June 16/25 13:07 pm - Perry & Clarke Win Gravel Titles
Posted by Editoress on 06/16/25
The third edition of the Canadian Gravel Nationals took place on Sunday, with riders from across the country tackling over 100 kilometres of rugged terrain. Competitors faced 6800 feet of climbing in the scenic, rolling terrain of Water Valley, Alberta. Hosted by Deadgoat Racing and sanctioned by Cycling Canada, this year's championship featured a fast, selective course awarding Canadian champion titles in the U17, junior, elite and masters categories.
Benjamin Perry (Guava x Castelli S.O.G.), the 2025 Paris to Ancaster champion, claimed the Elite Men's victory with a well-timed sprint and tactical race. Perry outkicked defending champion Adam Roberge, Andrew L'Esperance (Forward Racing) and Michael van den ham (Giant Bicycles), with Sean Fincham (Maxxis-3T-Shimano) finishing nine seconds back in fifth.
"It was a good race," Perry said. "I've won Junior and U23 titles and had Elite podiums, but never really got there. To win today means a lot. I've been dreaming of this for so long." Reflecting on his strategy, Perry added, "In the sprint, I left it to the last minute, and it worked out. I feel very fortunate, I'm so proud to be Canadian. I can't wait to get the custom bike and jersey, and bring it to Europe."
Devon Clarke, also the 2025 Paris to Ancaster champion, took the Elite women's title in just under four hours (3:58:49), finishing 19 seconds ahead of Anna Gabrielle Traxler (Enough Cycling Collective), with Florence Norman (Winspace Orange Seal) taking third. Traxler, third last year, improved one spot. Katja Verkerk, the defending champion, did not race.
In the Master 55-64 Men's category, multi-time road champion Bruce Bird (Wheels of Bloor) powered to capture the national title. "Getting this jersey, what an honour. It's really what I hoped for," said Bird after the finish. "Last year I couldn't make it out, so to win today feels incredible." Bruce will represent Canada at the UCI Gravel World Championships this fall. "It's my big goal for the season. It's in the Netherlands in October, so I want to represent Canada there, what an honour!"
Defending Canadian champions Nico Knoll (Junior Women - Cyclemeisters Bow Cycle), John Vanderveen (Masters Men 35-44 - Flowstate Racing), and Elizabeth Stack (Masters Women 45-54) once again claimed gold in their respective categories. However, new champions topped the podium in all other categories crowning Josh Tyers (Men U17 - Shredders MTB), Heron Land-Gillis (Junior Men - Team Yukon), Charlie Pittard (Women U17 - Peak Pursuits), Jodi Wendland (Masters Women 35-44 - The Cyclery), Chris Algar (Masters Men 45-54 - Halifax Oceanics), Tammy Nishimura (Masters Women 55-64 - Peloton Racing) and Garth Campbell (Masters Men 65+ - Victoria Breakaway).
Results (with gaps when available) from Gravel Nationals in Alberta on June 15th
