Ottawa, ON (June 27, 2023) – Canada’s brightest junior, elite and para talents converged in Edmonton, AB, from June 23-26 for their chance at one of 30 coveted titles at the 2023 Canadian Road Championships.
Individual Time Trials Set the Tone
Competition kicked off with the individual time trials on June 23, which saw a balance of returning and new Canadian Champions.
Maple leaf jerseys were awarded to eight para athletes, including Jessica Law in the women’s C1-5 category; Paralympian Michael Sametz (Team Alberta) in the men’s C1-5 category; Paralympian Shelley Gautier (Team Ontario) in the women’s T1-2 category; and Martin Duif in the women and men’s H1-2 category.
Lowell Taylor (Team Alberta), competing in the men’s B category, added another national title to his 2023 collection after winning the first-ever para Canadian Esports Champion title in February. Carla Shibley (Team Alberta) returned to take the crown in the women’s B category for a second year, and Équipe du Quebec’s Louis Albert Corriveau Jolin and Paralympian Charles Moreau improved on their second-place finishes from 2022 to win the Men T1-2 and Women & Men H3-5 categories, respectively.
Lowell Taylor and pilot Ed Veal top the Para Men B Time Trial podium.
All Photo Credits: Curtis Comeau
The Juniors saw 2023 Canadian Track Champion Nora Linton (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step U19 Team) claim the women’s time trial title, while Matthew Ney (Red Truck Racing P/B Mosaic Homes) was first to stop the clock for the men. U23 men’s gold went to Michael Leonard (INEOS Grenadiers), while the women’s top spot went to Ngaire Barraclough for the second year running.
The Elite podium saw defending champions Paula Findlay and Derek Gee (Israel – Premier Tech), a month off of his impressive performance at the Giro d’Italia, successfully maintain their titles.
“This is really important to me, I put all my focus on this,” said Olympic triathlete Findlay of the win in front of her hometown crown. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect and this year, I think I was a little more prepared with training for it specifically… I just race in triathlons so kind of learning still but it was really hard but also fun. I love this kind of racing where I can just go hard, cross the line and be done and not do a run so it was a good, hard day.”
Hometown Heroes Put on a Show in Road Races
The following day featured the Para and Junior road races. After conquering the time trials, Sametz (Men MC1-3), Duif (Men MH1-2), Gautier (Women WT1), Taylor (Men MB) and Shibley (Women WB) found themselves winning back-to-back titles in their respective road race categories. They were joined in the history books by Men MC4 Champion Piotr Czyzowicz (Équipe du Quebec), who reclaimed the title after his win in 2021, and Men MT1-2 Champion, Paralympian Nathan Clement.
Joey Desjardins, who won the men’s MH3-5 category, commented, “Winning the national title in the road race reinforces all the hard work I put in over the nine years since my first attendance at nationals. It’s a good feeling to trust in one’s ability and to take it home!”
Ethan Powell (Team Ontario) led the way for Junior men, building off of his winning experience at the 2023 Canadian Track Championships. Alexandra Volstad (Team Alberta), who also has Canadian Track Championships to her name from 2022, took home top honours for the women riding alongside teammates from her province: “The team was huge, they’re my best friends and I love racing with them locally so it feels pretty special to race with them at the national level.”
Alexandra Volstad wins the Junior women’s road race.
Track star Sarah Van Dam (DNA Pro Cycling Team) finished first in the women’s U23; her counterpart on the men’s side was Philippe Jacob (Team Ecoflo Chronos).
Elite athletes had their shot at a national road race title on June 25. For the men, it was Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) who emerged victorious, while Alison Jackson (EF Education – TIBCO – SVB), winner of Paris-Roubaix Femmes earlier this year, captured the maple leaf jersey for the women. She said, “We don’t have so many races in my home province and to have all my family here, it’s definitely a special feeling. I’m just really happy to get to represent Canada with this jersey all year. When you can put on a great show and a great bike race for your friends, family and fans, that’s what it’s all about.”
Final Push in the Criterium
Four days of hard racing for Juniors and Elites concluded on June 26 with the criterium. Linton asserted her dominance in the Junior women’s category, while the men’s title went to 2023 Canadian Esports Champion, Patrick Harris (Ignite Junior Cycling).
Elite athletes closed the event, with Holly Simonson (LA Sweat) and Alec Cowan (Legion of LA) taking home the final two gold medals in the women’s and men’s races, respectively. Both riders had made it onto the 2022 criterium podium, but 2023 saw them earn the top step for the first time.
Alec Cowan gives his all to take home the Elite men’s criterium title.
The full list of results can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian Road Championships for Masters and the Canadian BMX Championships, which will both be held from June 29-July 2 in Quebec. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.
About Cycling Canada
Cycling Canada is the nation’s oldest National Sport Organization and has one simple purpose – to inspire Canadians to cycle. Our mandate is to holistically develop the sport in partnership with our 11 Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations, putting more Canadians on bikes from coast-to-coast and on podiums around the world.
Source: Cycling Canada
Information: Caroline Soble | Cycling Canada | caroline.soble@cyclingcanada.ca