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FALL/WINTER 2018 

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FALL/WINTER 2018 

CONTENTS 

FALL/WINTER 2018, VOLUME 32, ISSUE 3 

56 

48 

31 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

COMPETITION 

52 

GEAR 

42 Island eHopping 

by Susan Denning 

46 Cyclocross Season 2018/19 Rocks 

by Sandra Walter 

48 Lord of the Squirrels 

by Antonio Abreu 

52 Fatbiking Season Preview 


56 Quebec Singletrack Experience 

by Lisa Willemse 

68 Tour de l’Abitibi 50th Anniversary 

by Ron Johnson 

60 2018 Road World Championships 

by Chris Hatton 

64 2018 MTB World Championships 

by Jack Cracker 

71 Woods Makes History at Vuelta 


72 Canadian WorldTours 2018 


74 2018 MTB XCO Nationals 


76 2018 Road Nationals 

by Tim O’Connor 

78 2018 Tour de Beauce 

by Tim O’Connor 

22 Castelli Custom Clothing 

by Maxime Bilodeau 

24 Felt Edict 3 BIKE TEST 

by Matt Surch 

26 Specialized Diverge Comp BIKE TEST 

by Emily Flynn 

28 Kona Process 153 AL/DL 27.5 BIKE TEST 

by Paul Newitt 

34 Cube Town Hybrid Sport 400 eBIKE TEST 

by Linda Shin 

36 Bulls Sturmvogel E EVO eBIKE TEST 

by Linda Shin 

38 Motorino Xlr eBIKE TEST 

by Paul Newitt 

FATBIKING 

Get Fat This Winter 

ePEDAL 

5 Bike Tests 

Lord of the 

Squirrels 

Whistler’s 

Hidden Gem 

80 Canada MTB Cup Season Finale 


40 Amego Freedom eBIKE TEST 

by Yuri Hrycaj 

HOT 

RIDES 

Felt, Kona, 

Specialized 

TOUR DE BEAUCE 

ROAD MTB PARA WORLDS 

50TH ANNUAL TOUR DE L’ABITIBI 

QUEBEC SINGLETRACK EXPERIENCE 

Edmonton chiropractor Mark 

Jung gets gets fat at the 45NRTH 

Fat Bike Triple Crown in Alberta. 

GRACEY DOVE 

82 UCI MTB World Cup Season Wrap 


84 2018 Para Road Worlds 


41 iGO ERÖ eBIKE TEST 

by Emily Flynn 


FALL/WINTER 2018 PEDAL 1

publisher/editor 

Benjamin Sadavoy 

graphic design 

Ingrid Riets 

senior contributors 

Antonio Abreu, Maxime Bilodeau, 

Jack Cracker, Emily Flynn, Raphael Gagne, 

Chris Hatton, Yuri Hrycaj, William Humber, 

Ron Johnson, Paul Newitt, Tim O’Connor, 

Chris Redden, Linda Shin, Noah Simms, 

Alex Stieda, Matt Surch, Sandra Walter 

photographic contributions 

Antonio Abreu, Chris Auld, 

Maxime Bilodeau, Pierrre Bouchard, 

Nicole Bradbury, Alex Broadway/swpix.com, 

Fraser Britton, CNCB, Crossroads Tremblant, 

Cycling Canada,Susan Denning, 

Ryan Draper, Freewheling, 

Shelley Gautier Foundation, 

Groupe Pentathlon, Harley Davidson, 

Masa Higuchi, Brian Hoades, 

Juventus Cycling Club, 

Peter Kraiker, Armin Kustenbruck, 

La Traversee du Lac St-Jean, 

Anthony Leutenegger, Mitchelton-Scott, 

Tim O’Connor, Chris Redden, Riese & Muller, 

Ivan Rupes, Mike Sarnecki, Sherbrooke CX, 

Silber Pro Cycling, Silverback OMC, Tour de l’Abitibi, 

UCI GranFondo World Series, Cor Vos 

copy editing 

Claudia Brown 

circulation/admistration 

Crystal Burs 

production 

Crackerjack Enterprises 

advertising sales 

Benjamin Sadavoy 

webmaster 

David Irving 

head office 

260 Spadina Avenue, Suite 200 

Toronto Ontario, Canada M5T 2E4 

Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 

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Pedal Fall/Winter 2018 

Pedal, a division of 1198189 Ontario Inc., is published 6 times annually: 

Annual Buyer’s Guide, Spring, Fashion, Summer, Fall, Winter, at 

260 Spadina Ave., Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2E4. The entire 

contents are the property of Pedal Magazine and may not be reprinted 

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2 PEDAL FALL/WINTER 2018 www.pedalmag.com

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TREAD 

Mike Woods (l) battles Alejandro Valverde (ESP) and Romain Bardet 

(FRA), with Dumoulin (NED) just behind to become the first Canadian 

in 34 years to win a Road World Championship medal, claiming bronze. 

4 PEDAL FALL/WINTER 2018 

www.pedalmag.com

Milestones 

What a colossal season for Canada, winning four 

World Championship bronze medals, ranking fourth 

overall as a nation at Road Worlds and second 

overall for the women’s road team. On the home 

front, new and returning champions were crowned 

at the Road and MTB Nationals, while the legendary 

Tour de l’Abitibi celebrated its 50th anniversary. 

Also inside, check out our coverage of the many 

fatbiking events on the horizon, along with a 

Cyclocross Preview, a recap of the second annual 

Quebec Singletrack Experience and our feature 

story on the Lord of the Squirrels, an amazing 

hidden MTB gem in Whistler, B.C. Finally, we’re 

excited to present our second ePedal section with 

five e-bike tests and a fabulous tale about Island 

e-Hopping. Happy holidays and wishing everyone 

a great off-season. – BAS 

COR VOS 



CONTRIBUTORS 

Chris Hatton 

Following his discovery of the Don 

Valley MTB trails in Toronto, Ont., Chris 

Hatton fell in love with mountain biking 

and travelled around Eastern Canada 

and Northeastern U.S. to compete in 

numerous cross-country, Enduro, downhill 

and road cycling events. He spent the past four summers 

working at a local bike shop and has managed the Queen’s 

University cycling team for the past two years. Hatton has helped to 

host countless demo events, has organized races and led 

bike-shop rides and enjoys getting people excited about riding 

bikes whenever possible. Currently finishing up his final year at 

Queens University in philosophy and business, he looks forward to 

developing and promoting the collegiate cycling scene in Ontario, 

racing at elite-level cross-country and road cycling events and 

pursuing opportunities in the cycling industry. 

