Conditions sideline racers at fourth XC race
The fourth Canada Cup cross country race of the season, on July 22 in Canmore, Alberta, was an over-the-bars affair, with competitors sinking into bogs, sliding into one another around the corner, and slipping on wet rocks and roots as a result of that morning’s downpour.
Consequently, there were a significant number of DNFs to report in almost every race category –14 in the Senior Elite men alone, including Whistler’s Chad Miles.
Mathieu Toulouse and Eric Tourville of Quebec continued to dominate the season, finishing first and second in the Senior Elite category. Julian Hine of Ontario was third.
With only one Canada Cup race to go, the finals in Kamloops from Aug. 11 to 12, Toulouse is ranked first overall in the standings with 555 points, while Tourville and Miles, last year’s national champion are tied for second just 50 points back.
B.C. women did better, with Kiara Bisaro taking first place nine minutes ahead of Marie Helene of Premont, Quebec. Claire Townsend of B.C. was third. Whistler’s Lisa Dickson finished 11 th .
Premont currently leads the overall standings with 550 points, but Trish Sinclair, a DNF in Canmore, remains in the running with 530. Townsend is third with 450.
Saskatchewan rider Adam Coates continued to dominate in the Junior Expert men’s category, followed closely by Jeremy Trudel of Quebec and Martin Lazarski of Ontario. Whistler’s own Will Routley, who will be racing for B.C. in the Canada Games from Aug. 11 to 12, finished just over two minutes back of the lead in fourth place.
Tony Routley, Will’s father, finished third in the Master men’s 40-plus race, behind Peter Findlay and Tim Daechsel of B.C.
The fourth Canada Cup downhill will take place this weekend at Silver Star Mountain. The national championships, which are separate from the Canada Cup series, take place Aug. 3-5 in Kamloops.
