November 19, 2007 (Cali, Colombia) — Quebec riders Daniel Chalifour of Mont-Laurier and his pilot Alexandre Cloutier of Quebec City as well as Éric Bourgault of Orford and Jean Quévillon of Ste-Adèle were the top Canadian riders at the Pan American Open paracycling championships held in Cali, Colombia.

Chalifour and Cloutier showed they are major players in the tandem races at the international level. They were undefeated on the track at the championships posting victories in the individual pursuit, the kilo race and the sprint.

They bettered the Canadian record by nine seconds in the individual pursuit clocking four minutes and 25.928 seconds in qualifying. “We took off like a rocket,” said Chalifour. “These championships are my most memorable moment in sport.”

Bourgault (LC2 disability class) collected five medals and five Pan Am titles. On the road, he won gold in the time trial and took silver in the road race. On the track, he was second in the team sprint and the individual pursuit and added a bronze in the kilo race.

“I like being the Pan American champion,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting that kind of result especially after my subpar performance at the world championships. I’m very satisfied.”

On Sunday, Bourgault took silver in the road race battling his way through a 40-rider field competing for three disability category titles. “It was a good performance and I like the way I rode,” he said.

Quévillon (cerebral palsy) earned silver in the individual pursuit, team sprint, and the time trial as well as a bronze in the kilo race. He collected three Pan Am titles but broke his right collar bone in Sunday’s road race.

“Jean faced the time trial world champion Darren Kenny of Britain,” said Canadian national team coach Eric Van Den Eynde. “On the first lap, Kenny built a 28-second lead over Jean which is normal. But on the second lap he gained only a half-second more. Jean continues to improve at age 44.”

Van Den Eynde was upbeat with his troops’ performances this past week. “Progression is what’s most important and all our athletes bettered their personal bests on the track. Several Canadian records were also lowered.”

“In addition Chalifour and Cloutier posted a time that shows they could win a medal at the world championships.”

Van Den Eynde is also confident that the Canadian team reached its goal to qualify seven spots for the Paralympic Games.

“We are confident for seven spots and possibly an eighth.” The number of spots for Canada at the Beijing Paralympics will be announced in mid-December.

Canadian results in Cali:

Sunday, November 11, track:
– Gold – individual pursuit – Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier (B&VI)
РSilver Рindividual pursuit РJean Qu̩villon (CP3)
– Silver – individual pursuit – Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
Р7th Рkilometre РGenevi̬ve Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)

Monday, November 12, track:
– Gold – kilometre – Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier (B&VI)
– Silver – kilometre – Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
– 9th – individual pursuit – Mark Brandon (LC1)

Tuesday, November 13, track:
РBronze Рkilometre РJean Qu̩villon (CP3)
– Bronze – kilometre – Éric Bourgault (LC2)
Р8th Рindividual pursuit РGenevi̬ve Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)
– 11th – kilometre – Mark Brandon (LC1)

Wednesday, November 14, track:
– Gold – sprint – Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier (B&VI)
– Silver – team sprint – Jean Quévillon (CP3), Éric Bourgault (LC2) and Mark Brandon (LC1)
– 6th – sprint – Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)

Friday, November 16, road:
– Gold – time trial – Éric Bourgault (LC2)
– Gold – time trial – Mark Beggs (HCB)
– Silver – time trial – Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
РSilver Рtime trial РJean Qu̩villon (CP3)
Р9th Рtime trial РSt̩phane C̫t̩ and Pierre-Olivier Boily (B&VI)
Р9th Рtime trial РGenevi̬ve Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)
– 14th – time trial – Mark Brandon (LC1)

Saturday, November 17, road:
– Silver – road race – Mark Beggs (HCB)

Sunday, November 18, road:
– Silver – road race – Éric Bourgault (LC2)
Р5th Рroad race РGenevi̬ve Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)
Р7th* Рroad race РSt̩phane C̫t̩ and Pierre-Olivier Boily (B&VI)
– 11th* – road race – Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
– 15th* – road race – Mark Brandon (LC1)
РDNF Рroad race РJean Qu̩villon (CP3)

* Approximate finish, official results not available