May 8/12 10:18 am - CCA Announces Road Nationals Schedule

Posted by Editoress on 05/8/12
 

The 2012 Cold-FX Canadian Road Championships presented by Canadian Tire promises to be very exciting this summer, with the top cyclists converging onto Lac Mégantic, Québec, to race for the ultimate Canadian honour, the coveted Red and White Maple Leaf jersey.

The 2012 edition of the event will be held from June 21nd to July 1st, featuring the traditional Road Race, the Individual Time Trial, and the always exciting Criterium. The event is expected to bring over 500 riders of all ages, from Juniors to Masters, including Para-cycling.

“We are extremely pleased with the efforts that have been put forward by the organizing team, who are one of Canada’s top race organizers. Once again this year, the riders will have a fun and challenging course to showcase their skills, for all road disciplines,” said Mathieu Boucher, Director of development. “Preparations are well underway, and we are pleased these Championships will be under the direction of this organizing committee for three years in a row.”

Svein Tuft winning 2011 Road nationals in Burlington ON

The Canadian Championships are an important opportunity for young riders to test their skills against World Tour and Pro Continental riders, and to grow within the Canadian competitive cycling scene.

Adds Boucher: “The event is a critical step in our Long Term Athlete Development model. The up-and coming riders may have the exciting opportunity to ride against top Canadian riders from the WorldTour, such as Svein Tuft (Orica GreenEDGE), Dominique Rollin (FDJ-BigMat), Christian Meier (Orica GreenEDGE), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) and Michael Barry (Sky ProCycling), just to name a few.”

In addition to the traditional road races, the 2012 Canadian Road Championships will host the Canadian Sprint Challenge for the first time at Canadian Championships. The country’s top sprinters will go head to head, in heats, on an 800m course, in a single elimination format. The top rider, along with the Elite men's criterium champion, will earn their ticket to the Pro Sprint Challenge at the 2012 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, this upcoming September.

Clara Hughes

In 2011, Canada’s only Pro Continental squad, Team SpiderTech powered by C10, swept the men’s races, winning both titles in the Elite and U23 races. On the women’s side, multiple-Olympic medallist Clara Hughes (Team Specialized-Lululemon) of Glen Sutton, Québec, took the time trial title in her comeback year while Véronique Fortin (TIBCO-To The Top) of Montréal, won the women’s road race.

The organizing committee is led by the Francis Rancourt, the same organizer as the popular Tour de Beauce; Denis Bolduc, organizer of the 1992 Canadian Championships; and Steve Rover, the 1996 Canadian Road Champion. The 2013 and 2014 editions of the Championships will be held in St-Georges-de-Beauce, QC, and organized by the same organizing committee.

The event will take place in beautiful Lac Mégantic, and should bring a significant economic impact to Québec’s Eastern Townships.
 
Registration for the event is open, and riders can register HERE
 
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Thursday, June 21 - Time Trial (Elite and U23)
Friday, June 22 - Road Race (Women Elite, U23)
Saturday, June 23 - Road Race (Men Elite, U23)
Sunday, June 24 - Criterium (PeeWee [U13], Minime [U15], Cadet [U17], U23/Elite)
Sunday, June 24 - Canadian Sprint Challenge (U23/Elite)

Thursday, June 28 - Time Trials (Juniors, Masters, Para-cycling)
Friday, June 29 - Road Race (Masters)
Saturday, June 30 - Road Race (Para-cycling, Juniors)
Sunday, July 1 - Criterium (Juniors, Masters)

Related Photo Galleries

Road National Championships June 23/11 - July 3/11, Belfountain/Burlington/Georgetown/Toronto, ON