June 27, 2017 (Ottawa, ON) – The time trial races on Day 3 featured rainy conditions again at the 2017 Global Relay Road Nationals p/b Lexus that saw a historic 10th Elite Men’s title claimed by Svein Tuft (BC) Orica-Scott while Karol-Ann Canuel (QC) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team celebrated her reclamation of the Elite Women’s ITT crown. Ontario’s Dana Gilligan (Team Ontario/Maverix Racing) and Graydon Staples (Team Ontario/Toronto Hustle) were the Junior ITT winners.

In the Elite Women’s 26km race it was Kirsti Lay (QC) Rally Cycling who powered into the hot seat unseating Alison Jackson (BC) BePink – Cogeas and was in control until a dozen riders later when former TT champ, Leah Kirchmann (MB) Team Sunweb, shattered the 40-minute barrier to take the lead in the rain.

Young Rally upstart Sara Poidevin (AB) delivered a solid time of 40:01 that eclipsed Lay by four seconds but fell just short of Kirchmann.

Yet there was no stopping Canuel who “poured on the pain” passing six riders including Poidevin to reclaim the Elite Women’s crown as she bested Kirchmann by 17 seconds for a resounding victory.

Poidevin took the U23 Women’s crown with teammate Katherine Maine (ON) in second with Emily Marcolini (ON) HighGate Racing p/b D’Ornellas in third.

“I’m happy to win the time trial championship again with my family here as well,” said Canuel.  “It was a really hard course in the rain as well and it’s always special to wear the national jersey.”

Tuft, a double champion back in 2014, trained hard after the Giro to get into shape for this year’s 36km ITT at nationals. He admitted to taking thing for granted in the past and “not respecting the younger guys” which woke him up.

Silber’s Nigel Ellsay (BC) set a blistering early time that none could touch. Only his teammate Nickolas Zukowsky (QC) could challenge it as reigning road champ Matteo Dal-Cin (ON) Rally fell short as well sitting just behind Zukowsky.

It was another Silber rider, Adam Roberge (QC), who unseated Zukowsky for the U23 Men’s title as the last few riders would determine the final podium spots. Alexander Cowan (AB) also Silber, who won the Beauce TT, could only muster third in the U23 Men’s race making it an all-Silber sweep.

Next to make his mark was Rally’s Rob Britton who passed Roberge but not Ellsay. The became Tuft’s job and he did so with five seconds to spare. Only two riders remained on course that could defeat Canada’s hard-man of cycling but Alex Cataford (United Healthcare) and defending champ Ryan Roth (ON) Silber finished 8th and 10th respectively.

It was Tuft’s day to shine yet again and claim a record 10 ITT jerseys along with two road race titles for 12 overall. “It’s a tough course for sure. Looking back I was not ready the past couple of years which bothered me.

“It’s great to see the level of local talent improving in Canada but I didn’t respect the younger guys and paid for it. I was focused on this one and trained hard to deliver today so this victory is special on a personal level,” commented Tuft.”I’m happy with the way things worked out today.”

Ontario’s Staples took home his first national road title winning the 26km Junior Men’s ITT followed by reigning road champ, Charles-Etienne Chretien (QC) Equipe du Quebec, who landed on the podium in second with Chris Ernst (ON) Team Ontario finishing third.

Gilligan, also from Ontario, captured the 16km Junior Women’s ITT title for her first national jersey, while Laurie Jussaume (QC) Equipe du Quebec finished second and Erin J Attwell (BC) Cycling BC took the bronze.

Junior Women’s results here.
Junior Men’s results here.
Elite Women’s results here.
Elite Men’s results here.

 

Elite Men’s Photos

Elite Women’s Photos

Junior Men’s Photos

Junior Women’s Photos