Lisa Willemse 

Lisa Willemse is a writer and communications 

strategist who is never far 

from the outdoors. She spent more 

than a dozen years living in Alberta’s 

Bow Valley, where she first began 

mountain biking as a rest-day activity 

from various climbing pursuits. In 2008, Willemse moved to the 

Ottawa, Ont. area, hung up the chalk bag and began exploring 

the singletrack networks in the city’s big backyard. She’s turned 

her love of wooded trails into a busy volunteer job, serving on the 

board of the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association and working with 

land managers in a program to integrate 100+ kilometres of new 

singletrack into Gatineau Park. 

UNDISCOVERED 

RIDES ARE 

CALLING! 

Start Planning your next ride now , with a 

riding season that stretches from early Spring 

to late Fall there’s more time to ride in the 

Okanagan. After a great day of riding, don’t 

forget to check out our craft breweries or local 

restaurants . 

Photo Courtesy of Chris Stenberg Vine and Beach Media 

Matt Surch 

Born and raised in Ottawa, Ont., Matt 

Surch earned his B.A. in philosophy 

and M.A. in communications studies at 

McGill University. A father of two, he’s 

an avid car-free cyclist, blogger, contributor, 

cycling club president, event 

organizer, test-rider and public servant who writes about cycling 

culture and technology. Surch has nearly 30 years of experience 

riding and racing bicycles across many disciplines, including 

downhill, cross-country, road, gravel and cyclocross. His proudest 

cycling accomplishments include two overall podiums at Ontario’s 

renowned Paris-to-Ancaster Spring Classic. Now primarily focused 

on cyclocross, he still loves cycling up and down mountains 

at a moderate pace, but prefers riding fast over gnarly terrain 

on drop-bar bikes in a way best described as #dropbarbraap. 




OUT IN FRONT 

SHELLEY GAUTIER FOUNDATION 

Shelley Gautier Caps Historic Perfect 

2018 Season with UCI Award 

Canadian para-cyclist Shelley Gautier has had a historic year 

for the record books. Not only did she win every Union 

Cycliste Internationale (UCI) cycling race she entered in 2018, 

ending up with a perfect season – a Canadian first – but she also 

capped it off with a Para-cycling Award at the 2018 UCI Cycling Gala 

in Guilin, China. 

On Nov. 18, Gautier will celebrate her achievement at a special 

event in Toronto, Ont., where she will be presented with her UCI 

award, as well as Cycling Canada’s inaugural Perfect Season of the 

Year Award. In addition, there will be a screening of an episode of the 

new TV show “Highway to Health,” featuring Gautier. 

“I mean, it’s just amazing that I did it,” she says. “I had a lot of help 

and worked really hard. I am always nervous for the World Cups, and 

at the World Championships last year in Italy, I fell, so I was nervous.” 

In August, the Toronto native won her 14th World title at the UCI 

Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy. Gautier is 

undefeated at the Worlds since 2010, and, yet despite her perfect 

season being on the line, Gautier tried not to think too far ahead. 

“I take one race at a time and just go out and try to do my best, and 

that’s what I did,” she says. “It wasn’t until afterwards when I sat down 

and realized I had a perfect season.” 

Back in 2001, Gautier suffered a severe head injury while mountain 

biking in Vermont and fell into a coma, subsequently developing 

hemiparesis on the right side of her body. She competed in disabled 

sailing and rock climbing before moving on to para-cycling, which 

began by watching a race in Quebec with Louis Barbeau, the 

director-general of the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes 

(FQSC), who became president of the UCI’s Para-Cycling Commission. 

“He thought that because a guy racing ended up wiping out in the 

Toronto para-cyclist Shelley Gautier, became 

the first Canadian to claim a perfect season, 

winning every UCI race she entered in 2018, along 

with the World title and a UCI Para-cycling Award. 

rain that I’d never come back,” recalls Gautier. “But it ended up that 

he loaned me a trike, and I got into para-cycling that way.” 

In 2009, she became the first female T-1 rider on the Canadian 

Para-Cycling Team and hasn’t looked back. In addition to her many 

UCI World Championships, Gautier has also won a silver at the 2011 

Parapan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games in the 

mixed time-trial events. 

She competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, 

England and failed to win a medal, but returned and won bronze at 

the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

Gautier competes on a Specialized Ruby with a conversion unit on 

the back to make it a tricycle. Specialized is one of her sponsors, as 

well as Shimano (she has Di2 gears on her competition bike to make 

changing gears easier), Terry Bicycle Saddles (for more than 10 

years), and Duke’s Cycle in Toronto, where head technician and 

bike-fitter Lorne Anderson tunes her bike. 

“I’m so grateful to all of my sponsors, as I couldn’t have done it 

without them. They really make the world of difference at every 

competition,” Gautier said. 

Along the way, she started the Shelley Gautier Para-Sport 

Foundation, which provides recreational equipment for persons living 

with disabilities so they can become more integrated into their 

communities. The foundation, run by Alan Greer, works with community 

organizations in existing recreational facilities, and to date, it has 

loaned more than $150,000 of para-cycling equipment. 

And she’s not done yet. “Starting Dec. 1, I’m going to be back to 

work on getting a different-colour metal in Tokyo,” she says. “I won a 

bronze medal in Rio, and I want a different colour.” For more on 

Gautier and her Para-Sport Foundation, visit www.sgpsf.ca. – RJ 


OUT IN FRONT 

New Roof for Bromont Velodrome 

$4.5 Million in Funding for New Multi-sport Facility 

WORLDTOUR VETERAN SVEIN TUFT 

SIGNS WITH RALLY 

Legendary 

Svein Tuft 

Artist’s rendering of new Velodrome at 

the National Cycling Centre Bromont, 

part of a new multi-sport facility 

CNCB 

A 

lmost two decades since the closing of 

the Montreal velodrome in 1989, there is 

exciting news that the National Cycling 

Centre Bromont (CNCB) will finally be given a roof 

and become a fully operational indoor velodrome. 

Thanks to an investment of more than $4.5 

million from the Government of Quebec, the new 

multi-sport facility will be able to extend its period 

of activity and offer optimal conditions to the 

athletes who train there. 

The combined efforts of Cycling Canada, the 

Quebec Cycling Federation (FQSC), the City of 

Bromont, the Bromont Sports Club and the 

Bromont Ski Resort have made it possible to go 

from a simple sketch to a vibrant sports complex. 

Established in 1997, the CNCB first opened 

the Bromont velodrome in 2001 after a four-year 

undertaking that saw the 250-metre track used 

at the Atlanta Summer Olympics shipped north 

to Quebec. 

“Quebec is full of cycling talent. We see it 

particularly in road cycling, mountain biking and 

para-cycling, where Quebec is the undisputed 

leader on the national scene,” said André 

Michaud, president of the FQSC. “With the arrival 

of an indoor velodrome, there is no doubt that 

Quebec will also perform in track cycling, a 

discipline where we are already well represented. 

