June 03, 2019 (Lanark, Ont.) – The Wheelers Lanark-Liege “unofficial” National Gravel Championships p/b Euro-Sports took place on Saturday June 1st in the Ontario Highlands of Lanark County. A total of 164 participants tackled the 75km “Competitive” route, along with the 40km “Sport” course, that finished on the top of the now infamous “Stairway to Heaven” with a max gradient of 25%.

With top Canadian talent like Bruno Langlois (Velo Cartel), Derrick St. John (Trek Hyperthreads), Marc-Andre Daigle, Osmond Bakker and Doug van den Ham (nine2fivepro), Justin Purificati (Ride with Rendall), Edward Walsh and William Elliot (X-Speed United) the race blew apart fast.

Eventually Langlois and St. John escaped alone as the two X-Speed riders had unfortunate flats. With 10km to go Langlois went solo and despite descending at 76km/hr in a tuck on gravel St. John couldn’t close the gap. Yet with two 2nd place finishes St. John donned the men’s leader Yellow Jersey and now has a solid margin going into the next events.

In the women’s event Natasha Elliott (Trek Hyperthreads) continued her Gravel Cup winning streak and became Canada’s 1st unofficial female National Gravel Champion finishing 22nd overall while retaining her Gravel Cup Yellow Leader’s Jersey. A solid women’s field saw Jennifer Stephenson and Charly Thivierge (euro-sports) round out the podium.

Thanks to Wheelers, Blade Carbon Wheels, the Ottawa Valley ATV Club who were extremely professional, and all the volunteers who helped make this event happen. It was great to see everyone enjoying Lanark County gravel. Special mentions to Kevin Voelker who manned the feed station and Chris Olson who picked up an injured rider in his pickup, and my wife Trish and sister-in-law Suzanne, for handling the registration, making chocolate peanut butter balls and supporting the “Sport” course participants.

See you June 22nd at the Wheelers Maple Highlander.

Website here.
Facebook here.
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Registration here.

Results here.
Photo gallery (Robert Roaldi) here.