May 22, 2011 (Mont Tremblant, QC) – The skies cleared after a short but intense thundershower on the eve of Saturday’s Canada MTB Cup XC #1 at Mont Tremblant to reveal a very warm noon-time start for the elite and junior expert categories. Despite the heat, the course was muddier and slicker than it had been all week, due to the morning races and earlier precipitation.

After the first round of the Canada MTB Cup series, Catherine Vipond (ON) Norco Factory Team and husband Matt Hadley (NB) Xprezo-Borsao are both in the elite leader’s jerseys, an occasion they sealed with a kiss atop the podium. Vipond led out the four-lap women’s race, but was passed by Jean Ann Berkenpas (BC) Xprezo-Borsao in some technical singletrack early on the first lap, with Brandi Heistermann (BC) Team Whistler and Sandra Walter (BC) Xprezo-Borsao also in the mix.

Berkenpas stormed on ahead, trying to gain a gap, while Vipond and Heistermann battled and Walter chased. Vipond eventually left Heistermann behind and hunted Berkenpas down on her own. On the start of the third lap, Vipond caught and attacked Berkenpas in what would be the decisive move. Vipond crossed the line first, defending her 2010 win here, followed by Berkenpas in second, Heistermann third, Walter fourth, and U23 rider Andreanne Pichette (QC) Opus in fifth.

“It definitely is a good way to start the season,” said Vipond of her victory. “I’ve done some races, but the Canada Cup was the first more important race.”

Men’s Race
The five-lap elite men’s race had a very deep field of over 70 riders, but it was Hadley who sorted out the order at the front and snagged his first Canada Cup victory since 2005. Another notable podium finish was that of Peter Glassford (ON) Trek Canada, who grabbed second place.

The race started in a big bunch, with Adam Morka (ON) Trek Canada leading it out up the climb on the first lap. It wasn’t until the second lap that a selection was made when Kris Sneddon (BC) Kona put in a dig to test the waters as he entered the singletrack. He was joined by Hadley and Cam Jette (ON) 3 Rox Racing. By the end of the big climb, it was Hadley at the front and leading into the descent, where he formed a small gap, but his chasers pulled him back on the paved bike path at the bottom of the course.

Going into the start of the singletrack on the start of Lap 3, it was Hadley who initiated the action, putting on the pressure up the climbs and opening a decisive gap on the ensuing descent, which he maintained all the way to the end of his race. The rest of the podium positions were snapped up by the storming Glassford, with Jette settling for third, Morka snapping up fourth, and Sneddon securing fifth. Andrew L’Esperance was the first U23 man in 8th place.

“It definitely feels good,” said Matt Hadley after his win. “It’s a bit of a relief, because I didn’t know how my form was coming into the race season. I haven’t really done any biggish races yet. It definitely boosts my confidence and it helps towards my main goal of MTB Worlds selection.

Both Hadley and Vipond won on full suspension bikes today. Hadley, who was on his new Xprezo Sub-5 said: “I’d say this is a dually course. I’d say on the downhill you can make it flow quite a bit more with a dually.”

Vipond, who has mainly raced a hardtail in the past, also opted for the softer ride. “I’m really enjoying riding and racing my new Norco Phaser,” she said.

Frederique Trudel (QC) Specialized Quebec dominated the three-lap junior expert women’s competition with a margin of 6:22 minutes over second place Catherine Fleury (QC) Cyclone d’Alma. Emily Fisher (ON) Angry Johnny’s/Cycle Solutions finished third.

The four-lap junior expert men’s race saw Marc-Antoine Nadon (ON) Team Ontario/3 Rox Racing secure victory with second place, Alexandre Vialle (QC) CVM Val-David trailing by one-and-a-half minutes. Vincent Bellhuneur (QC) Specialized Quebec rolled across the line another 18s back for the final spot on the podium.

More photos here.
Full results here.

Results (brief)

Junior Women
1. Frédérique Trudel (Specialized Québec) 1:27:13
2. Catherine Fleury (Cyclone d’Alma) 1:33:35
3. Emily Fisher (Angry Johnnys/Cycle Solutions) 1:34:01

Junior Men
1. Marc-Antoine Nadon (3 Rox Racing) 1:35:08
2. Alexandre Vialle (CVM Val-David) 1:36:38
3. Vincent Belhumeur (Specialized Québec) 1:36:50

Elite Women
1. Catherine Vipond (Norco) 1:47:11
2. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Xprezo-Borsao) 1:48:33
3. Brandi Hiesterman (Team Whistler) 1:49:34

Elite Men
1. Matthew Hadley (Xprezo-Borsao) 1:51:26
2. Peter Glassford (Trek Canada) 1:53:01
3. Cameron Jette (3Rox Racing) 1:53:57