July 02, 2013 (Lachine, QC) – Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale Pro Cycling) won the fifth round of the Mardis cyclistes de Lachine weekly stage race series presented by Jean Coutu, stopping the clock at 1:02:05 in the Senior Men’s 50km bike race. It was Boivin, who in 2009, became the historic record holder of the 36-year old Mardis series with a blistering time of 58:52.

Boivin signed with the Italian-based Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (formerly Liquigas-Cannondale) last November and is one of the top Canadian riders in the world. The surprise was not that Boivin won, but rather that he showed up back on home turf.

“I think that my record will be broken [but only] under ideal conditions,” suggested Boivin when asked about the $15,000 in prize money for anyone who breaks his 2009 record. “It was chilly this evening with a bit of rain and wind; that made things more difficult.” He made no mention of the smog warning issued by Environment Canada; thick smoke from forest fires in northern Quebec is covering Montreal.

Boivin received his winning bouquet of flowers from his wife, Catherine Drainville. The two were married last Saturday. When asked about their honeymoon, Boivin joked that it would be at a training camp for professional cyclists. “I knew nothing about cycling before going out with Guillaume,” laughed Drainville.

Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Québécor) took second place in this evening’s race, followed by Laurent Dallaire (Fantino/Mondello Cycles Régis). The race saw a breakaway group of five stay well in front of the pack for the final laps.

In terms of cumulative points, Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Québécor) remains in first place with 453 points halfway through the 10-stage series. Lambert-Lemay sits in second place with 395 points while Félix Côté-Bouvette (Ekoi-Devinci) is in third.
Meanwhile defending champion, Jean-François Laroche (Fantino Mondello/Cycles Régis), finished the evening’s race in eighth place and has now slipped to fourth place in cumulative points.

François Parisien, a Quebecer now riding for French-based (Team Argos-Shimano) was also very visible in the pack. Two women were among the 110 cyclists in the men’s pro-elite race, Veronique Labonté (CSM Epinay-sur-Seine) and Catherine Dusserault (Steven’s Racing), but neither completed the race.

Other Results
In the women’s race, Élisabeth Albert (Rocky Mountain Lessard Bicycle) won her second consecutive stage race, but Rosalie Cardin-Houde (IAMGOLD-Specialized), who finished second, remains in the lead in cumulative points. Among the cadet men, Thierry Kirouac Marcassa (VCL-André Cycle) won the stage race while visiting Ontario rider, Miles Eastwood (CHCH) finished second and Antoine Côté (VCL-André Cycle) took third.

In the minime girl’s category, it was Naomi DeSousa (Team CHCH) in first, followed by Laurie Jussaume (Dynamiks de Contrecoeur) in second and Charlotte Tousignant (Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo) in third.

Among the minime boys, it was again Griffin Schwartz (Independent) who won the race, ahead of Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski (VCL-André Cycle) in second. Meanwhile, Thierry Kirouac Marcassa (VCL-André Cycle) won among the male cadets and remains ahead in cumulative points. Miles Eastwood (CHCH) finished second while Antoine Côté (VCL-André Cycle) came in third.

The next race is Tuesday, July 9, around LaSalle Park in the Montreal borough of Lachine. The first race starts at 5:30 p.m. and the men’s pro-elite race is at 7 p.m.

Results

Senior Men

1. Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale)
2. Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Quebecor)
3. Laurent Dallaire (Fantino Mondello/Cycles)
4. Christian Deshaies (Iamgold)
5. Olivier Miclette (Apogée/BCF Avocat/Atrium)
6. Jean-Michel Lachance (Predator Cycling)
7. Stephen Keeping (Stevens Racing)
8. Jean-François Laroche (Fantino/Mondello Cycles Régis)
9. Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Québecor)
10. Félix Côté-Bouvette (Ekoï-Devinci)