March 20, 2017 (Tucson, Arizona) – Canadian riders were out in force at the 31st annual Tucson Bicycle Classic, March 17-19, as Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling) led a Canuck podium sweep in the Pro 1/2 Women’s overall GC victory while Nigel Ellsay of Silber Pro Cycling finished second overall in the men’s contest with fellow Canuck James Piccoli of the Pacific Premier Bank Cycling Team landing third on the overall GC podium.

Lay’s teammate Sara Bergen was second overall while Mie-Soleil Blais (Independent) rounded out the Pro 1/2 Women’s podium in third. The Pro-1 Men’s overall was won by Travis McCabe of United Healthcare. The three day stage race was comprised of a short opening time trail on Friday, followed by a road race on Saturday, and finished up with a circuit race on Sunday.

Stage 1 saw Rally Cycling sweep the podium in the Pro-1/2 Women’s Time Trail. American Kelly Caitlin led the orange charge with a time of 8:18.414. Canadians Sara Bergen and Kristi Lay followed closely behind with times of 8:19.311 and 8:22.900, respectively. Other Canadians inside the top-10 included Marie-Soleil Blais (independent) in 5th and Katherine Main (Rally Cycling) in 8th.

In the Pro-1 Men’s TT Canada’s Ryan Roth of Silber Pro Cycling led the Canadian charge for another podium sweep taking top honours with a time of 7:01.974. Piccoli finished 12 seconds down on Roth in second, while Ellsay rounded out the podium in third with a time of 7:17.137. Young Canadians Nickolas Zukowsky (5th) and Alec Cowan (10th), who are both new signings for Silber Pro Cycling this season also finished inside the top-10.

The Stage 2 Pro-1/2 Women’s Road Race again saw Rally Cycling displaying their strength with Catlin taking her second straight stage win four seconds ahead of teammate Bergen in second and Anne Donley (unattached) in third. The field shattered on the long drag to the finish with 10 other riders finishing on the same time as Bergen, including Blais in 4th. The top-3 in the General Classification remained the same after the stage, with Catlin extending her lead slightly to 10 seconds ahead of teammates Bergen and Lay.

The Men’s Pro-1 Road Race was animated by a 12-man group who separated themselves from the main field. From this group, McCabe, Ellsay and Chad Beyer (Canyon Bicycles) came to the line together, 18 seconds ahead of their fellow escapees. McCabe, who has already used his powerful sprint to win stages at the Herald Sun Tour and Le Tour de Langkawi this season, crossed the line first, ahead of former World Tour rider Beyer. Ellsay finished the day in third, gaining valuable time in the GC. Canadians Nicolas Masbourain (4th), Zukowsky (8th), Pier Andre Cote (9th) – all Silber Pro Cycling – and 7th-placed Anton Varabei (Toronto Hustle) all finished inside the top-10. Following the stage, Ellsay took over the overall lead from Roth, with a 3-second advantage over McCabe. Piccoli dropped one place to third at 18 seconds down on Ellsay.

The final stage of the TBC saw riders battle it out in the fast and rolling circuit race, which takes place on the west side of the city. The Pro-1/2 Women’s competition was dominated by Lay who finished solo with an advantage of 7:36. Bergen won a field sprint for the remaining podium spots, while American Jessica Bonilla (Crazy Cat Cyclery) finished third. Blais again remained consistent, finishing 4th in the stage which jumped her into 3rd on the final GC for an all-Canadian overall podium. Race leader Catlin was not listed as a finisher, and at this time Pedal Mag does not know the circumstances leading to this.

McCabe took his second win of the TBC on the final stage, finishing ahead of Beyer in second and teammate Lucas Sebastian Haedo (United Healthcare) in third. Canadians Varabei 6th, Ryan Aitcheson (First Internet Bank) 7th, Ellsay 8th and Piccoli 10th all finished inside the top-10. With the win, McCabe collected a 10-second time bonus, erasing his 3-second deficit to Ellsay and placing him at the top of the final overall podium.

Results (brief)

Stage 1 – Old Tucson/McCain Loop Time Trial – 5.14km

Women
1. Kelly Catlin (Rally Cycling) 0:08:18.414
2. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling) 0:01
3. Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling) 0:04
4. Andrea Fregoso (Crazy Cat Specialized U23) 0:16
5. Marie-Soleil Blais (Independent) 0:17

8. Katherine Maine (Rally Cycling) 0:26
31. Ruby West (Rise Racing) 1:46

Men
1. Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:07:01.974
2. James Piccoli (Pacific Premier Bank Cycling Team) 0:12
3. Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:16
4. Andrew Clemence (White Mountain Road Club) 0:19
5. Nickolas Zukowsky (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:21

10. Alec Cowan (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:36
18. Emile Jean (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:45
22. Julien Gagne (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:48
23. Nicolas Masbourian (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:51
24. Matteo Dal-Cin (Rally Cycling)
27. Pier Andre Cote (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:53
28. Alexis Cartier (H&R Block Pro Cycling Team) 0:54
35. Adam Roberge (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 1:01
37. Ryan Aitcheson (First Internet Bank) 1:05
38. Anton Varabei (Toronto Hustle)
43. Max Rubarth (Equipe Transports Lacombe/Devin) 1:08
54. Graydon Staples (Toronto Hustle) 1:24
56. Noah Simms (Toronto Hustle) 1:33
58. Trevor O’Donnell (Toronto Hustle) 1:37

