July 17, 2004 (Mt. Ste-Anne, Que.) – Ricky Federau (Gears Racing) and Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) were crowned Canadian National Champions today in the elite men`s and women`s categories, respectively. Marty Lazarski (Gears Racing) and Julie Sanders (Oryx) were the top espoirs and earned themselves National Champion jerseys as well. In the junior ranks, the National titles were claimed by brother and sister duo (and teammates), Raphael and Olivia Gagne (La Vie Sportive).

Conditions on the winding five-kilometre course were mud, mud, mud. Rain on and off all week, including an all-day downpour on Thursday, made the chance of having a dry course on race day zero. As a result, much of the singletrack and even one of the major climbs, were virtually unrideable.

Mechanicals were rampant among the fields. Premont, successfully defended her National Champion status from last year, despite a broken chain.

In the end it was those who excelled in exceptionally difficult circumstances who came out on top. Being a strong runner didn`t hurt.

Results
Elite Men (30km)
1. Ricky Federau (Gears Racing) 2:11:38
2. Peter Wedge (Kona/Clarks/Les Gets) at 3:17
3. Andrew Kyle (Sugoi) 4:08
4. Guido Visser (Bromont/Pepsi/Momo) 6:11
5. Marty Lazarski* (Gears Racing) 6:48
6. Greg Reain (Gears Racing) 6:50
7. Kris Sneddon* (Kona/Clarks/Les Gets) 7:01
8. Chris Sheppard (Adidas/Haro) 7:21
9. Jamie Lamb* (Cyclesmith/Kona) 8:39
10. Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) 9:10

Elite Women (25km)
1. Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) 2 :09 :21
2. Chrissy Redden (Subaru/Gary Fisher) at 1:53
3. Karen DeWolfe (Cannondale) 5:37
4. Kiara Bisaro (Gears Racing) 8:31
5. Catharine Pendrel (Oak Bay Bikes) 14:04
6. Amanda Sin (Schwalbe) 16:38
7. Tanis Banks (Norco/FloraGlo) 18:06
8. Melanie McQuaid (Ford Racing) 19:11
9. Stephanie Martinek (Squire John`s) 19:45
10. Julie Sanders* (Oryx) 22:22

Junior Expert Men (25km)
1. Raphael Gagne (La Vie Sportive) 2:01:33
2. Ian McAvity (Darlings Island Bikes) at 2 :39
3. Gabriel Jarry-Bolduc (Equipe du Quebec) 3:31

Junior Expert Women (15km)
1. Olivia Gagne (La Vie Sportive) 1:23:57
2. Evelyne Pichette (Equipe du Quebec) at 00 :38
3. Kylie Case (Team Manitoba) 3 :06

* Espoir

For all results:http://www.stat-timing.com/fr/resvm.htmlLes