June 30, 2006 (Québec City) — Yesterday’s individual time trials were held on the south shore of Québec City, in the Chutes-de-la-Chaudière-Ouest borough of Lévis. Alexandra Wrubleski, 22 years old (Regina, SK), racing for Team H&R Block, took home the gold medal in both the U23 and elite women’s category, with a time of 29:21. Earlier this season the racer from Saskatchewan finished in 7th overall at the Tour du Grand Montréal and was 12th at the Montréal Women’s Road World Cup.

“It was a challenging course without a constant design and I’m happy with the result,” Wrubleski said after the race. She was followed 37-year-old Montrealer, Anne Samplonius (Team Biovail, QC) ahead of Jessica Spence (Wheels of Bloor Cycling Team, ON). Erinne Willock (Webcor/Platinum, BC) finished in fourth. Meanwhile, Émilie Roy (St-Cuthbert, QC), was the top rider from the Québec team to cross the finish line in 6th place, followed by teammate Joanie Caron, from Sainte-Foy (QC), in 13th place.

But it was young U23 rider from Cap-Rouge (QC) David Veilleux who delighted the locals by bringing home the Québec City region’s first gold medal of the championships, in spite of what he admitted to being a “difficult” course. His winning time of 26:53 was 12 seconds ahead of Christian Meier (Symmetrics) of Langley, BC, “It’s very uneven so it’s quite hard to keep your rythmn going,” Veilleux said after the race. “I’m really happy with my effort and pleased that I managed to keep going at an even pace.” Ryan Morris (Team Ontario) finished in third at 0:33, followed by Bradley Fairall (Symmetrics) of North Vancouver, B.C.

Langley, B.C.’s Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) repeated his 2005 and 2004 victories by winning the men’s elite race with a time of 45:47. Pacificsport teammate Ryder Hesjedal (Phonak) finished in second at 0:31and legendary Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics) from Ontario (Time Trial National Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003) was third at 1:02. Dominique Rollin from Équipe du Québec (Boucherville) was the top Quebecer in 4th, at 1:52.
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In the junior women’s event, Julie Beveridge (Bicisport, AB) took the victory with a time of 22:46. She was followed by Danielle Kenny of Team Alberta at 0:06, while 18-year-old Karol-Ann Canuel of Équipe du Québec from Amos, earned the bronze medal.

Another Albertan found himself on the top step of the podium in the junior men’s race. Eric Smith from Calgary (Team Alberta) won with a time of 27:47, followed by Andrew Nichol of Manitoba, with Oakville, Ontario’s Mark Hinnen in third.

STILL TO COME”¦

Friday June 30: the road race (junior, master and elite women) will take place in the beautiful settings of La Cité and Sainte-Foy-Sillery boroughs of Québec City.

All the ITT results and tomorrow’s start lists for the road race are now available at www.podiumquebec.com.