Catharine Pendrel 

Youth Scholarship 

The first recipients of the Catharine Pendrel 

Youth Scholarship were named at the 

2018 MTB XCO Canadian Championships 

this year in Canmore, Alta., an award that 

recognizes passion, commitment and the values 

that Pendrel has shown throughout her Professional 

mountain-biking career. The purpose of the 

scholarship is to encourage excellence among 

Canadian junior mountain bikers, with a total of 

$1,000 being made available to one male and 

CYCLING CANADA 

We only have to think of Olympians Hugo Barrette 

and Kirsti Lay, or other emerging athletes like Ariane 

Bonhomme, Laurie Jussaume, Lauriane Genest, 

Tristan Guillemette, Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa, Joel 

Archambault, Patrice St-Louis Pivin and Gabriel 

Drapeau-Zgoralski.” 

The new indoor concept was spearheaded by 

Nicolas Legault, executive director of CNCB since 2012, 

who committed himself wholeheartedly in carrying out 

this ambitious project. Legault and his supporters 

recognized that even if several Quebec track athletes 

have made their way onto the National team and 

compete against the world’s best, an outdoor velodrome 

was not enough for a long-term sustainable program. 

Inspired by the model that has proven itself in 

various cycling nations, including France, Great 

Britain and Australia, two National Strategic Centres 

were initially set up, one in Victoria (Western 

Canada) and one in Bromont (Eastern Canada). 

Further inspired by the world-class Milton Velodrome, 

Quebec’s athletes will soon enjoy an 

infrastructure in the province that’s dedicated to the 

discipline’s development and its national scope. 

The new facility, which includes the new indoor 

velodrome, facilities for other sports and lodging for 

athletes, is expected to be completed in late 2019 

or early 2020. For more information, visit www. 

CNCB.ca. – RJ 

Catharine Pendrel presents the inaugural youth sponsorships 

to Emilly Johnston and Charles-Antoine St-Onge. 

one female athlete. The financial support would offset 

the many costs associated with pursuing a Professional 

mountain-biking career, and is intended to 

inspire young Canadian athletes around the country. 

Pendrel herself presented B.C.’s Emilly Johnston 

and Quebec’s Charles-Antoine St-Onge with the 

inaugural award after the 2018 Championships.– RJ 

Although there was speculation that 

renowned Canadian rider Svein Tuft was 

set to retire from Professional racing at the 

end of the 2018 season, fans were excited 

to learn that the legendary hardman has 

signed with Rally Cycling. 

While visiting Girona, Spain this 

summer, Jonas Carney, Rally performance 

manager, met with Tuft to discuss working 

together for the first time since they were 

teammates back in 2002 on the U.S.-based 

Prime Alliance squad. Discussions 

progressed quickly and the two came to an 

agreement at the beginning of September. 

“The chance to ride for a North 

American team with a bunch of 

Canadians came along with Rally Cycling, 

and I couldn’t refuse,” said Tuft. “Sharing 

all that I have learned is what motivates 

me these days, and I couldn’t imagine a 

better team to do that with.” 

At 41, Tuft is the 2007 UCI America 

Tour champion, 2008 Worlds time-trial 

silver medalist, two-time National 

road-race champion and 11-time National 

time-trial champion. He’s a veteran of the 

WorldTour and a time-trial specialist who 

has spent time on numerous teams both 

in North America and abroad, including 

Garmin-Slipstream in 2009, Steve Bauer’s 

Spidertech-C10 team in 2011 and 

GreenEDGE (now Mitchelton-Scott) from 

2012 until the current season. 

An excited Rally team will look to Tuft 

as a mentor for their young and talented 

North American riders, as many of them 

looking to transition into Europe in the 

coming years. 

“My role with Rally Cycling will really 

be about support,” said Tuft. “I’ve done 

pretty much every WorldTour race on the 

calendar and understand the difficulties of 

transitioning from North America to 

Europe. The biggest difference is not in 

physical ability, but it’s in all the other 

details of European racing. Distance, pace, 

technical ability, reading the race, lifestyle 

and time are really the main factors. So 

my goal will be to share as much of my 

knowledge as I can and then within the 

race help them through positioning and 

navigating the European peloton.” 

Continued on page 14 

MITCHELTON-SCOTT 


OUT IN FRONT 

Cycling Canada Hall of Fame 

Linda Jackson, Eric Wohlberg 

& Nora Young Inducted 

Class of 2018 

Hall of Fame plaques 

Three new members were inducted into the Cycling Canada Hall 

of Fame on Sept. 30 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in 

Milton, Ont. The class of 2018, including Linda Jackson, Eric 

Wohlberg and Nora Young, were honoured at a luncheon ceremony at 

the Glencairn Golf Club following the third annual Lexus Ride with 

Legends, in conjunction with the Canadian Track Championships. 

Created in 2015, the Cycling Canada Hall of Fame has now 

recognized 22 members, including 19 athletes and three builders, for 

their outstanding achievement and contribution to the sport of cycling. 

“It is so important to recognize and celebrate the gracious 

champions and builders who have been instrumental in shaping the 

development of cycling in Canada,” said Matt Jeffries, executive 

director of Cycling Canada. “There is no better way to honour them 

than through this induction into our Hall of Fame. We are grateful to 

Nora, Linda, Eric and their families for the enormous contributions they 

have made and continue to make to our sport in Canada and abroad.” 

Linda Jackson had a remarkable career in road cycling despite 

entering the sport at the age of 32. She won a bronze medal in the 

women’s road race at the 1996 World Championships, as well as 

several medals at the Commonwealth Games, including a victory at 

the Tour de l’Aude in France. 

In 2000, she retired and founded the women’s road-racing team 

TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank in 2014, now the longest-running Professional 

women’s cycling team in North America, which has recruited 

many Canadian riders along the way. An investment banker, she was 

also a founding director of the Canadian Cycling Association-Hamilton 

2003 Road Cycling Foundation, which has supported numerous road 

riders throughout the years. 

Eric Wohlberg won a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth 

Games, and during his career represented Canada at three Olympic 

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OUT IN FRONT 

Legendary Linda Jackson 

receives her Hall of 

Fame award from 

Curt Harnett. 

Nora Young was one of the top 

female road cyclists in Canada 

in the 1930s and 1940s. 

Renowned Eric Wohlberg 

receives his Hall of 

Fame award from 

Gord Singleton. 

PHOTOS: IVAN RUPES 

Games, as well as at eight Road World Championships. From 

1996 to 2006, he was on every individual time-trial podium 

at the Canadian Road Championships. Since retiring, 

he has continued his cycling passion as sport director for 

Rally Racing, America’s top-ranked Continental women’s and 

men’s program. 

