Marcotte (QC) Équipe du Québec

Elite Men

1. Luke Kitzanuk (BC) Giant Mountain Bike Team 3:56.820
2. Mitch Delfs (AUS) 3:58.273
3. Jeff Beatty (BC) Orange Mojo 3:58.320
4. James Biluk (BC) Cove Bikes 3:58.385
5. Charles-Alexandre Dubé (QC) Cove bike-Sombrio 4:00.175
6. Hans Lambert (QC) Sports Aux Puces-Oakley-Hype Energy 4:04.308
7. Tyler Morland (BC) Cove Bikes 4:05.256
8. Nick Dent (BC) Giant Canada/NRG 4:05.542
9. Andrew Mitchell (BC) 4:05.827
10. Kevin Bartkowski (BC) Cove Scram Bikes 4:06.593
11. Justin Brown (ON) Cycle Solutions 4:07.596
12. Eric Goss (BC) Giant Canada 4:08.333
13. Geoff Pendrel (BC) PinkBike 4:09.199
14. Mauricio Acunaquintana (CHI) A.G. Brothers 4:09.332
15. Louis-Phillippe Leonard (QC) Equipe Quebec 4:09.430
16. Guillaume Soucy-Alarie (QC) BDH racing 4:10.629
17. Derek Chambers (BC) PinkBike/Devinci 4:10.717
18. Simon Garstin (BC) Mountain City Cycles 4:12.235
19. Peter Mclean (ON) Primary/Daredevil/Devinci/Sram”¦ 4:13.666
20. Drew Pautler (ON) Primary Daredevil 4:14.805
21. Justin Terwiel (BC) Full Boar 4:15.195
22. Dean Tennant (BC) Appalache/Dangerboy 4:16.131
23. Steve Smith (BC) Cove 4:17.130
24. Cristian Araya (Chi) Rocky Mtn Chile 4:17.849
25. Tim Coleman (BC) John Henry Bikes 4:18.004
26. Neil McKinnon (BC) 4:20.520
27. Justin Willoughby (AB) Calgary Cycle 4:21.346
28. Derek Cowell (ON) PiosonFrog Promotion 4:21.552
29. Yann Gauvin (QC) Équipe du Québec – Marin bikes 4:22.786
30. Ewan Farfard (BC) Maple Ridge Cycle 4:23.998
31. Dominick Ménard (QC) Team Giant Canada 4:24.092
32. Adam Mcconaghy (BC) Commencal/Drop Machine 4:24.930
33. Cody Eichhorn (BC) BMX Australia 4:26.816
34. Emmanuel Daoust (QC) 4:27.342
35. Couper Stuart (BC) Primary Divinci 4:27.773
36. Arnaud Dulude (QC) Martin Swiss Cycles 4:29.500
37. Brett Hornfelt (BC) Empire Bike Shop-Utopia-Crankbrothers 4:29.806
38. James Jeannet (QC) Team DHRacer 4:30.136
39. Steve Chan (BC) Giant 4:30.511
40. Vincent Tremblay (QC) Équipe du Québec/Devinci 4:33.117
41. Pablo Bascunan (Chi) Giant Chile 4:33.841
42. Tyler Gorz (BC) Norco/Fox/Utopia Optics 4:36.625
43. Scott Halvorson (BC) Team Squamish/Kona/MMR 4:37.980
44. Chris Fisher (BC) 4:39.382
45. Jeremy Allouche (BC) Marin/ MMR 4:39.472
46. Darryl Bartlett (BC) Cove Scram Bikes 4:41.261
47. Leighton Allsop (BC) Transition Bikes 4:42.356
48. Tyler Paksi (AB) ADHRA 4:43.522
49. Kyle Lockyer (ON) Cycle Solutions 4:44.886
50. Nicholas Foster (QC) Orange/Mojo 4:45.245
51. Matt Zdriluk (ON) Commencal/Dropmachine.com 4:46.060
52. Curtis Teichrib (BC) Full Boar Bike Store 4:46.747
53. Jorge Acunaquintana (Chi) A.G Brothers 4:46.880
54. Joey Jenkins (ON) Primary Daredevil 4:49.943
55. Robert McPhalen (AB) Calgary Cycle 4:51.979
56. Maxime Fortin Faubert (QC) FH RACING 4:52.368
57. John Farrow (AUS) mtba 4:55.269
58. Felipe Contreras (Chi) 4:57.421
59. Kevin Cooper (AB) Calgary Cycle 4:58.728
60. Nick Quinn (AB) CC DH Team 4:59.969
61. Patricio Alvamado (Chi) 5:01.881
62. Craig Hamilton (BC) Epic Riders 5:01.881
63. Quinn Lanzon (QC) Primary Daredevil 5:06.609
64. Fraser Britton (QC) Orange Mojo 5:08.170
65. Stephen Buresy (BC) Gericks Cycle 5:12.392
66. Harrison Gould (BC) Kona MMR Sombrio 5:16.717
67. Patrick Bisson (QC) Impact Designs.ca 5:18.474
68. Geoff Briggs (AB) Calgary Cycle DH Team 5:22.940
DNF Robbie Davidson (ON)
DNS Cameron Loftus (ON) FH RACING
DNS Jean Philippe Da Silva (QC) Ironhorse/Intersport