| Elite Women, 118 km | |
| 1 Devon Clarke (ON) Independent | 3:58:49 |
| 2 Anna Gabrielle Traxler (AB) Enough Cycling Collective | 3:59:08 |
| 3 Florence Normand (QC) Winspace Orange Seal | 4:12:25 |
| 4 Kelsey Duffield (AB) Peloton Racing | 4:12:25 |
| 5 Sara Frangos (ON) GCC - Royal City Racing | 4:12:57 |
| 6 Rach McBride (BC) Independent | 4:24:24 |
| 7 Lilly Ujfalusi (BC) UBC Cycling Team | 4:24:25 |
| 8 Lindsay Glassford (BC) Independent | 4:24:25 |
| 9 Sinead Tracey (AB) Peloton Racing | 4:25:07 |
| 10 Brenna Pauly (BC) Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes | 4:34:36 |
| 11 Hannah Simms (ON) Independent | 4:38:12 |
| 12 Sarah Goodridge (AB) Peloton Racing | 4:38:58 |
| 13 Megan Florizone (SK) Independent | 4:54:00 |
| 14 Keely Hamilton (BC) Independent | 4:58:51 |
| DNF Olivia Rubens (ON) The Cyclery | |
| DNF Kathryn Ayroud (AB) Red Truck Racing | |
| DNF Sophie Perry (AB) UBC Cycling Team | |
| DNS Susanne McArthur (AB) C4XC | |
| DNS Gloria Kanuka (AB) Wildrose Collective | |
| DNS Mikayla Arends (BC) Independent | |
| DNS Julie Toole (ON) Blacksmith Cycle | |
| Junior Women, 118 km | |
| 1 Nico Knoll (AB) Cyclemeisters Bow Cycle | 4:22:59 |
| 2 Maria McCartney (SK) Sask cycling | at 10:24 |
| 3 Eleanor Winchell (BC) Charge Racing Team | 19:22 |
| Elite Men, 118 km | |
| 1 Benjamin Perry (ON) Guava x Castelli S.O.G | 3:25:43 |
| 2 Adam Roberge (QC) Independent | |
| 3 Andrew L'Esperance (QC) Forward Racing | |
| 4 Michael van den Ham (BC) Giant Bicycles | all s.t. |
| 5 Sean Fincham (BC) Maxxis/3T/Shimano | 0:09 |
| 6 Aidan Oliphant (BC) TaG Cycling Race Team | 0:39 |
| 7 Carter Nieuwesteeg (BC) IBIS - LAZER - 7MESH - SHIMANO | 0:56 |
| 8 Alexis Cartier (QC) Independent | 1:02 |
| 9 Kaleb Muller (QC) Independent | 1:31 |
| 10 Ethan Pauly (BC) Giant Store Assen CT | 1:42 |
| 11 Robert Britton (BC) Factor X OVRLND - SOG | s.t. |
| 12 Cody Scott (BC) Competitive Edge Racing | 2:15 |
| 13 Sam Shein (ON) Independent | 2:18 |
| 14 Cory Wallace (AB) | s.t. |
| 15 Luca Veeman (AB) Manteo Racing | 6:19 |
| 16 Tyler Clark (ON) Caledon Hills Armada | 6:31 |
| 17 Oskar Stack-Michasiw (SK) Independent | 6:53 |
| 18 Colton Zabolotney (AB) The Bike Shop Racing | 8:31 |
| 19 Theo De groote (ON) Factor racing | 15:07 |
| 20 Warren Muir (AB) Vectra Heavy Haulers p/b C02 Brew | 15:16 |
| 21 Soren Weselake (MB) Charge Racing | 17:44 |
| 22 Mark Fagnan (AB) The Bike Shop | 18:00 |
| 23 Brett Greiner (AB) Peloton Racing | 20:42 |
| 24 Gus De groote (ON) Racer sportif | 24:39 |
| 25 Maxwell Williams (AB) Independent | 24:45 |
| 26 Curtis Holloway (AB) TSCC | s.t. |
| 27 Daniel Stret (AB) TSCC | 26:05 |
| 28 Titus Chan (AB) Calgary Cycle - Trek | 28:56 |
| 29 Mathieu Desrosiers (QC) Velo Cartel | 29:07 |
| 30 Derrick Ushko (AB) Victoria Breakaway Cycling Club | 29:42 |
| 31 Logan Cobham (ON) Steve Neal Performance / GlasVan Great Dane | 30:37 |
