July 5, 2008 (Canmore, AB) – Round #5 of the Canada MTB Cup XC is underway in Canmore, AB under partly sunny skies in very dry conditions and 22 degree temperatures. The Elite women with 11 riders on the start list will race 3 laps of the 16.6km circuit while the men with 34 riders will complete 4 laps.

Lap 2
As the riders begin the second lap Tim Heemskerk (Ned) United Cycle Racing has a 1-min lead over 4 chasers including Stefan Widmer (BC) Rocky Mountain/K-Capital Source, Martin Lazarski (ON) Rocky Mountain/K-Capital Source, Matt Hadley (NB) Xprezo and Raphael Gagne (QC) Rocky Mountain. Craig Ritchey (BC) Aviawest-Oak Bay Bikes is 30 seconds back in 6th.

In the women’s race Mical Dyck (AB) Trek VW/Terrascape has a 30-sec lead over Melanie McQuaid (BC) Nature’s Path/BMC in second with Jean Ann McKirdy (BC) Rocky Mountain another 30 seconds back in third.

Lap 3 – Final Women
Heemskerk continues to lead by a minute over Lazarski, Widmer and Gagne. Hadley dropped back to 2 min back now with Julien Fillion (QC) Equipe du Quebec /Fillion-VM – 10 seconds behind them are Richey, Daniel Sessford (YK) Blue Competition Cycles) and Colin Kerr (Different Bikes).

Dyck is now 45 seconds ahead of McQuaid who is 1 minute ahead of McKirdy.

Lap 4 – Final Men
Heemskerk is powering ahead on his own with a 2-min lead over Lazarski, Widmer and Gagne. Another 2 minutes back are Richey and Kerr as the other riders have dropped back further.

Results

Elite Women

1. Mical Dyck (AB) Trek VW/Terrascape 1:36:57
2. Melanie McQuaid (BC) Nature’s Path/BMC 2:00
3. Jean Ann McKirdy (BC) Rocky Mountain 2:53
4. Joanna Harrington (BC) Fineline 6:13
5. Catharine Vipond (ON) Norco-Evolution 7:00

Elite Men

1. Tim Heemskerk (Ned) United Cycle Racing 1:48:23
2. Martin Lazarski (ON) Rocky Mountain/K-Capital Source 0:45
3. Stefan Widmer (BC) Rocky Mountain/K-Capital Source 1:45
4. Raphael Gagne (QC) Rocky Mountain 2:07
5. Matt Hadley (NB) Xprezo 4:32

Junior Men

1. Evan Guthrie (BC) Team BC 1:26:36
2. Nicolas Tremblay (QC) Charlevoix 0:01.5
3. Eric Emsky (US) 3:09

Junior Women

1. Bianca Adolf (BC) Team BC 1:09:28
2. Rebecca Beaumont (QC) Cyclone d’Alma 2:23
3. Stephanie Lacoursiere (QC) Cyclone d’Alma 5:50