Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain Business-Objects) repeated as national champion at the 2006 Canadian National Cross-Country Championships. Premont began her race with setbacks in the first lap--Premont going off course twice and having to stop for a minor mechanical.
For the men, it was defending Canadian and National Mountain Bike Series Champ Geoff Kabush reclaiming another home country title. Kabush didn't have it easy, as he crashed hard on the opening lap. From there Kabush had to claw back towards the front from as far back as 20th place.
Held at the Sun Peaks Resort north of Kamloops BC, the circuit proved to be more demanding than anticipated, and the women's race was shortened by a lap. The 3.4 mile course was similar to that used in the past, with two major climbs and lots of technical, rooty descending. Riders had praise for the course, calling it both physically demanding and technically challenging. The women did four laps (plus a start loop), with Premont and teammate Alison Sydor moving into the lead immediately.
Marie stretched her cushion to over 20 seconds when she took a wrong turn, missing a course change. "The course changed a bit after a preride the day before, so I didn't realize that I was going the wrong way at first. But once I got back on course it was okay, I wasn't too worried."
Premont quickly rejoined the race in fifth place. Within a lap she had moved back into the lead.
After that initial confusion, Premont took her predictable place at the front and gradually rode away to a comfortable three minute winning margin; her fourth consecutive national title!
Behind Premont, there was a battle going on for second, with Sydor relinquishing second to Team R.A.C.E.'s Kiara Bisaro for the second lap.
However, this did not last, with Sydor making a strong move back into second place on the third lap. "I know that I've been starting well, then fading hard in the second lap. I was trying not to fade so bad in the middle (of the race). In the past I've been chasing Marie-Helene too much, so I was concentrating on second today, expending my energy better."
In the women's Espoir race, Jean-Ann McKirdy (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) successfully defended her title for the second consecutive year, finishing tenth overall. Meaghan Kindree (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) took the bronze medal.
In the men's race, the early leader was Espoir rider Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain-Business-Objects). Plaxton admitted afterwards that he may have gone out too hard, wanting the big prize of the overall men's championship. He looked great for the first 2 of 6 laps, but paid the price in the middle of the race when Ricky Federau and Seamus McGrath caught and dropped him late in the third lap. Plaxton fell back to fourth, and became in danger of losing the lead in the Espoir race to Neal Kindree, who was closing on him in fifth.
Kindree did, in fact, pass Plaxton who suffered 2 flat tires in the final lap. Kindree continued to drive past McGrath to take third, and the Espoir title. Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) was the third Espoir in 11th overall.
CANADIAN NATIONAL XC CHAMP'S RESULTS
1. Geoff Kabush...Maxxis...2:00:42.5
2. Ricky Federau...R.A.C.E...2:01:30.0
3. Neal Kindree*...Kona-Les Gets...2:04:40.9
4. Seamus McGrath...2:05:36.0
5. Mathieu Toulouse...Maxxis...2:06:58.3
6. Kris Sneddon...Kona-Les Gets...2:08:25.3
7. Max Plaxton*...Rky Mnt-Biz Obj...2:08:44.3
8. Andreas Hestler...Rky Mnt-Biz Obj...2:08:47.0
9. Michael Garrigan...HBCC...2:09:07.2
10. Andrew Watson...R.A.C.E...2:09:08.7
WOMEN
1. Marie-Helene Premont...Rky Mnt-Biz Obj...1:33:34.0
2. Alison Sydor...Rky Mnt-Biz Obj...1:36:31.5
3. Kiara Bisaro...R.A.C.E...1:37:12.1
4. Catharine Pendrel...Norco...1:38:26.8
5. Patricia Sinclair...Scott-Kenda...1:39:48.1
6. Wendy Simms...Velo Bella-Kona...1:41:02.9
7. Mical Dyck...Team Alberta...1:41:23.3
8. Melanie Mcquaid...Orbea...1:44:11.6
9. Amanda Sin...3 Rox Racing...1:45:28.2
10. Jean Ann Mckirdy*...Rky Mnt-Biz Obj...1:46:47.8
*Donates U23 rider
OTHER TOP FINISHES BY RKY MTN-BIZ OBJ RIDERS
11. Marty Lazarski*...2:10:05.8
14. Raphael Gagne*...2:12:34.7
17. Matt Hadley...2:14:03.4
WOMEN
Meaghan Kindree*...1:50:38.8
*Donates U23 rider
|