The 2014 Canadian Mountain Bike Cross-Country Championships are underway at Hardwood Ski and Bike in Oro-Medonte, ON, with exciting results already in from Thursday’s Eliminator race.
Quebec cyclists Léandre Bouchard (Alma, QC/Equipe du Québec-Devinci) and first year junior rider Elodie Bernier (Baie-Saint-Paul, QC/ Specialized-Équipe du Québec) both stood on the highest step of the podium on Thursday, winning the Eliminator titles at the 2014 Canadian Mountain Bike Cross-Country Championships at Hardwood Ski and Bike in Oro-Medonte, near Barrie, Ontario.
Léandre Bouchard, the only Canadian to have qualified for the World Cup final in the event, won the men’s race, crossing the finish with a large margin over Rhys Verner (Garibaldi Highlands, BC/Cycling BC) and Adam Morka (Whitby, ON/ WFP Coaching-Trek Bikes), second and third.
Elodie Bernier, a first year junior, competing for the very first time in the Eliminator race, was the fastest women of the group, taking the title in the final race of the day. She outraced two of her teammates, Cindy Montambault (Val-David, QC/CVM 2 VALS) who came in second and Catherine Fleury (Cyclone d’Alma-Équipe du Québec) who took third place.
The cross-country Championships races will be presented on Saturday, for all categories. Masters will have their shot at Canadian titles on Sunday, along with team relays.
Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC/3 Rox Racing), Canada’s most prolific men mountain biker, is on the brink of history on Saturday as he competes in the men’s elite race. At 37 years of age, Kabush has been racing elite for more than 20 seasons, and is undoubtedly a Canadian legend in cycling, having won seven Canadian Championships title in cross-country alone, as well as four Canadian titles in cyclo-cross. A title this weekend would set Kabush apart as the Canadian mountain biker with the most titles. Currently, with seven Canadian cross-country titles, he shares the top spot with Olympic silver medallist and World Champion Alyson Sydor, who set the mark in the elite women category.
RESULTS – ELIMINATOR – CANADIAN MOUNTAIN BIKE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
OPEN WOMEN
1. BERNIER Elodie (Specialized : Équipe du Québec/Baie St-Paul, QC)
2. MONTAMBAULT Cindy (CVM 2 VALS/Val-David, QC)
3. FLEURY Catherine (Cyclone d’Alma : Équipe du Québec/Alma, QC)
4. TREMBLAY Anne‐Julie (Cyclone d’Alma/Saguenay, QC)
OPEN MEN
1. BOUCHARD, Leandre (Cyclone d’Alma/Alma, QC)
2. VERNER, Rhys (Cycling BC/Garibaldi Highlands, BC)
3. MORKA, Adam (WFP Coaching-Trek Bikes/Whitby, ON)
4. TREMBLAY, Samuel (Rocky Mountain-Procycle/Alma, QC)