June 28, 2019 (St-Prosper, QC) – The 2019 Canadian Road Championships opened on Friday with the Individual Time Trial for Para, Junior, U23 and Elite athletes. While many familiar faces made it to the top step of the podium, athletes in the Tandem, Junior, U23 Women and Elite Men’s categories were awarded the maple leaf jersey for the first time in their career.
The time trial was held in St-Prosper, on the outskirts of St-Georges, with an out-and-back course that took the athletes up multiple climbs. Distances ranged from 11 to 34 kilometres depending on the category.
Two-time Canadian champion Leah Kirchmann was one of the favourites, taking the win with a time of 38:51, 29 seconds ahead of former champion Karol-Ann Canuel (Boels Dolmans), with Marie-Soleil Blais (Astana Women’s Team) taking third.
Olivia Baril (Magocep Tornatech Specialized p/b Mazda) took the title in the women’s U23 field, while Magdeleine Vallières-Mill dominated the Junior race.
“I knew I was a favourite coming in but I also knew that I have really strong Canadian competition so I was just focused on putting together my best ride. I expect tomorrow to be a really tough race, and there are a lot of strong teams so I will have to be tactically smart,” commented Kirchmann.
In the men’s race, Rob Britton (Rally UHC Cycling) won his first Canadian title with a time of 42:54, 14 seconds ahead of teammate and former champion Svein Tuft.
Adam Roberge (Elevate KHS Pro Cycling) took the third spot in the Elite race, and the title in the U23 men’s category, with Jacob Rubuliak (Tag Cycling Race Team) finishing first in the Junior field.
“I haven’t ridden my time trial bike that much, so to come here and have this ride today and to beat Svein who’s obviously a legend in his own right is amazing,” said Britton. “It was brutal out there today, so my plan was just to go all out in the first and last 8 kilometres and just try not to break my rhythm too much.”
The para-cycling competitions saw titles awarded in six different categories, with both male and female tandem teams taking their first win in a road competition. The Championships continue on Saturday and Sunday with the Road Race competition, and conclude on Monday with the Criterium.
“I’ve worked really hard for four years to get first today and it finally happened. It takes a lot of low days on the road to make the win that much sweeter. My coach has been working me really hard but the training has really paid off, and today was a good day to peak,” said Lowell Taylor, Men’s Tandem winner.
Full results here.
