November 20/24 13:52 pm - Youth Dominates 'Cross Nationals
Posted by Editoress on 11/20/24
The final national championships of 2024 took place on Saturday, November 16th, in Lévis, Quebec, with Cyclo-cross titles awarded across 16 categories, ranging from Under-17 to Masters. In the Elite categories, the national titles were won by an impressive pair of Under-23 riders, Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) and Ian Ackert (Trek Future).
The circuit drew universal praise, with numerous riders with European experience going so far as to call it the best course they have raced on in North America. After a dry start with just above freezing temperatures for the earliest races, drizzle and intermittent showers made the numerous climbs and descents muddy and slick, forcing riders to get off and run for long sections in the Junior and Under-23 races. By the time of the Elite races in the mid-afternoon, the rain had ceased and a brisk breeze began drying the course, albeit dropping the temperature.
Elite
The Elite women's race saw Isabella Holmgren, already a 4-time world champion (Junior CX, Junior and U23 XCO, and U23 XCC) race up in the Elite category against multi-time national champion Maghalie Rochette (Canyon) and recent Pan AM continental champion Sidney McGill, as well as her own sister Ava Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), the defending Elite champion (and also a U23). McGill and Rochette charged off the line, opening a ten second gap on Isabella Holmgren, with the rest of the field quickly distanced. However, Holmgren was just pacing herself, and by the second lap had joined Rochette in the lead, as McGill dropped back from the fast opening pace. A lap later, and Holmgren pulled away to steadily increase her lead to 40 seconds by the finish for her first Elite national title. Rochette took silver, with McGill nearly three minutes back in third.
"For the first bit of the race I was just riding to see how the conditions were and getting used to the mud," explained Holmgren. "I just focussed on riding at my own pace. I think it was drying up because of the wind and becoming more grippy as the race went on. It was such a good course and I loved every minute of it; I didn't want the race to end because I was having so much fun. It was amazing."
The men's race saw a very aggressive start by Ackert (2023 Junior MTB Worlds silver medallist), with only Tyler Clark (Armada) and Cody Scott (Competitive Edge) able to follow. Gunnar Holmgren (KMC Ridley) had a slightly slower start, back with defending champion Evan Russell (Hustle) and mountain bike pro Leandre Bouchard (Foresco Holding Proco RL). Ackert, already a Junior and Under-23 national champion, kept the pace up and dropped first Scott and then Clark. Holmgren was steadily making his way up as others faded, moving into second ahead of Clark, but was still losing ground to the charging Ackert, eventually finishing just over a minute back, with Clark holding on for third, just under two minutes down.
"I knew from watching the other races that there were big gaps," said Ackert, "so I knew that if I could just get ahead early and ride my own race and pick my own lines, that I was probably able to make a separation. After the second lap I just didn't look back and put my head down and focussed. It was definitely getting more dry, but I was just sticking to my lines."
Under-23
In the absence of the Holmgren sisters for the women and Ackert for the men, this left the Under-23 fields open for a new champion. The women's race saw Marin Lowe (Pittstop) move into a solo lead on the first lap, and she was not challenged, finishing 2:21 in front of Mia de Martin and 3:41 ahead of Katja Verkerk (Broad Street).
The men's race was a see-saw battle between Mika Comaniuk (Equipe Du Quebec) and Alexander Woodford (Ride with Rendall p/b Biemme) in the early laps, before Comaniuk was finally able to open a half minute gap to take the title. Maxime St Onge (Stimulus Trek) took bronze, 1:19 down.
Junior
Young Quebec phenomenon Rafaelle Carrier (Équipe du Québec) dominated the women's race, actually covering the same four laps as the Under-23 winner, Marin Lowe, 45 seconds faster! Indeed, Carrier and the rest of the Junior women started one minute behind the Under-23 women, and she caught all but Lowe in the Under-23 field. Just as impressively, second place Nico Knoll (Cyclemeisters/ Bow Cycle) had a time fast enough for second in the Under-23 field, while third place Aislin Hallahan (Stimulus-Trek) would have also beat the second place Under-23 time.
The only sprint finish of the day took place in the Junior men's race, which saw at least three riders take a turn at the front. The title was taken by Emilien Belzile (Stimulus Trek), who threw his bike after an uphill sprint to beat Evan Moore (Collingwood Collective). Nicolas Gauthier (Ride with Rendall), who led early on, took third.
Under-17
Carter Deveer (Ottawa Bicycle Club), son of former national Para tandem pilot Craig, took a come-from-behind win in the men's race, overtaking William McFarlane (Stimulus Next Wave) on the final lap to win by 13 seconds. Joshua Tyers (Durham Shredders MTB) took the bronze medal.
In the women's race, Alexa Haviland (Durham Shredders MTB) was another rider to put in an eye-opening performance, with her winning time fast enough for second in the both the Junior AND Under-23 women's categories! Her teammate Clare Hauber (Durham Shredders) took second, 17 seconds back, with Alexane Arpin (Équipe du Québec) at 37 seconds - both good enough for third in the Under-23 women. As an interesting note - Alexa's mom, Sue Haviland (Durham Shredders MTB), won her category also, Masters 45-54.
Photo Galleries
Results
| Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top |