| 32 Patrick McCrady (AB) TSCC (The Specials Cycling Club) | s.t. |
| 33 Josh Denison (AB) Concept3 | 31:46 |
| 34 Jeremy Smith (AB) The Bike Shop | 31:57 |
| 35 McKenzie Sanford (AB) Stealth Cycling | 32:49 |
| 36 Chevez Ezaneh-Paul (SK) HPL Cycling | 33:38 |
| 37 Pierre Laurencelle (AB) The Bike Shop | 47:12 |
| 38 Benjamin Brignall (AB) Independent | 55:44 |
| 39 Francis Thibaudeau (AB) Track Lord | 59:34 |
| 40 Steven Anderson (ON) Fresh Air Racing Team | 1:02:09 |
| 41 Matthew Teel (AB) Independent | 1:03:01 |
| 42 Bayley Clark (AB) Edmonton Road and Track Club | 1:25:17 |
| 43 Ethan McGhan (AB) Pedalhead Race Room | 1:34:23 |
| 44 Matthew Moore (SK) HPL Cycling | 1:42:16 |
| 45 Albert Nguyen (AB) Edmonton Road and Track Club | 2:04:09 |
| 46 Adam Bhavnani (AB) Independent | 2:30:28 |
| DNS Julien Gagne (QC) DEVINCI | |
| DNS Finn Borstmayer (AB) Manteo Racing | |
| Junior Men, 118 km | |
| 1 Heron Land-Gillis (YT) Team Yukon | 3:43:47 |
| 2 Mitchell Williams (SK) PNW Racing | at 2:48 |
| 3 Keaton Schisler (BC) Independent | 4:10 |
| 4 Hugh McDougall (BC) Independent | 14:26 |
| 5 Marcus Capili (SK) Team Sask | 24:07 |
| 6 William Lemieux (AB) Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle | 1:05:16 |
| DNS Fletcher Adams (ON) Proformance racing | |
| Masters I (35-44) Men, 118 km | |
| 1 John Vanderveen (BC) Flowstate Racing | 3:41:00 |
| 2 Evan Bayer (AB) Independent | 3:43:29 |
| 3 Dan Zeggelaar (AB) ERTC | 3:47:57 |
| 4 Neal Currie (BC) Independent | 3:54:51 |
| 5 Graham Diehl (AB) Peloton Racing | 3:54:51 |
| 6 Sean Crooks (AB) independent | 3:56:17 |
| 7 Dougal Owen (AB) bicisport | 3:58:13 |
| 8 Andrew Arnold (AB) Vector Heavy Haulers p/b CO2 Brew | 3:58:29 |
| 9 James Robbins (AB) Bicisport | 3:58:31 |
| 10 Darrell Boldon (AB) Independent | 3:59:40 |
| 11 Josh Barker (AB) Central Alberta Bicycle Club | 4:04:45 |
| 12 John Churchill (AB) TCR BIKE SHOP | 4:06:11 |
| 13 Michael Stimson (AB) independent | 4:06:33 |
| 14 Nathan Manyk (AB) ERTC | 4:14:28 |
| 15 Jonathan Nutbrown (AB) Independent | 4:14:40 |
| 16 Stephen Cooley (SK) Bike Doctor Detours | 4:15:15 |
| 17 Calum Thirlwell (AB) Wild Rose Collective | 4:15:20 |
| 18 Jason Redfern (AB) Velocity Cycling Club | 4:20:45 |
| 19 Nicholas Campbell (AB) bicisport | 4:22:17 |
| 20 Travis Schisler (BC) Independent | 4:23:23 |
| 21 David Kellington (SK) Cycledelia Saskatoon | 4:23:58 |
| 22 Guy Cote (AB) Dead goat Racing | 4:30:13 |
| 23 Benjamin Pike (AB) bicisport | 4:40:09 |
| 24 Alex Kolosov (AB) Vectra Heavy Haulers p/b CO2 Brew | 4:41:22 |
| 25 Duncan Steele (AB) TSCC | 4:45:52 |
| 26 Lee Wood (AB) Independent | 5:08:31 |
| DNF Mark Segarra (AB) Sycclista | |
| DNS Carson Brown (AB) bicisport | |
| DNS Lukas Rasmussen (AB) Independent | |
| DNS Jayde Wiedemann (AB) Independent | |
| DNS Jesse Bauer (AB) United Ride Club | |
| Masters I (35-44) Women, 118 km | |
| 1 Jodi Wendland (ON) The Cyclery | 4:24:26 |
