August 12, 2002 – On a very tactical and hard to predict National Championships course, some old faces got the recognition they deserve, while some new ones came to the fore.

In the men’s race, a less undulating course led to a flurry of attacks and
chase-backs, with many of the domestic squads such as Sympatico-Jetfuel,
Atlas/ItalPasta and VW/Trek dictating the tone of the race over solitary
pro riders such as Mark Walters (Navigators) and Eric Wohlberg (Saturn).
Ultimately, Dom Rollin (Quebec) who normally rides for the Sympatico squad,
began a move with teammate Andrew Randell, Dominique Perras
(iTeamNova.com) and Antoine Varghese (Atlas Cold/Italpasta). The move
stuck, thwarting riders like Wohlberg and Walters, who normally race with
strong teammates, and must have found it lonely riding against the
domestic teams. Randell, a 29-year-old from Toronto, finally claimed the
National Championship jersey which has eluded him since medalling several
times at the Espoir and Elite level. To further bolster Sympatico’s great
day, Rollin won the Espoir jersey. Perras finished a frustrating second,
and Varghese had his best result, earning the Bronze.

In the women’s race, a 108km race found the pack coming to a bunch sprint with
no team tactics due to the flat, fast open finish.
Because of the high speeds and lack of undulation, the sprint was a
veritable crapshoot, with Katy St-Laurent (Quebec), a first year rider,
claiming her most impressive result to date over seasoned riders like
Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) and Lyne Bessette (Quebec). The race was completely
controlled by Team Rona hoping to set up Jeanson or other strong riders
such as
Manon Jutras or Amy Jarvis. However, due to the lack of corners, uphills
or descents
in the final kilometres that can create opportunities, it was woman for
woman as the pack
swarmed to the finish.

Certainly, this was a Road Nationals to remember – the event was postponed,
cancelled and then had a change of venue. Held in the middle southwestern
Ontario,
with only a handful of spectators, the location was decidedly not the best
choice. The finish also
seemed ad hoc, with the course undergoing last minute changes due to the
fact that the
CCA had to take on the responsibility of organizing the event, as the previous
organizers bailed out. Regardless of the last minute shuffling all the
races were animated
and all champions were worthy of their medals.

Men’s Road Race – 189km

1. Andrew Randell, Sympatico, Jet Fuel Coffee 4:27:06
2. Dominique Perras, Quebec s.t.
3. Antoine Varghese, Atlas Cold/Ital Pasta CC s.t.
4. Nat Faulkner, Kissena/Multilaser.com at 0:43
5. Charles Dionne, Quebec 1:02
6. Simon Small, Atlas Cold/Ital Pasta CC 1:03
7. Josh Hall, Sympatico/Jet Fuel Coffee s.t.
8. Dylan Sebel, s.t.
9. Alexandre Cloutier, Volkswagen/Trek s.t.
10. Eric Wohlberg, Saturn Cycling Team 2:09


Women’s Road Race – 108km

1. Katy St- Laurent Team Quebec
2. Julie Pepin Ste-Foy/Quebec Metro
3. Sandy Espeseth Kappa

Espoir Road Race
1. Dominique Rollin (Quebec/Sympatico)