“I’m very honoured to be recognized and see my name on the 

plaque in Milton [the Mattamy National Cycling Centre],” said 

Wohlberg, who attended the ceremony with members of his family. 

“I had a pretty long run in the sport and still try to make significant 

contributions. This was one of the best weekends of my life, shared 

with family and friends. Hats off to Cycling Canada and the Hall of 

Fame Committee for putting this together.” 

Young (1917-2016) was a leading early-era athlete who rose to 

prominence as one of the top female road cyclists in Canada in the 

1930s and 1940s. She is one of Canada’s most important early female 

cycling pioneers, distinguishing herself at top-level cycling races open 

to women of that era. A national record holder and champion, Young’s 

amazing cycling career included multiple medals during her sixties, 

seventies and eighties in Master’s competitions throughout the world. A 

new animated film honouring her career called Undeniably Young: Nora 

Young and the Six-Day Race, by Julia Morgan, is in the making. – JC 

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CROSSROADS TREMBLANT 

OUT IN FRONT 

Crossroads Tremblant Announces 

Second Edition May 24-26 in 2019 

BY JACK CRACKER 

Crossroads Tremblant festival 

features an array of fabulous 

cycling opportunities headlined by 

its flagship Gran Fondo road ride. 

Crossroads Tremblant, Eastern Canada’s new 

road- and mountain-biking festival, will be 

held May 24-26 in 2019 following a highly 

successful inaugural event last year that saw 7,000 

cycling enthusiasts from all disciplines gather at the 

Laurentian resort. Additions for youth, women and 

adventure-seekers will see the event grow next year. 

The new festival concept was the brainchild of 

organizer Simon St-Arnaud and his team to 

merge two cycling cultures following the success 

of Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant for road cyclists, 

now in its seventh year, and Tremblant’s annual 

Canada MTB Cup XCO and DH events. 

Mountain bikers can race at the 

Canada/Quebec MTB Cup Series 

while sampling 50 kilometres of trails 

in the heart of the Laurentians. 

“Tremblant’s reputation as a prime cycling 

destination is growing for both road and 

mountain biking, with its smooth roads and wide 

shoulders, trail-network development, recreational 

bike paths and pump tracks for kids and 

families to enjoy,” said St-Arnaud. 

Registration for the festival’s flagship road 

ride, Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant p/b by 

Desjardins, is now open. On May 25 next year, 

close to 2,000 roadies, split in 12 different groups, 

are expected take up the challenge in their favourite 

distance while enjoying the breathtaking landscapes 

of the Upper Laurentians. 

Now in its 25th year at Mont-Tremblant, the Canada/ 

Quebec MTB Cup Series will see cross-country and 

downhill mountain bikers from across the country race 

head-to-head on redesigned and improved courses. 

In addition to the two main events, Crossroads 

Tremblant offers an array of activities from time trial, 

Big Air shows, Sunset rides, Criterium, Queen and 

King of the Mountain, the Peppermint Bikefest 

women-only road ride and much more. The festival 

also includes a bike-industry expo 

where attendees can shop for new 

gear and talk to experts from many 

popular brands. 

Thanks to improvements and 

investments in infrastructure, road 

cyclists have more than 70 mapped 

routes to choose from, while 

continued development of the 

mountain-bike trail system provides 

a 50-kilometre trail network in the 

heart of the Laurentian wilderness. 

Cyclists and their families can 

also enjoy 27 kilometres of paved 

bike paths connecting the resort to the old village 

and accessing the legendary P’tit Train du Nord trail. 

Crossroads Tremblant sponsors include Louis 

Garneau, Oakley, Bicycles Quilicot, Plaisirs Gastronomiques 

and Subaru Rive-Nord, along with 

support from Ville de Mont-Tremblant, Tourisme 

Mont-Tremblant, the Tremblant Resort Association 

and Tourism Quebec. For more information, visit 

www.crossroadstremblant.com. 

Continued from page 10 

VANCOUVER AWARDED UCI 

BIKE CITY STATUS 

In September, Vancouver, B.C. and 

St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France received 

UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Bike 

City Status. Re-launched in 2015, the 

award is meant to recognize cities that 

have clear strategies to grow and promote 

everyday cycling, as well as playing host 

to major UCI cycling events. 

Vancouver launched a five-year 

infrastructure strategy that focuses on 

improvements that will increase safety 

and create a network that allows for All 

Ages and Abilities (AAA). Currently, 

cycling is the fastest-growing transport 

mode with a growth from 4% in 2013 to 

7% in 2016. Vancouver is also set to host 

the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 

in 2020. 

St-Quentin-en-Yvelines has previously 

hosted multiple UCI BMX Supercross and 

Track Cycling World Cups, and has 

developed elite-level competition and 

city-cycling infrastructure. Currently, 

with 400 kilometres of bicycle lanes, 

more than 2-million Euros having been 

spent on the creation or renovation of 

more than eight kilometres of cycling 

infrastructures in the past three years. 

Since 2016, eight cities and regions 

have received the label. 

MAGHALIE ROCHETTE ANNOUNCES 

NEW PRIVATEER CX FEVER PROGRAM 

After five years on the Clif Bar Pro Team, 

Quebec’s Maghalie Rochette will part 

with the team to pursue her cyclocross 

project called CX Fever Racing Team p/b 

Specialized. 

With the full support of the Clif Pro 

Team and sponsors, the idea was sparked 

when she participated in her first Elite 

women’s UCI Cyclocross World 

Championships in February 2017 and 

placed fifth overall. The privateer 

program gained the quick support of 

more than 10 companies, including Clif 

Bar & Company, Specialized Bicycles, 

SRAM, Oakley and Giro. Her race 

schedule will consist of North American 

events up until Nov. 12, when she 

embarks on a three-month-long 

European campaign, after she 

participates in Canada’s first-ever Pan 

American Championships in Midland, 

Ont. on Nov. 3. 

“A part of me is super-excited about 

this opportunity, while another part of 

me is sad about leaving the team. I owe 

everyone involved in the Clif Pro Team 

an enormous thank you from the very 

bottom of my heart. It’s been an 

incredible ride,” said Rochette in a Team 

press release. 



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SCOTT-SPORTS.COM | MICASPORT.COM 

© SCOTT SPORTS SA 2018 | Photo: Kéno Derleyn

OUT IN FRONT 

Canada’s Bruce Bird Takes 

3rd Gran Fondo World Title 

Vancouver/Whistler to Host 2020 

UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 

BY CHRIS HATTON 

Ontario’s Bruce Bird won double 

gold, taking the men’s 50-54 category 

road race and the time trial. 