| 2 Hilkka Kontro (AB) Peloton Racing | at 11:47 |
| 3 Courtney Lang (BC) Kamloops Velo Club | 15:47 |
| 4 Emily Young (AB) independent | 33:12 |
| 5 Justine Calder (BC) Independent | 34:57 |
| 6 Brittany Mercier (AB) Ascent Cycle | 47:49 |
| 7 Elizabeth Russell (AB) bicisport | 54:26 |
| 8 Jenn Proche (AB) bicisport | 1:01:52 |
| DNF Sarah McMaster (AB) PRW | |
| Masters II (45-54) Men, 118 km | |
| 1 Chris Algar (NS) Halifax Oceanics | 3:43:50 |
| 2 Mark Daws (BC) KVC/Cyclelogic | at 0:05 |
| 3 Mark Knoll (AB) Cyclemeisters Bow Cycle | 5:25 |
| 4 Dan Wood (AB) Independent | 6:34 |
| 5 Shane Besler (AB) Independant | 14:41 |
| 6 Glenn Harris (AB) deadgoat racing | |
| 7 Devin Erfle (AB) Deadgoat Racing | both s.t. |
| 8 Paul Cobham (ON) Steve Neal Performance / GlasVan Great Dane | 14:45 |
| 9 Steven Soon (AB) Cyclemeisters / Bow Cycle | 14:48 |
| 10 Shane Savage (BC) Independent | 15:32 |
| 11 Bryan Bursey (AB) Peloton | 23:09 |
| 12 Andrzej Lyczko (AB) Independent | 29:59 |
| 13 Colin McArthur (AB) C4XC | 32:58 |
| 14 Neil Reid (AB) independent | 37:24 |
| 15 Ryan Hamilton (BC) Independent | 41:35 |
| 16 Kurt Beaudoin (AB) ERTC | 41:38 |
| 17 Derek Lynn (AB) Calgary Bicycle Track League | 41:49 |
| 18 Vince Caceres (ON) The Cyclery | 44:27 |
| 19 Jayar Mendoza (AB) CABC | 44:39 |
| 20 Paul Martin (AB) Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle | 44:40 |
| 21 Mike Kohl (AB) Juventus | 45:13 |
| 22 Jason Proche (AB) bicisport | 46:16 |
| 23 Andrew McRae (AB) Terrascape Racing | 51:05 |
| 24 Bryant Hebert (AB) Deadgoat Racing | 52:11 |
| 25 Lampros Antoniou (AB) Peloton Racing | 54:39 |
| 26 Michael Wichuk (AB) Velocity Cycling Club | 55:18 |
| 27 Robert Urquhart (AB) Cyclemeisters / bow cycle | 56:41 |
| 28 Adam Hooson (AB) CABC | 1:06:28 |
| 29 Dan Killick (AB) Deadgoat | 1:08:18 |
| 30 Yvon Lemieux (AB) Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle | 1:12:12 |
| 31 Curtis McHale (BC) independent | 1:13:15 |
| 32 Adam Chalkley (AB) Cyclemeisters | 1:14:02 |
| 33 Peter Steckhan (SK) Saskatoon Cycledelia | 1:20:08 |
| 34 Marc Riendeau (SK) Bike Doctor Detours | 1:20:41 |
| 35 Philip Hoyle (AB) CABC | 1:20:47 |
| 36 Jack VanDyk (AB) Terrascape Racing | 1:41:55 |
| DNF Rod MacAlister (AB) Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle | |
| DNS David Boning (MB) Manitoba Randoneurs | |
| DNS Nathan Chown (ON) Real deal racing | |
| Masters II (45-54) Women, 118 km | |
| 1 Elizabeth Stack (SK) Independent | 4:46:42 |
| 2 Shelley Peachell (BC) Powder Creek Offroad Racing | at 8:35 |
| 3 Marilyn Charbonneau (QC) Independant | 12:10 |
| 4 Heather Sirounis (SK) Independent | 12:55 |
| 5 Cindy Bakke (AB) Deadgoat Racing | 41:47 |
| 6 Sonia Utting (AB) independant | 54:56 |
| DNF Gemma Hamilton (BC) Independent | |
| Masters III (55-64) Men, 118 km | |
| 1 Bruce Bird (ON) Wheels of Bloor | 3:50:23 |
