July 21/23 15:30 pm - Arseneault & Woods Defend XCC Titles

Posted by Editoress on 07/21/23
 

The 2023 Mountain Bike National Championships opened on Thursday in Kentville, Nova Scotia, with the XCC (Short Track). This year, for the first time, official championships were also held for the Junior and Under-17 categories, in addition to the Elite.

The rain that made the circuit wet and muddy earlier in the week was nowhere to be seen, with bright sunshine and temperatures in the high-20s mostly drying out the course. From a fast start on a gravel track, riders went onto grass for a short climb, before making a U-turn, dropping over a jump and then entering the woods for the main climb on double track dirt. From there, riders dropped out of the woods to a couple of jumps, including a tabletop. The rest of the circuit was flat on a mixture of grass, pavement and gravel. The elite men were recording laps of just over two minutes.

In the Under-17 categories, Rafaelle Carrier (CVM Sigma Assurance) became the first ever women's champion in a close race, while Nicolas Gauthier (Ride with Rendall p/b Biemme) rode away from the rest of the field for a solo win.

U17 Women gallery

U17 Men gallery

The Junior categories saw Marin Lowe (Stimulus Orbea) win solo in the women's race, while Ian Ackert (Stimulus Orbea) attacked late in the final lap to take the men's.

Ian Ackert Wins Junior Men's race

Junior Women gallery

Junior Men gallery

Jenn Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) was very aggressive in the opening laps of the Elite women's race, gaining five seconds on a chase group led by Haley Smith (Maxxis Factory Racing) and defending champion Laurie Arseneault (Pittstop Racing Team). The attacks splintered the field, before partially coming back together after Jackson was caught and no one else wanted to attack. The final came down to the last 75 metres, with Arseneault winning with a bike throw against Jackson. Smith took third.

Jenn Jackson attacks early

Laurie Arseneault wins by a bike throw

Elite Women gallery

"I love sprint finishes," said Arseneault. "The race started very fast, Jenn put the pace very high from the beginning. It came to a sprint finish with me, Jenn and Haley. It was really awesome and went way out of my comfort zone. There's a little inside jump before the finish, which we didn't take earlier in the race, but I had a text before the race from the Quebec coach, Raph Gagne, that said if the finish is a sprint, you have to take the inside line on the jump ... it worked out well, so thanks, Raph!"

The men's race saw multiple riders go to the front and try to open a gap, but the pace was just too high for anyone to succeed. Going into the last lap, a group of a dozen or so were still watching each other. Carter Woods (Giant Factory), the defending champion and recent World Cup XCC winner, was heavily watched, but no one could respond when he attacked late in the lap to cruise in a couple of seconds ahead of the rest. Raphael Auclair (Pivot Cycles - OTE) outkicked Leandre Bouchard (Foresco Holding Proco RL) for second.

Carter Woods Wins Elite Men's race

Elite Men gallery

"This track is super fast and super tactical," explained Woods, "and you really need to be in the right place at the right time. You can't go too early because the speed is too high and there is not a lot of elevation. It was important to stay near the front but not burn too many matches. That was exactly what the plan was, and I can't be happier with how it worked out."

National Mountain Bike Championships: XCC results

Photo Galleries

U17 Women

U17 Men

Junior Women

Junior Men

Elite Women

Elite Men