June 07, 2017 (Lachine, QC) – If the first leg of Lachine’s Mardis cyclistes is a prelude to the 40th anniversary season, there will be a great competition throughout the summer. Jean-François Laroche, Cycles Régis, was expected to win, but it was Pierrick Naud (Rally Cycling), who took top honours in the final sprint of the Elite men’s race.
Naud deserved his victory as he was one of those who animated the race. He won the first two sprints of the 2017 season and was at the forefront for the other three.
“It’s been a great night. My form is good at the moment, I had a great competition this past weekend in Charlevoix,” said Naud. Jean-François’s team had a good train in the final sprint. I took his wheel and went out well to double it at the finish.”
Naud is not in his first stage victory on Tuesdays, he finished second in the cumulative ranking in 2015. For his part, Laroche was half-fig, half-grape.
‘It was a rock and roll race. The pace was slow and I did not go out well in the sprint, said Laroche who tries to win a seventh championship. But Pierrick must be given credit, he had good legs. ‘
It must be said that the evening had begun badly for Laroche. He was involved in a fall with a dozen other riders on the seventh lap. And as the regulations allow for this kind of races, he was able to regain the peloton. More fear than harm.
No less than 111 riders took the start of the first stage played under a cool temperature. It is unclear whether it was the freshness or the fact that it was in the first stage of the season, but the peloton was stressed and there were several falls. Fortunately, without any serious consequences.
Tribute to Louise Lalonde
Prior to the start of the Pro-Élites Cup, Joseph ‘Tino’ Rossi highlighted the work of Louise Lalonde, Chief Commissioner, for his involvement in the first 39 years of the Lachine Tuesdays.
The Mayor of Lachine, Claude Dauphin, presented a commemorative plaque to Mrs. Lalonde, while Jean-François Néron, from Cycle Néron, presented her with a sheaf of flowers.
At the Women’s Cup, Raphaele Lemieux, IBike, picked up where she left last season, she who had won the title.
Lemieux took the honors of the first stage ahead of Dafné Théroux-Izquierdo, Desjardins Ford, and Emma Delisle, Stingray / Trek by Ultime Vélo.
Among the cadets, Alexandre Poirier of CCB-Ultime Vélo won the event before Tristan Jussaume, Dynamiks of Contrecoeur, and Jérôme Courtemanche, Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo.
In the women’s relay, Adèle Desgagnes, VC Métropolitain, won in front of Lyse Ann Coffin, Néron Sprint, and Camille Primeau, Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo.
In the boys, Matisse Julien, Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo, was ahead of two representatives of Cycle Néron, Charles-Antoine Pilote and Nicolas Fauchon-Roy.
Coralie Lévesque, CCB-Ultime Vélo, won the Minor Girls Trial.
Stéphanie Lespérance, Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo, finished second in front of Elissa Proulx, Xpress Quebecor.