July 4/10 18:43 pm - Canadian Para-cycling Championship: Road Race report, photos and results

Posted by Editoress on 07/4/10
 

The 2010 Canadian Para-Cycling Road Championships finished on Sunday in Saint-Georges de Beauce, Quebec, with Arnold Boldt (Moose Jaw, SK) and Mark Ledo (Maple, ON) taking their second titles in as many days.

Podium Photos

In the C1-3 category (Cycle), Boldt completed the gruelling road course in one hour, 21 minutes and 11 seconds, just four seconds in front of his closest competitor, young newcomer Jaye Milley (Calgary, AB/ Bicisport).

"We had some cloud cover, which kept things a little cooler. The group separated after the first lap, and three of us pulled it through the end. The race was decided in the final sprint, and we had to ride a pretty steep finish.  We were close until the last corner, and one of the guys decided to attack. I jumped on his tail and took him halfway up to the finish," said Boldt, a prolific Paralympian, after winning his second title.

"From my perspective, the Federation Québécoise des Sports Cyclistes have done a wonderful job. Everything was smooth and very professional. I can't say enough for the people who volunteered and gave their time and energy for us. It made for a really good week. Because everything went so flawlessly, people don’t typically recognize the hard work that is put in behind the scene."

Mark Breton (QC, Team Québec) won the C4-5 category by crossing the finish line with a time of 2 hours, seven minutes and 43 seconds, a seven minute lead over second place Roland Rabien (Vancouver, BC/ Team Triple Shot-Spinnakers Cycle).

Hand Cycling

In the hand cycle category, Rico Morneau (Team Quebec) won his sixth title in as many seasons in the C1 category. The 48 year-old para-cyclist is pleased with his 2010 Canadian title.

"I am very satisfied. Initially, I wondered how things were going to happen because the all categories took the same start (H3, 2, 1). For me the Canadian championships are part of the circuit. To win the title is good, but I used this event as an opportunity to prepare myself for Baie-Comeau [World Championships] since this course resembles what we will see at the World Championships," said Morneau.

Mark Ledo (Maple, ON/Independant), who took the Canadian title in hand cycling at the Individual Time Trial held Friday, won the H3-4 race, while world champion Robert Labbé (QC, Team Québec) took the honours in the H1 category.

Tandem Cycling

In the Tandem category, it took a final sprint to the finish line to determine the winner. Robbi Weldon of Ontario and her new pilot Lyne Bessette, a high-profile Olympian in able-body competition, crossed the finish line first with a marginal lead of just eight seconds over their main rivals, the duo of Geneviève Ouellet and Emilie Roy.

In the Men's tandem, Daniel Chalifour (QC, Team Québec) and his pilot Alexandre Cloutier completed the 36.5 kilometre race with a time of two hours 14 minutes and eight seconds, easily winning by over three minutes over their closest competitor.

Tricycle Cycling

In the tricycle category, Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin (QC, Indépendant) posted the fastest time of one hour, three minutes and 43 seconds to complete the 20.4 kilometre course and win the title. Shelley Gauthier (ON/Team Lap Dogs), who won the Time Trials on Saturday, came in second position with a deficit of 14 minutes behind Corriveau-Jolin.

All the races took place in a loop course of 5.1 kilometres. An impressive 1.5 kilometre climb to the finish line made it challenging for the competing Para-cyclists. Each category had a different number of laps assigned.

"A climb of 1.5 kilometres each loop, eight times, it is hard. Every time I was finishing up a climb, I said to myself, 'one less to go' ", Morneau added with a laugh. "If at 48 years old I am able to move like I do, it's a word of encouragement for those who think that at thirty years old, it's over."


National Para Coach Éric van den Eynde commented, "Arnold contacted us last year and demonstrated his interest for Para-cycling. We sent him some tests to accomplish, and when the results came back, we immediately asked him to jump in a plane to meet us. He thought he had a handicap with his age, but we quickly corrected that age was not a handicap if he rode fast on a bike! His progression has been stellar and he has been working really hard to improve."

"The course was top quality. [Our] athletes have shown tremendous improvements. We saw some performances at the level we were hoping for. The new women's tandem that came in this weekend has helped to step up the field of play. We now have two tandems with strong potential."

"The development program put in place by the Canadian Cycling Association has proven over the weekend that it worked. These Championships saw more participants than ever [before], coming from all over Canada. Another progress note is with coaching, where more and more coaches at the grassroots stage are getting involved with para-cyling."

"We saw some young riders who had shown good potential last year, and came at these Canadian Championships with surprising improvements. These are young riders that we could select for the World Championships and be competitive."

Nest up in Para cycling eill be the 2010 Canadian Para-Cylcing Championships Track events, which will start on Wednesday, July 7th in Bromont, Quebec, at the newly renovated velodrome.

Courtesy CCA

Results from Canadian para-cycling championship road races in St-Georges de Beauce, Quebec