July 21, 2002, – (Kamloops, B.C.)
The sky above Sun Peaks Resort in Kamloops was cloudless for the Tim
Hortons Canadian National Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships, Sunday
July 21, making the open climbs even more relentless. And to top it off, if
racers didn’t ride fast enough, they were surrounded by swarms of hungry
blackflies. The weekend saw some familiar faces take the red and white
Maple Leaf jersey, for National Champion, as well as some new ones.
In the Pro Women’s category, Alison Sydor won her umpteenth National
championship, putting almost 4 minutes into Marie-Helene Premont
(Oryx/Carrera) and Kiara Bisaro (GearsRacing). In the Men’s race, where
World Champion Roland Green (Trek/VW) was expected to win, a broken finger
in training the day before meant that Victoria native Geoff Kabush (Kona)
took the win over teammate Peter Wedge (Kona) with Andreas Hestler (Rocky
Mt.) in third. This victory certainly confirms Kabush’s strength after a
controversial selection to the Commonwealth Games. Ricky Federau (Gears
Racing) won the Espoir title, while the Junior Women’s top spot went to
Jean-Ann McKirdy (Rocky Mt.) and the Junior Expert Men’s champion is Max
Plaxton.
SENIOR ELITE WOMEN
1 SYDOR, Alison BC TREK/VW
2 PREMONT, Marie-Helene QC ORYX/CARRERA/SUBARU
3 BISARO, Kiara BC GEARSRACING.COM
4 CHORNEY, Eron AB ROCKY MTN BICYCLES
5 KOERBER, Willow USA CANE CREEK
6 WALTER, Sandra BC KAPPA/FLASH-5/ALPHA
7 CHORNEY-WILSON, Amber BC
8 SANDERS, Julie QC OAKLEY
9 BANKS, Tanis BC CAN
10 TRIMBLE, Sue ON GEARSRACING.COM
SENIOR ELITE MEN
1 KABUSH, Geoff BC KONA
2 WEDGE, Peter NB KONA
3 HESTLER, Andreas BC ROCKY MTN/OAKLEY
4 TOULOUSE, Mathieu QC GEARSRACING.COM
5 KYLE, Andrew BC NORCO FACTORY TEAM
6 SHEPPARD, Chris BC HARO LEE DUNGARES
7 PRUNER, Michael BC JOHN HENRY BIKES
8 LEGA, Roddi AB GREEN MOUNTAIN CYCLE
9 REAIN, Greg ON GEARSRACING.COM
10 JAKOMAIT, Jesse ON
ESPOIR MEN
1 FEDERAU, Ricky BC GEARSRACING.COM
2 SNEDDON, Kris BC KONA
3 BUNNIN, Shawn SK DOUG’S SPOKE/OAKLEY
4 ROUTLEY, Will BC ROCKY MTN/HAYWOOD
5 GARRIGAN, Mike ON TEAM ONTARIO/HARDWOO
6 MACBURNIE, Dustin NS
7 PATTERSON, Matt ON CAN TEAM ONT./BAY CYCLE
8 MCLEOD, Leith MB OLYMPIA/VW/KAHIRE
9 VAN TOEVER, James PE HIGHLAND’S CYCL TEAM
10 HADLEY, Matthew NB POWER BAR TEAM ELITE
JUNIOR EXPERT WOMEN
1 MCKIRDY, Jean-Ann BC ROCKY MOUNTAIN
2 BLANCHETTE, Sophie-Anne QC
3 CASE, Kylie MB
4 TORRESAN, Elsie QC CYCLONE
5 SCALLION, Kate NS NORCO
6 HUPIN-DEBEURME, Mathilde QC RAVITO-X-TREME BARS
7 LUPIEN, Marie-Laurence QC SPECIALIZED/SUBARU
8 PAQUIN, Claudia QC ORYX/PROCYCLE
9 KINDREE, Meghan BC MOM&DAD
10 BAKER, Brook BC OAKLEY/SPECIALIZED
JUNIOR EXPERT MEN
1 PLAXTON, Maximiliam
2 BUSSIERES, Frederic QC GEARSRACING.COM
3 ZANDSTRA, Derek ON TEAM ONTARIO/BAYCYC.
4 TRUDEL, Jeremy QC LA VIE SPORTIVE
5 FAIRALL, Bradley BC ROCKY MTN BICYCLES
6 WEST, Tyler BC ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIKES
7 THORPE, Ryan ON TEAM ONTARIO/BAYCYC.
8 GREEN, Matthew BC STEED CYCLES/SRAM
9 SHERSTOBITOFF, Tim BC FRESH AIR EXPERIENCE
10 VENNES, Jean-Francois QC RECORD/TVA