June 23, 2018 (Le Baie, QC) – New Elite and U23 champions were crowned on the third day of the 2018 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Quebecor as hot temperature and dry conditions were the order of the day.
Katherine Maine (ON) Rally Cycling was a double champion with debut victories claiming both the U23 and Elite women’s titles while Antoine Duchesne (QC) Groupama-FDJ won a hard-fought Elite Men’s title on home turf for the first time in his stellar career.
Edward Walsh (NS) T-Palm PCW finished 10th overall topping the U23 Men’s field for another first. Walsh won the Junior Men’s title in 2014.
Elite/U23 Women’s RR
The Elite/U23 Women’s 8-lap 120.8km road race saw five riders escape with Maine among them while one was shed as the four gained over 3 minutes but they were reeled in on the sixth lap. A front group of 14 quickly formed that grew to 18 but then seven riders jumped, yet all had regrouped by the final lap.
Maine and Gibson attacked and it was game over as the duo surprised the pack quickly building up a sizeable lead of a minute. Behind Leah Kirchmann (MB) Team Sunweb was trying to lead the chase group but Rally and Cyclery Racing were not helping with riders up the road.
In the end Maine jumped to claim the biggest win of her career with Gibson settling for second as Sara Bergen (BC) Rally won the bunch sprint for third.
“I’m so excited and can’t thank my teammates enough,” said Maine at the finish. “The whole team just laid it all out there and we raced really well together and trusted in each other – I think that was the most important in the end.
“We’ll go for another title tomorrow in the Crit and then in July I head over to Europe with some of my teammates. It’s been a great season so far,” she concluded.
Elite/U23 Men’s RR
The Elite/U23 Men’s 12-lap 180.4km road race was one of attrition in sweltering heat as only 28 riders from 128 starters would finish.
Early attacks were all brought back but on the fourth lap four riders made their mark and got away including Cataford, Duchesne, Zukowsky and Anderson gaining over a minute lead.
Perry and Simms led the chase and soon nine riders joined the leaders including Piccoli, De Vos, Langlois, Burke, Ellsay, Walsh, and Gee. Behind the peloton was shattered and trying to regroup.
By mid-race the break was caught and Bruce Bird took a flyer that didn’t last long as seven riders took to the front while Tuft, who flatted earlier, was back and leading the second chase group. The leaders included Burke, Langlois, Piccoli, Britton, Duchesne, de Vos and Topping but Roth and Perry and then Lamoureux and Walsh bridged putting 11 riders up front.
The front group swelled again as Tuft brought back the chasers and then four attacked only to be caught. With three to go a group of seven formed including Perry, Duchesne, Britton, Langlois, Burke, Ellsay, Roth with four chasers at 25s including Tuft, Piccoli, De Vos, and Walsh.
With Duchesne and Perry pushing hard, Britton and Roth were at their limit and soon the others gave way as only Ellsay could match the two leaders and the three were away on the last lap as the final selection was made.
As the finish line approached Duchesne out-kicked his rivals to win his first Elite Men’s road race title on home turf as he lives in nearby Alma.
“My goal was to always be at the front and not get caught behind any important moves,” said Duchesne. “The strong teams were active but I made sure to go with any Silber or Rally riders and not have to chase.
“I pushed when everyone was tired and tried not to waste any matches. I felt really good today and tried to control every move… that’s what happened and it worked out for me in the end.”
Tomorrow riders will contest the Criterium, the final competition of the 2018 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Quebecor.
Interviews here.
Elite/U23 Men’s results here.
Elite/U23 Women’s results here.