PHOTOS: UCI GRAN FONDO WORLD SERIES 

With Ontario’s Bruce Bird taking home an unbelievable third 

consecutive UCI Gran Fondo World Championship road 

race men’s 50-54 title on Sept. 2 in Varese, Italy, Canada 

continues its success on home turf as the Union Cycliste Internationale 

(UCI) announced that the 2020 Gran Fondo World Championships 

will be held in Vancouver/Whistler, B.C. 

The growth and popularity of the UCI Gran Fondo Series sees five 

new sites for 2019, now totalling 26 qualifiers around the world, a 

testimony to the 2,000 riders who participated at the Worlds in Italy on 

Aug. 29-Sept. 2 last year. 

Approximately 50 Canadians made the journey last August in Italy 

for the Worlds races, highlighted by Bird’s double-gold medals in the 

50-54 category road race, a stellar performance that followed his 

stunning time-trial win a few days prior. 

Bird lined up with more than 400 riders from 60 different countries 

in his category. With 130 kilometres and four major climbs, it only took 

the first ascent to break up the bunch, as Bird launched a brilliant 

attack with almost 100 kilometres to go at the summit of Alpe Tedesco 

da Bivio Boarezzo, a Category 3 climb. 

Italy’s Emanuele Motta bridged to the Canuck as the duo worked 

together to stay away, but continual attacks from Motta reportedly 

pushed Bird to his limit. The final three kilometres included two kilometres 

of climbing at a 4% gradient that led to a 600-metre flat sprint to 

the finish. It wasn’t until the final 20 metres that Bird pulled around 

Motta to take the win, raising a single arm in triumph at the line. 

The victory was icing on the cake, as he also contributed to a silver 

medal in the Team Relay two days prior, alongside teammates 

Chantal Gosselin, Dan Martin (2015 UCI Gran Fondo Worlds road 

race men’s 45-49) and Michael Jean (2016 UCI Gran Fondo Worlds 

road race men’s 40-44). 

Jean also had a stellar performance in his road race, finishing 

fourth in the men’s 45-49 competition, while Canadian Neale Andrew 

placed a notable 15th in the men’s 60-64 category out of 170 starters. 

As riders look qualify for the 2019 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 

in Poznan, Poland, and then Vancouver/Whistler in 2020, the 

Blue Mountain Gran Fondo will be the sole North American qualifier in 

2019, but the following year, the RBC GranFondo Whistler will join the 

series in 2020 and debut as a qualifier. 

Bird is excited that the Gran Fondo Worlds is coming to Canada, 

not only to defend his jersey at home (assuming he wins again in 

2019), but also because his Blue Mountains Gran Fondo is a stepping 

stone for talented Canadian riders to race at these Worlds – the top 

25% from each category become eligible to race at the Gran Fondo 

World Championships. For 2019, the Blue Mountains Gran Fondo will 

feature some of Canada’s best amateurs on June 13 (time trial) and 

on June 15 (road race) in Collingwood, Ont. 

“My main goal is to build challenging courses that put the rider’s 

experience first right here in Ontario. This vision can only be achieved 

by working with the best people who have gone to great lengths to 

make this into a reality,” said Bird. “Each year, we strive to improve 

the event by incorporating feedback from participants and adopting 

best practices from the most successful amateur cycling events.” 

For more information, visit www.thebluemountainsgranfondo.com or 

www.ucigranfondoworldseries.com. 

Team Canada at the 

2018 UCI Gran Fondo World 

Championships in Varese, Italy 


Numéro 3, 2018 

NOUVELLES 

Le vélodrome de Bromont aura finalement son toit 

D 

epuis la démolition du vélodrome de Montréal en 

1989, la communauté cycliste est en deuil d’un 

vélodrome intérieur. Plusieurs initiatives ont tenté 

de le faire renaître de ses cendres, que ce soit dans la 

métropole ou ailleurs sur le territoire québécois, mais sans 

succès… jusqu’à tout récemment. C’est donc avec beaucoup 

d’enthousiasme et de reconnaissance que la Fédération 

québécoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC) a accueilli l’annonce 

faite par le Gouvernement du Québec, le 13 août dernier. 

Grâce à un investissement pouvant atteindre plus de 4,5 

millions, le Centre national de cyclisme de Bromont (CNCB) 

pourra enfin se doter d’un toit. En plus de pouvoir prolonger 

sa période d’activité, le vélodrome offrira des conditions 

optimales aux athlètes qui s’y entraînent. 

« Avec les épreuves de la Coupe du monde et les 

Championnats du monde sur piste qui se tiennent entre 

novembre et avril depuis 2005, les cyclistes québécois étaient 

nettement désavantagés. Et ça, c’est sans compter la pluie, 

qui limitait les jours d’entraînement sur la piste à environ 

70 par année. Avec un vélodrome intérieur, ils pourront 

s’entraîner sur la piste à l’année longue, sans devoir s’exiler à 

l’extérieur du Québec, comme c’est le cas présentement » a 

souligné André Michaud, président de la FQSC. 

Faire beaucoup avec peu 

Depuis son arrivée en poste à titre de directeur général du CNCB 

en 2012, Nicolas Legault s’est investi corps et âme. Avec des 

moyens limités, mais une passion débordante et de précieux 

bénévoles, il a fait des miracles et porté à bout de bras un projet 

ambitieux. Après avoir redoublé d’efforts et d’ingéniosité pour 

prolonger la durée de vie de la surface de la piste, il fallait se rendre 

à l’évidence : elle n’était pas faite pour affronter les rigoureux hivers 

de la province. 

Suite à la page 3 

TABLE DES MATIÈRES 

Le vélodrome de Bromont aura finalement son toit …......................1 

Cyclosportive 100% Féminine ..........................................................4 

www.fqsc.net 

#3 2018 FQSC NOUVELLES 1

NOTRE PROJET 

Construire un vélodrome 

mullsport accessible 365 

jours par année à l'élite et 

à toute la populalon. 

VELODROMEBROMONT.CA 

COMMENT AIDER ? 

« Le projet en cours est plus qu’un 

rêve pour un athlète de haute 

performance. 

C’est donner la chance aux jeunes 

d’avoir de l’ambiion et aux plus 

vieux, de pouvoir praiquer le 

cyclisme à l’année. 

Je suis convaincu qu’une 

infrastructure de ce genre 

permeerait au Québec de devenir 

une puissance sur piste. 

On a le talent, il nous manque 

qu’un vélodrome intérieur pour le 

développer pleinement ». 

