June 25/14 15:13 pm - Competition Will Be Intense at Road Nationals: Men's Road Race and Time Trial update

Posted by Editoress on 06/25/14
 

Zach Bell to Defend his Title on Saturday

Bell returns to competition after healing broken collarbone and birth of daughter
 
The 2014 Global Relay Canadian Road Cycling Championships road races are expected to be spectacular this year, with the top Canadian cyclists coming together to race for the coveted red and white jersey.
 
Zach Bell (Team Smartstop), the reigning Canadian Champion in the men’s elite category, will be racing to defend his 2013 title. Bell will be making his return to competition after breaking a collarbone at the Tour of the Gila earlier this spring. In addition, Bell’s wife, Rebecca, last week gave birth to a baby girl.

Zach Bell winning in 2013

Rob Britton at Tour de Beauce

Bell will count on two teammates from Team Smartstop. Rob Britton, who is coming off a strong second place result in the general classification at the difficult Tour de Beauce, and Kris Dahl will both be working to position Bell for the win.
 
But the title won’t be easy to defend, with many other top Canadian riders also expected to be present on the start line. The strong group includes UCI WorldTour riders Svein Tuft, the 2011 Canadian Road Champion, and Christian Meier both of Orica-GreenEDGE, Hugo Houle (AG2R La Mondiale), sprinter Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale Pro Cycling), and Antoine Duchesne (Team EuropCar), the back-to-back U23 Canadian Champion.
 
There are many teams coming with a large delegation of riders, including the UCI continental teams in Garneau-Québécor and Silber Pro Cycling.
 
Garneau-Quebecor will have Pierrick Naud, the defending Canadian Criterium Champion, Benjamin Chaddock, the 2012 Canadian Criterium Champion, and team captain and versatile cyclist Rémi-Pelletier Roy.
 
Silber Pro Cycling recently signed 2012 Canadian Champion Ryan Roth and Matteo Dal-Cin . The team of 11 riders will be racing hard to capture the red and white jersey.

Will Routley winning Stage 4 of the Tour of California

 Will Routley, the 2010 Canadian Champion, and Ryan Anderson of Team Optum-Kelly Benefit are also enjoying a successful season, with Routley taking a stage win and the KOM jersey at the Tour of California. Both riders will certainly work together with the hopes of capturing the title.
 
Michael Woods (5-Hr Energy p/b Kenda) has recently showed at the Tour de Beauce that he is in top climbing form, taking second place on the epic Mont Mégantic stage, sections of which will be used for the Canadian Championships course, including two ascensions of the Mont Morne. Woods will have his new teammate Bruno Langlois along with him, and the two could create an interesting dynamic in the peloton.
 
Other teams will be lined up at the start line, including Team NCCH-DEC Express, Team H&R Block, Team Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes, Ride with Rendall, Team VeloSelect, Norco-Premier Tech, Team Transport Lacombe-Devinci, Accent Inns-Russ Hay's p/b Scotiabank, Jet Fuel Coffee-Norco Bicycles and La Vie Sportive-Apogée-Opus.
 
The men’s road race will take place on Saturday, June 28.


Svein Tuft Looking to Regain National ITT title

In the time trial, expect a tight race between Svein Tuft, eight-time Canadian Time Trial Champion (2004-06; 08-12), Christian Meier, Zach Bell, Hugo Houle, Rémi Pelletier-Roy, Ryan Roth and Matteo Dal-Cin. These riders excel in the time trial and should be solid contenders for the title. Tuft was not present in 2013.

Svein Tuft in 2012

Curtis Dearden on his 2013 winning ride

 
Time trialist Curtis Dearden (Accent Inns-Russ Hay's-Scotiabank) is the defending Canadian Champion,  surprising everyone last year by winning the title. Dearden will be back in Lac Mégantic to defend his title.

Cycling Canada press release