November 6, 2004 – Talk about the far north! The Maxxis-Giant CX team rolled straight north to the seaport town of Dieppe, New Brunswick for the 2004 National Championship race. With cold temperatures and crazy powerful winds, tactics looked to be an important factor for the hour-long event. Seven-time reigning champ Peter Wedge (Kona) held the distinct home field advantage as well as a solid crowd base including his parents and family.

At the gun, Wedge and Maxxis-Giant rider Geoff Kabush launched off the front of the field immediately opening a substantial gap. Wedge continued on the throttle and distanced himself from Kabush, a common theme throughout the remainder of the race. Kabush maintained a gap of around eight seconds for much of the race, yo-yoing back and forth. The fierce winds wreaked havoc during the long exposed sections forcing the riders to spin a smaller gear and higher wattage output. Through the muddy, boggy sections Kabush would close down the time split, forcing Wedge to accelerate on the smooth pea gravel fire roads. With only 3 laps remaining, the race for the jersey was down to two riders with a solid minute separating Kabush and Wedge from the chasing Greg Reain (Gears Racing).

At two laps to go Wedge seemed to be slowing a bit as Kabush hit the accelerator. The time gap quickly dropped from 15 seconds to just a few meters. Kabush finally made contact with his former teammate at the base of the run-up and never again lost contact. The new Maxxis Locust proved to be an invaluable tire on the off-camber grassy sections allowing solid pedal strokes where other competitors needed to coast. With a lap and a half remaining, Kabush punched it and opened a small lead with a fading Wedge immediately losing his wheel. The Maxxis rider continued on his tear forcing his own pace and finishing a solid 20 seconds ahead of the silver medalist Wedge.

This marks Geoff Kabush’s 2nd ever National Title, 2002 Cross Country and now the 2004 Cyclo-Cross National Champion.

Results 1. Geoff Kabush – Maxxis-Giant – Canadian National Champion
2. Peter Wedge – Kona
3. Greg Reain – Gears Racing