April 24/22 18:03 pm - Rochette & van den Ham Win Paris to Ancaster Titles
Posted by Editoress on 04/24/22
The two year postponement of Paris to Ancaster due to the pandemic did not reduce interest in this Ontario season-opener, with approximately 3,000 riders showing up on Sunday under warm but windy conditions. Race co-founder said that, to his knowledge, it is the largest field ever for the event.
This year, the event added a 100 kilometre category to the existing 70k, 40k and 20k events, with most of the top names taking part in this distance. Maghalie Rochette (Specialized-Feedback) raced at P2A once before, in 2014, when she took the first big win of her career and now she is two-for-two, finishing first among the women and 13th overall. Michael van den Ham (Giant X Easton) took his first win at P2A after a hard fought battle on the final climb.
Riders cross Silver Bridge at ~45 km after start of 100km
Michael van den Ham
Maghalie Rochette
Maghalie Rochette and Michael van den Ham
The 100k distance was completely new for the first 60-plus kilometres; more of a road race on hard packed gravel. The speed was high in a front peloton of close to 50 riders, with Charlie Bryer (Fretori) finally gaining a small gap as they entered Harrisburg and the rail trail with less than 40 kilometres to go.
Bryer was followed by 15 rider string, lead by van den Ham, with Adam Roberge (Jukebox) and Theo de Groote close behind. Rochette was hanging on at the back of this group, and hoped to battle for a top-10 spot before a crash dropped her back slightly.
Coming into the final ten kilometres and some major mud chutes before the last steep climb to the finish, there were three at the front - van den Ham, de Groote and Roberge. Van den Ham tried to open a gap but crashed, as did Roberge, who dropped back. Roberge's crash was potentially serious, and he had to go to the hospital to be checked for concussion. He appears to be fine, thank goodness.
This left van den Ham and de Groote to battle for the win, with van den Ham opening a 10 metre gap on his rival on the steep climb, pounding on the pedals and rocking side to side with his efforts, to win by nine seconds. Luke Valenti (Toronto Hustle) took third, at 1:54.
In the women's field, Sidney McGill (Pedalhead Race Room) took second (28th overall) and Veronique Fortin was third (53rd overall).
Interview with Maghalie Rochette
Interview with Michael van den Ham
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