The second set of Canada Cup races took place last weekend at Mont Tremblant, Quebec with faster, drier conditions that the previous race at Bromont.
Quebec riders took charge in both the downhill and cross-country race, but B.C. pedallers managed to net a few podiums.
In the cross-country race on Saturday, May 28, Jacqueline Mourad took the women’s Elite category ahead of Mical Dyck of Alberta and Catharine Pendrel of Victoria. B.C. riders also crowed the top-10 with Jean-Ann McKirdy in fourth, Melanie McQuaid in fifth, Amanda Sin in seventh and Danielle Kabush in eighth.
In the men’s Elite race, Mathieu Toulouse of Quebec took the top spot by over a minute, followed by Benoit Simard and Victoria’s Kris Sneddon. The only other B.C. rider to crack the top 10 was Abbotsford’s Ricky Federau.
Despite the sunshine earlier in the week the course was slick and treacherous for the start of Sunday’s downhill race. There was also a delay due to a gondola malfunction, which meant the second half of the men’s field had to compete in an afternoon rain storm.
Temblant local Mathieu Laurin was the top rider in the Elite category, finishing more than seven seconds ahead of Eric Goss of North Vancouver. Stuart Cooper of Victoria was third, edging out Whistler’s Tyler Morland by just over three seconds.
Also from Whistler, Morland’s roommate Mike Jones was fifth, Chris Dewar was eighth, and Adam Cook 24 th out of 63 starters.
In the women’s race Whistler riders took three of the top five spots, with Danika Schroeter edging out Fion Griffths of Great Britain for the gold, Katrina Strand taking the silver and Brook Baker finishing fourth.
The Canada Cup series continues this weekend with a cross country event at Hardwood Hills in Ontario. The Tim Horton’s National Championships take place the following weekend, June 10-19 at Mont Sainte Anne.