| 2 Lorenzo Caterini (NS) craftsman construction | 3:58:00 |
| 3 William Armstrong (BC) Kamloops Velo | 3:58:32 |
| 4 Don Larsen (BC) Spoke Bike and Ski | 3:58:44 |
| 5 Robert Savin (AB) Bicisport | 3:59:29 |
| 6 Jean-Yves Hudon (AB) Independent | 4:03:35 |
| 7 Andrew Wiese (AB) Independent | 4:05:09 |
| 8 Geoff Clark (AB) Deadgoat Racing | 4:06:11 |
| 9 Greg Clark (ON) Caledon Hills Armada | 4:07:15 |
| 10 Lonn Bate (AB) Deadgoat Racing | 4:11:06 |
| 11 Gary MacGregor (BC) Independent | 4:22:38 |
| 12 Mike Prinz (AB) Independent | 4:25:39 |
| 13 Pat Doyle (AB) Deadgoat Racing | 4:27:03 |
| 14 John Peachell (BC) Powder Creek racing | 4:27:55 |
| 15 George Irwin (AB) Juventus | 4:27:55 |
| 16 Bryon Howard (AB) BUILD | 4:29:19 |
| 17 Charles Bougie (AB) RMCC | 4:32:29 |
| 18 Andrew Holmwood (AB) Cyclemeisters/Bow Cycle | 4:40:17 |
| 19 Warren Nishimura (AB) Peloton Racing | 4:41:12 |
| 20 Michael Johns (AB) Central Alberta Bicycle Club | 4:46:13 |
| 21 Ken Kahanyshyn (AB) Cabc | 4:52:20 |
| 22 Ken Corner (AB) Independent | 4:55:40 |
| 23 Tom Brodzinski (AB) Deadgoat | 4:59:17 |
| 24 Scott McLeod (SK) Bike Doctor Detours | 5:12:19 |
| 25 Daniel Gregoire (AB) Bicisport | 5:13:32 |
| 26 David Jaeger (AB) ERTC | 5:32:32 |
| 27 Michael Bibby (AB) Edmonton Road and Track Club | 5:51:28 |
| DNF Ted Dahms (AB) Pedalhead Roadworks | |
| DNS Trevor Williams (AB) Independent | |
| DNS Robert Martens (AB) Blizzard Bike Club | |
| Masters III (55-64) Women, 118 km | |
| 1 Tammy Nishimura (AB) Peloton Racing | 4:44:03 |
| 2 Kristine Brynjolfson (BC) Spoke | 4:50:29 |
| 3 Diane Bomans (QC) West Shefford/Cycles St-Onge/Velomania | 4:55:05 |
| 4 Julie Heidt (AB) Independent | 5:35:19 |
| 5 Michelle Jackman (AB) Terrascape Racing | 5:37:40 |
| 6 Wanda Mauricio (AB) ERTC | 5:43:50 |
| DNF Lori Andrews (AB) Independent | |
| DNF Alison Keple (BC) Independent | |
| Masters IV (65+) Men, 67.5km | |
| 1 Garth Campbell (BC) Victoria Breakaway Cycling Club | 4:00:00 |
| 2 Neil Hodgson (BC) Cycle Logic | 4:14:41 |
| 3 Brian Zulkoskey (SK) HPL Cycling | 4:37:08 |
| 4 Mark Bennett (BC) Independent | 4:48:24 |
| 5 Bill Burtnik (AB) Juventus Cycling Club | 4:54:19 |
| 6 Dan Horchik (ON) Independent | 5:03:48 |
| 7 Roger Clemens (AB) Rosso Cycling | 5:07:37 |
| 8 Michael Zelensky (AB) Terrascape Racing | 6:55:31 |
| U17 Men, 67 km | |
| 1 Josh Tyers (ON) Shredders MTB Club | 1:58:05 |
| 2 William McFarlane (ON) Stimulus Trek | 2:01:14 |
| 3 Cor Sinke (AB) Cyclemeisters | 2:01:16 |
| 4 Quinten Macklem (AB) Cyclemeisters / Bow Cycle | 2:02:45 |
| 5 Aiden Sandmaier (AB) Juventus CC | 2:21:34 |
| 6 Jack Thiel (AB) Juventus CC | 2:27:15 |
| 7 Timothy Utting (AB) Juventus | 2:27:38 |
| 8 Sitka Land-Gillis (YT) Team Yukon | 2:41:10 |
| U17 Women, 67 km | |
| 1 Charlie Pittard (AB) Peak Pursuits | 2:51:11 |
| 2 Sarah Chalkley (AB Cyclemeisters | 3:41:48 |
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