Hugo Barreee, cycliste olympien sur piste 

© R o b J o n e s / C a n a d i a n C y c l i s t . c o m

Suite de la page 1 

Du talent à revendre 

Même si plusieurs pistards originaires de la Belle Province se 

sont frayé une place au sein de l’équipe nationale, force est 

d’admettre qu’un vélodrome extérieur était insuffisant pour que 

ces athlètes puissent se mesurer à armes égales avec l’élite 

mondiale. Plusieurs athlètes ont, au fil des années, démontré un 

grand potentiel sur l’ovale. Mais à défaut de pouvoir bénéficier 

d’une infrastructure adaptée ou de vouloir s’expatrier là où ces 

installations existent, certains athlètes en viennent à décider, à 

contrecœur, de délaisser la piste. Avec nos hivers, tous 

comprendront qu’un vélodrome intérieur n’est pas un luxe, mais 

une nécessité. 

« Le Québec regorge de talent. On le voit notamment en 

cyclisme sur route, en vélo de montagne et en paracyclisme, où 

le Québec est le leader incontesté sur la scène nationale. Avec 

l’arrivée d’un vélodrome intérieur, il ne fait aucun doute que le 

Québec fera aussi belle figure en cyclisme sur piste, une 

discipline où nous sommes déjà bien représentés. On n’a qu’à 

penser aux olympiens Hugo Barrette et Kirsti Lay, ou à d’autres 

athlètes en émergence comme Ariane Bonhomme, Laurie 

Jussaume, Lauriane Genest, Tristan Guillemette, Thierry Kirouac- 

Marcassa, Joël Archambault, Patrice St-Louis Pivin et Gabriel 

Drapeau-Zgoralski. Ce sont tous des athlètes qui font partie des 

programmes de l’équipe nationale et qui ont fait leurs débuts ou 

qui ont été développés au vélodrome de Bromont » a-t-il ajouté. 

ENTRAÎNEMENT 

EN ÉQUIPE 

À DÉCOUVRIR 

AVENTURE À VÉLO 

DANS LES ADIRONDACKS 

BIENVENUE 

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• Club de ski de fond Nakkertok 

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• Club Skibec Nordique 

Entraînement préalable aux 

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Diriger des randonnées et 

s’entraîner en randonnée 

Acquérir des compétences 

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16 mars 2019 

Bienvenue aux clubs 

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Suite à la page 6 

www.fqsc.net 


Cyclosportive 100% Féminine 

Et c’est là où L’Échappée Belle prend tout son sens : c’est le 

premier événement cycliste 100% féminin du genre. Il s’agit d’un 

rassemblement, d’une célébration du cyclisme féminin, d’une 

rampe d’accès au monde du vélo. L’événement poursuit différents 

buts, dont le dénominateur commun est toujours la femme : 

encouragement à participer à des événements cyclistes, mixtes 

à terme, favorisation de la pratique chez les débutantes, mais 

aussi chez les jeunes filles, valorisation des femmes dans leurs 

pratiques sportives, quel que soit le niveau, etc. 

L’Échappée Belle a fait ses débuts en 2010, sous l’impulsion de 

la Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes, pour palier à une 

situation : l’absence des femmes dans les événements cyclistes. 

Alors que les femmes sont presque aussi nombreuses que les 

hommes à faire du vélo (il suffit de parcourir une piste cyclable 

dans Montréal pour s’en rendre compte), elles sont par contre 

beaucoup moins nombreuses à pratiquer au sein d’un club, ou 

lors d’événements cyclistes. Elles représentent moins de 25% des 

participants dans les événements sanctionnés en Cyclisme pour 

tous en 2016/2017. 

Pour relever ces défis, la FQSC met tout en œuvre pour rendre 

l’expérience des participantes unique afin de pérenniser leur pratique. 

Ainsi, trois parcours sont proposés, pour répondre aux besoins 

de toutes les cyclistes, de la plus débutante à la plus aguerrie. 

Chaque parcours est couvert par une caravane de sécurité 

impressionnantes (commissaires, escortes motos, véhicules balais, 

mécano, premiers soins, encadreuses à vélos, bénévoles, etc…). 

Mais l’expérience « Échappée Belle » ne se vit pas uniquement 

sur le vélo. Outre la beauté des paysages, les participantes 

bénéficient de nombreux services (ravitaillements très fournis, 

lunch à l’arrivée, massothérapeutes, animation sur le site, 

cadeaux des partenaires, etc.). 

4 FQSC NOUVELLES #3 2018 www.fqsc.net

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ANNUAL 2018 

Suite de la page 3 

La petite histoire d’un grand rêve 

Né le 20 janvier 1997, le CNCB, dans sa forme actuelle, 

n’a toutefois été inauguré que le 11 juin 2001, après le 

déménagement à Bromont de la piste de 250 mètres 

utilisée lors des Jeux d’Atlanta. Quatre années se seront 

donc écoulées entre les premières esquisses du projet et la 

réalisation concrète de celui-ci. Il faut dire qu’il s’agissait 

d’une entreprise d’envergure. 

Inspiré par le modèle ayant fait ses preuves dans 

différentes nations cyclistes, dont la France et l’Australie, le 

Canada souhaitait, lui aussi, se doter d’une infrastructure 

vouée au développement de la discipline au pays. Or, 

compte tenu de l’étendue du territoire qu’elle dessert, elle 

décide alors d’ériger deux Centres nationaux stratégiques 

disposés, c’est-à-dire un à Victoria (Ouest du Canada) et 

un à Bromont (Est du Canada). 

Pour ce faire, l’appui de plusieurs organismes et/ou 

regroupements s’avérait évidemment nécessaire. Ainsi, les 

efforts combinés de Cyclisme Canada, de la FQSC, de la 

Ville de Bromont, du club sportif de Bromont et de la 

station de ski de Bromont ont permis de passer d’une 

simple ébauche à une entreprise en devenir. Avec l’octroi 

d’une subvention de 1,9 M $ par le Gouvernement du 

Québec, le 12 mai 2000, le tout se mettait en branle; un 

vélodrome allait être aménagé, et un bâtiment destiné à la 

réalisation d’activités et l’hébergement d’athlètes, construit. 

Campagne de sociofinancement 

D’autres sources de financement seront nécessaires afin 

de mener à bien cet ambitieux projet, dont la réalisation 

est estimée à 9,8 millions de dollars. Ainsi, ceux qui 

désirent faire une contribution sont invités à le faire via le 

www.velodromebromont.ca 

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OUT IN FRONT 

MTB Frontlines 

Cape Epic and Silverback 

OMX New Team 

BY RAPHAEL GAGNÉ 

Team Silverback OMX’s Martin Gluth 

with teammate Raphael Gagné 

at the grueling Cape Epic. 

