June 25, 2013 (Lachine, QC) – Newly crowned 2013 Canadian crit champ, Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Quebecor), delivered another victory for his team taking the win at stage 4 of the Pro-Élite Mardis Cyclistes p/b Jean Coutu Series on a cool evening in Lachine under clear skies. Felix Côté-Bouvette (Ekoï-Devinci) placed 2nd and Jean-Michel Lachance (Predator Carbon Repair) was third. Veronique Labonte (Opus) was the lone woman as 82 riders were on the start line this evening. With his win Naud strengthened his hold on the leader’s jersey – results below.

Mardis Cyclistes Stage 4 Report
Pierrick Naud (Garneau Québecor) won the fourth weekly stage race of the Mardis Lachine presented by Jean Coutu bicycle races, just as he won a week earlier on June 18. Naud, the newly-minted Canadian criterium champion, stopped the clock at 1:00:53 in the 50km race.  Félix Côté-Bouvette (Ekoi-Devinci) finished second among the pro elite men, followed by Jean-Michel Lachance (Predator Cycling Carbon Repair) in third.

“I am very happy with this second win in two weeks and third podium in three weeks,” declared Naud. “There were three of us here from Garneau Québecor this evening and we worked well together. I hope to win the series and am trying to accumulate as many points as possible to do that.”

Francois Parisien (Team Argos-Shimano), wearing the colours of his European team, was back on home turf and animated the Mardis race, even winning one intermediate sprint. Another familiar face from Mardis races in previous years, David Veilleux (Europcar) remains in Europe where he will be on the start line at the Tour de France on Saturday, June 29.

The weather was cool and the pavement dry as some 82 cyclists competed in the men’s pro-elite race this evening. It is a very rare sight to see a woman strong enough to take on the men,  but that is exactly what Veronique Labonté (CSM Epinay-sur-Seine) did; she DNF’d after completing about 26 of the 31 fast-paced laps.

In the battle for the 2013 series title, Naud’s two stage victories put him in the overall lead with 413 cumulative points after four of the ten weekly races. He is followed by Côté-Bouvette with 358 while the 2012 defending champion, Jean Francois Laroche (Fantino Mondello Cycles Regis) sits in third at 326. Laroche’s team of amateurs seemed content with his fourth place finish against pros from both sides of the Atlantic and was in a festive mood after the race.

Among the women, Élisabeth Albert (Rocky Mountain Lessard Bicycle) outpaced Alizée Brien (GSD Gestion–Kallisto-Specialized) for second and Rosalie Cardin Houde (Iamgold-Specialized) in third. Albert–who won the U23 title at the Canadian Road Championships in Beauce over the weekend–told us that her legs were in fine form.

The minime women’s race was won by Laurie Jussaume (Dynamiks de Contrecoeur) who is now in second place behind series leader Charlotte Tousignant (Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo).  Griffin Schwartz (independent) won the minime men’s race ahead of Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski (VCL- Andre Cycle).  In the cadet category, Charles Côté (VCL-André Cycle) won the evening’s race and his team enjoyed a clean sweep of the podium with Thierry Kirouac Marcassa in second and Antoine Côté in third.

Results

Senior Men

1. Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Quebecor)
2. Felix Côté-Bouvette (Ekoï-Devinci)
3. Jean-Michel Lachance (Predator Carbon Repair)
4. Jean-François Laroche (Fantino Mondello/Cycles Régis)
5. Stephen Keeping (Stevens Racing)
6. Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Quebecor)
7. Martin Gilbert (Indépendant)
8. William Blackburn (Medique)
9. Olivier Delaney (Medique)
10. Dominic Chalifoux (Trek-Fiera)

Full results HERE.