May 2, 2006 – Beautiful weather finally graced Quebec cyclists during round two of the Quebec Cup series which took place Sunday, April 30. Despite sunny skies, the race was still a crash-tacular affair, with a sizeable wipeout in the Master A race sending two riders to hospital. There were two separate crashes in the Senior men’s 1-2 pack, and one nasty spill in the Senior women’s field.

The Senior men’s pack looked to be an interesting race stacked with familiar faces such as Dominique Rollin (VC Roubaix), fresh off a spring stay in Europe, Dominique Perras (Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada) returning from US racing, and members of Team Premier Tech back on Canadian soil after a three week sojourn in France.

The pace was hot from the start and after a healthy crash two minutes after the start, a break of roughly seven riders lead by Rollin snuck away from the main pack. Soon after a group of about fifteen chasers took off after them, leaving the peloton behind for the rest of the eight laps and 112 km. Rollin showed off what a springtime in France can do for a rider as he literally sprinted the legs off the others in his pack taking the top step on the podium in 2:31:37. Former Gypco rider Alexandre Nadeau (Sleeman/Clear Energie) grabbed second in a sprint out with Ontario heavy hitter Aaron Filion (Ottawa Bicycle Club) who nabbed third – both were a mere two seconds behind Rollin. A surprise in fourth place was mountain biker Mathieu Toulouse (Maxxis).

New to the Quebecois women’s cycling scene is the all-female starting category – a direct result of lobbying by numerous members of the female cycling community. Senior Women wanted to have their own race, separate from the dual sex classes of previous years (Senior 1-2 women formerly had to race with Men’s Master B riders), to have a chance to display their skills and prowess.

In the Women’s race a whooping pack of Junior, Masters, and Senior 1-2 and 3-4 women took to the line. Masters, Juniors and 3-4 riders had 4 laps to complete, while Senior 1-2 women had 84 kms and five laps. Equipe Cascades gave no one a chance to make a move with 10 strong riders. The pack stayed together with Tricia Spooner (Serono Cycle Logik Racing) and Amanda Leigh Cox (Team Kenda Tire) at the helm of the pack for extensive periods, despite numerous quasi-attacks.

In the final stretch of the four-lap Junior-Senior 3-4 Master race the pack finally attacked for good leaving the Senior 1-2 Women to duke it out for honours. Track sprinter Suzie Belanger (Equipes Cascades) took the top step of the podium after a lead-out from her teammates. Hot on her heels was Mathide Hupin-Debeurme (Sportif Bromont) and Tricia Spooner (Serono Cycle Logik Racing) coming in for second and third place respectively.

Senior Men
1. Dominique Rollin – VC Roubaix
2. Alexandre Nadeau – Sleeman Clear Energie
3. Aaron Fillion – Ottawa Bicycle Club
4. Mathieu Toulouse – Maxxis

Senior Women
1. Suzie Belanger – Equipe Casccades
2. Mathide Hupin-Debeurme – Sportif Bromont
3. Tricia Spooner – Serono Cycle Logik Racing