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SILVERBACK OMX 

The The 2018 season kicked off with a new team, and I couldn’t be 

happier to find a great fit with U.K.-based Silverback OMX Pro 

Team, with a three-year agreement in line with our goals toward 

the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. My first few weeks with my new teammates in 

South Africa at the Stellenbosch MTB World Cup went smoothly. The 

many diverse English accents on the squad, from South African, to 

British, to German, to my Quebecois Anglais made for some good 

laughs for all. 

We set a goal of top-10 overall, 

if we survived the eight days of racing. 

Also on my calendar slated for 2019 was Cape Epic, but at the end 

of January, I learned that I would be racing there with Martin Gluth 

in March, only six to seven weeks away. While my training schedule 

was designed to peak in July, August and September (wherein lay 

my main goals), this was a great opportunity to grab some important 

international points and live an amazing MTB experience. 

We set a goal of top-10 overall, if we survived the eight days of 

racing that included four stages with more than 110 kilometres of MTB 

riding. Cape Epic is considered the longest, hardest MTB stage race 

in the world, and it’s no surprise as to why so many World Cup riders 

do it and that it is a bucket-list dream race for many MTB amateurs. 

Cape Epic is considered the longest, 

hardest MTB stage race in the world. 

Beginning with a Prologue at Cape Town University and Table 

Mountain, we qualified 17th. On Day Two, we were ranked 23rd 

overall after suffering an unfortunate flat tire after just five minutes of 

racing. Over the next three stages, I basically tried to hang on to my 

teammate’s wheel, as Gluth was really strong and had been preparing 

for the Cape Epic all winter. 

Surprisingly, our best day came on the Stage Four Queen stage, 

113 kilometres with 1,800 metres of elevation, where we finished 11th 

amidst some of the most beautiful landscape and trails. The Day Six 

time trial was really brutal and where I saw some improvement in my 

feelings and form. But when we finished the stage, disaster struck 

when Gluth caught a stomach bug and started to feel ill two hours 

later. Before the start of Stage Seven, he was sidelined, severely sick. 

As a lone “Leopard,” I raced the final two stages and completed 

my first Cape Epic in a category reserved for those who lose their 

partner, but decided to finish the race anyway. I wanted to finish for 

my team and to fulfill my values in sport – never quit, push through 

and fight hard, respect the race and the racers. I’m proud to have 

completed such a beast of a stage race – but it was tough! 

Cape Epic was pretty much as I expected – challenging, fun and 

unique. We did not achieve the results we wanted, but that’s racing. 

With international Union Cycliste Internationale points at stake (something 

we’re always chasing), it definitely lived up to its “toughest 

race” moniker. 

Overall, the Cape Epic was a big show, very well organized and 

a stage race I had dreamed of doing one day. And it’s as much a 

dream for Professional international athletes to do it as it is the many 

MTB amateurs the world over. It’s a really great atmosphere if you are 

truly passionate about mountain biking. 

Teammates for life Martin Gluth (l) 

and Raphael Gagné. 


RYAN DRAPER 

OUT IN FRONT 

Rundle Mountain Cycling Club 

Passion for the Outdoors 

Founded in 2001, the Rundle 

Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) 

was the first cycling club in 

Canmore, Alta., located in the Bow River 

Valley. Local rider and racer Sean Taylor 

brought his passion for the sport forward 

and created RMCC. 

With Canmore being a multi-season 

outdoor town surrounded by beautiful 

mountains and with amazing recreational 

opportunities, the region had become a 

gathering place for those with a passion for 

the outdoors in a mountain environment 

and so the club took off like a rocket. 

While the club started with a group of 

mountain-bike racers, they also began to 

train on the road when it became challenging 

to ride a mountain bike within Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. 

The combination of discovering new MTB trails and quiet roads attracted 

club members to explore more options. 

In the late 1990s, the Canmore Nordic Centre hosted the UCI MTB 

World Cup, and that really put cycling on the minds of Bow Valley 

residents much in the same way cross-country skiing benefited from the 

1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alta. 

The club embraces mountain, 

road, cyclocross, fatbike and 

more for Masters, kids and 

everyone in between. 

With an increase in the popularity of Masters road racing and riding in 

recent years, the club now has a more visible road focus, yet the largest 

group within the club is still on the mountain-bike side. 

According to Douglas Hallett, club president, “The split for cycling is 

88% mountain bike, 52% road ride and 12% cyclocross, with a small 

group of 5% that do ‘other’ cycling like fatbiking and leisure/commuter 

rides. I truly think everyone in Canmore and Banff has several types of 

bikes in their garage.” The mix of riders has allowed the club to grow to 

more than 800 members in 2018. 

While RMCC has grown with Master riders, youth programs remain 

an integral part of the club. The focus is to develop younger riders into 

racers and the club has spent years investing in the youth hierarchy 

program. Its success has been very satisfying and motivating for all 

club members. 

Recent graduates of the program include RMCC-R youth racer 

Logan Sadesky, who is now cleaning up in CX races as a first-year 

university student in Victoria, B.C. Another successful RMCC graduate 

is Sara Poidevin, who recently had a 14th-place finish (the top U-23 

rider) in the Elite women’s road race at the 2018 UCI Road World 

Championships at Innsbruck, Austria, among several other great results 

on her resume. Her involvement with the club as well as her family’s 

support have led to her success. “As the club evolves, it’s just a matter 

of time before more top-level riders rise in the results,” says Hallett. 

RMCC has also been successful at staging events. The club held the 

2018 Alberta Provincial Road Race Championships as a result of 

continued improvement and success of past and present club riders who 

wanted to showcase their sport to the Canmore community. 

The Rundle Mountain road stage race has gained stature as well 

growing steadily over the past seven years to fill a gap in the provincial 

calendar left by other events that did not continue. 

The MTB National XCO Championships were held in Canmore in 2017 

and 2018, and while the club itself was not directly involved in putting on 

the event, the organizers gained experience 

with RMCC when the club staged several 

local mountain-bike races in Canmore prior 

to staging the MTB Nationals. 

These events are incredibly important in 

helping members embrace new challenges 

and to dream big. Back in the 1990s, the UCI 

MTB World Cup in Canmore inspired club 

BY CHRIS REDDEN 

members to bring the Nationals there, and now another generation of 

cyclists are noticing the “big” events that inspire bike racing and development 

in the sport. RMCC may consider hosting the Cyclocross Nationals 

next year and the same MTB Nationals group will stage a Canada MTB Cup 

in 2019 at the Nordic Centre. 

With a dedicated membership, strong youth programs, an ideal 

cycling venue in Canmore, a well-structured organization and a strong 

board keen to grow and improve the club, RMCC is a cycling club with a 

bright future. 

Rundle Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) 

Box 8515 Main 

Canmore, AB, T1W 2V2 

info@rundlemountaincyclingclub.com 

The Rundle Mountain Cycling Club 

caters to avid cyclists with a passion for 

the outdoors in a mountain environment. 