Stage 2 – Garrett Lemire Memorial Road Race – 98.16km

Women
1. Kelly Catlin (Rally Cycling) 2:35:37
2. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling) 0:04
3. Anne Donley (Independent)
4. Marie-Soleil Blais (Independent)
5. Jessica Bonilla (Crazy Cat Cyclery)

13. Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling) 0:07
25. Catherine Ouellette (Team Quebec) 0:26
26. Ruby West (Rise Racing) 0:28
27. Katherine Maine (Rally Cycling) 0:37

Men
1. Travis McCabe (UnitedHealthcare ProCycling Team)  3:12:28
2. Chad Beyer (Canyon Bicycles)
3. Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
4. Nicolas Masbourian (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:18
5. Daniel Eaton (UnitedHealthcare ProCycling Team)

7. Anton Varabei (Toronto Hustle)
8. Nickolas Zukowsky (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
9. Pier Andre Cote (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
11. James Piccoli (Pacific Premier Bank Cycling Team)
14. Ryan Aitcheson (First Internet Bank) 1:52
17. Max Rubarth (Equipe Transports Lacombe/Devin) 1:54
21. Alec Cowan (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
22. Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
27. Graydon Staples (Toronto Hustle)
32. Noah Simms (Toronto Hustle)
40. Julien Gagne (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
41. Matteo Dal-Cin (Rally Cycling)
45. Trevor O’Donnell (Toronto Hustle) 2:18
47. Alexis Cartier (H&R Block Pro Cycling Team) 3:27
56. Emile Jean (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 7:05
62. Adam Roberge (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 26:44

Stage 3 – Tucson Shoulder Elbow + Hand Circuit Race – 80.46km

Women
1. Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling) 1:42:35
2. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling)  7:36
3. Jessica Bonilla (Crazy Cat Cyclery)
4. Marie-Soleil Blais (Independent)
5. Antonieta Gaxiola (CONADE-Visit Mexico-Specialized)

14. Catherine Ouellette (Team Quebec)
21. Ruby West (Rise Racing)
DNF Katherine Maine (Rally Cycling)

Men
1. Travis McCabe (UnitedHealthcare ProCycling Team) 1:52:51
2. Chad Beyer (Canyon Bicycles)
3. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (UnitedHealthcare ProCycling Team)
4. David Greif (Sabino Cycles Racing)
5. Adam Bryfogle (White Mountain Road Club)

6. Anton Varabei (Toronto Hustle)
7. Ryan Aitcheson (First Internet Bank)
8. Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
10. James Piccoli (Pacific Premier Bank Cycling Team)
12. Graydon Staples (Toronto Hustle)
15. Nicolas Masbourian (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
21. Max Rubarth (Equipe Transports Lacombe/Devin)
23. Nickolas Zukowsky (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
30. Trevor O’Donnell (Toronto Hustle)
31. Alec Cowan (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
37. Julien Gagne (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:13
38. Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
41. Matteo Dal-Cin (Rally Cycling) 0:30
42. Emile Jean (Silber Pro Cycling Team)
43. Pier Andre Cote (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:37
45. Alexis Cartier (H&R Block Pro Cycling Team) 1:08
57. Noah Simms (Toronto Hustle) 5:29
58. Adam Roberge (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 5:38

Final GC

Women
1. Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling) 4:26:32
2. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling)  7:24
3. Marie-Soleil Blais (Independent) 7:52
4. Andrea Fregoso (Crazy Cat Specialized U23) 7:54
5. Stefanie Sydlik (QCW Cycling) 8:01

21. Catherine Ouellette (Team Quebec) 9:16
28. Ruby West (Rise Racing 9:48

Men
1. Travis McCabe (UnitedHealthcare ProCycling Team) 5:12:25
2. Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:07
3. James Piccoli (Pacific Premier Bank Cycling Team) 0:25
4. Chad Beyer (Canyon Bicycles)
5. Nickolas Zukowsky (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 0:34

9. Nicolas Masbourian (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 1:04
11. Anton Varabei (Toronto Hustle) 1:18
12. Pier Andre Cote (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 1:40
13. Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 2:02
16. Alec Cowan (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 2:25
24. Julien Gagne (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 2:49
25. Ryan Aitcheson (First Internet Bank) 2:52
29. Max Rubarth (Equipe Transports Lacombe/Devin) 2:57
33. Matteo Dal-Cin (Rally Cycling) 3:10
34. Graydon Staples (Toronto Hustle) 3:13
40. Trevor O’Donnell (Toronto Hustle) 3:50
44. Alexis Cartier (H&R Block Pro Cycling Team) 5:23
45. Emile Jean (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 8:15
50. Noah Simms (Toronto Hustle) 10:35
61. Adam Roberge (Silber Pro Cycling Team) 33:18