RMCC graduate Sara 

Poidevin: the top 

U-23 rider at 2018 

Road Worlds 

20 PEDAL FALL/WINTER 2018 www.pedalmag.com 

MASA HIGUCHI 

CHRIS AULD

04/28/2019 

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global cycling-clothing company owned by Manifattura Valcismon 

(MV) is steeped in the sport’s history, with frontman Chris Froome 

and Team Sky one of its illustrious partners. 

The company also owns the Sportful and Karpos brands, and it’s no 

surprise that MV Canada, opened three years ago, has grown each 

year and recently moved into new larger offices that are located on the 

main street of Magog, a small Eastern Townships city in Quebec. 

BY MAXIME BILODEAU 

ing women’s Pro cycling squad SAS-Macogep, Sport-en-Tête (Quebec), 

Todd’s Cycling (Vancouver) and NRG Performance Training (Toronto). 

“When we arrived three years ago, customer response was immediately 

positive,” explained Philip Cortes, sales manager for MV Canada. 

“Finally, they had more choices from a brand they knew and trusted.” 

The entire process begins with contacting MV’s head office or one of 

its sales representatives scattered across Canada. “We’re cyclists ourselves, 

so we try to [be] in as many events as possible,” continued 

Perron, who took part in Les 100 à B7 the day before Pedal’s visit. 

Castelli is a quality brand 

steeped in cycling history. 

Team Sky: one of Castelli’s 

most renowned partners 

From fitting to final design 

and every step of the way 

PHOTOS: MAXIME BILODEAU 

“The six of us [there were three at the beginning] were getting a little 

tight in our old location, also in Magog,” said Pierre Perron, general 

manager of MV Canada, during Pedal’s guided tour. “That’s how popular 

Castelli is: we’ve expanded staff and moved to a bigger place to 

keep up with demand.” 

Prior to 2015, the brand was available, but now Perron, the former 

global-marketing director of Garneau, and his team along with MV in 

Italy have made solid headway, putting Castelli on the Canadian map. 

Recently back from the Union Cycliste Internationale Sherbrooke CX 

event (a first in the province), Perron is bullish on its custom-clothing 

program, which designed the kit for this competition, as well as last 

year’s Cyclocross Nationals. 

“We’re a coast-to-coast company, but previously, there was no real 

effort to promote our brands appropriately. The quality was always there, 

but we are now more focused and excited about the future. We’ve had 

similar success with our custom-clothing program as well,” adds Perron. 

MV Canada’s custom-cycling-clothing program is gaining popularity 

across the country. Castelli’s personalized cycling apparel is a natural 

extension of the company’s quality offerings. Castelli is proud to have its 

legendary scorpion logo affiliated with clubs and team at all levels, includ- 

The next step in the process is the much-coveted fitting sessions. 

That’s when club or team members are given access to full-fit kits (jerseys, 

bibs and skinsuits) with the aim of finding their perfect sizes. Fitting 

sessions are usually held in the evening at cycling stores under the 

supervision of shop employees and an MV sales representative. 

While the fitting session is being organized, the all-important design 

of the cycling apparel is co-ordinated by François Colameo, MV Canada’s 

designer and customer-service representative. “We know this part 

is crucial, along with colours, logos. Whether we’re redesigning an existing 

kit or starting from scratch, we work with the team or club to ensure 

their members are happy with the final result,” commented Colameo, 

who is also responsible for MV Canada’s personalized custom-order 

management site. 

Once the final order submission is placed, delivery normally takes 

from four to six weeks, with savings of 30% to 40% on off-the-shelf 

items. Castelli’s scorpion is ready to become a welcome addition to any 

cycling fraternity. The minimum custom order is five units for suits and 

10 units per style for tops and bottoms. 

For more information, contact Mvcanada_custom@mvc46.eu; and 

www.castelli-cycling.com. 




TEST 

GEAR 

FELT 

EDICT 3 

BY MATT SURCH 

Upon receiving Felt’s updated, modernized 

Edict 3 for review, I couldn’t wait to hit 

dirt. Launching into Quebec’s Gatineau 

Park singletrack trails, I was immediately 

comfortable, manouevring and jumping 

the bike off rocks and roots. 

This is the first 29’er I’ve ridden that handles like a 26” bike – it definitely 

shreds. Felt has managed to pull off a pretty nifty feat with its re-engineered 

Edict: it’s a cross-country race platform, but it descends like a 

trail bike. This means the rig’s steering is neutral (aka a slacker headtube angle), 

which allows its rider to steer more with the hips than the hands. With wide 

bars – the current style that works great – it’s sometimes necessary to raise your 

outside elbow while railing turns to get the weight where needed. 

Deftly, the Edict also manages to climb technical grades exceptionally well, 

defying what one might expect from its shallow 69.5° (measured) head angle. 

While climbing, I really appreciated the leverage that the wide bars provided, 

coupled with direct power transmission to the rear tire through the bike’s rear 

suspension. I just pointed the bike where I wanted to go, and it went there. Essentially, 

the Edict allowed me to ride the way I want to ride mountain bikes – aggressively 

– as soon as I sat on it, with little time spent tuning its suspension. Frankly, 

this was impressive, if not shocking. 

At the heart of the redesigned Edict line is a new FAST suspension system, 

characterized by clean lines and relative simplicity, forgoing the typical rear dropout 

pivot found in four-bar suspension designs in favour of sag molded into the 

rear triangle, a novel approach. By moving to a single chainring-specific format, 

Felt is able to use 436mm chainstays and their optimal main-pivot location rather 

than choose a compromise between chainrings, yielding smooth pedaling efficiency 

and effective mid-stroke travel. 

The Edict’s progressive 100mm rear end provides the best of all worlds: great 

pedaling, excellent responsiveness and bottomless feel. Running low pressure 

in the rear shock during my first ride, I pushed through its full travel countless 

times, but never felt it bottom-out once. 

The RockShox Reba RL Solo Air fork, with its 120mm of travel and remote 

lockout, is an excellent complement to the bike’s rear end, and it likewise provided 

smooth, bottomless-feeling suspension action. 

The fact that the bike’s ride height is low, but not too low, with approximately 

30% sag, suggests the platform is quite versatile, affording riders the ability to 

THE BIKE 

Price 

$4,899 

Weight 

28.1 lbs 

Components 

SRAM’s 1x12 Eagle 

drivetrain 

Frame/Fork/Shock 

UHC Advanced carbon 

fibre/FAST suspension 

system (rear); 

RockShox Reba RL 

Solo (front) 

Geometry 

Headtube 69.5°, seattube 

69°/73.3° effective 

Sizes 

S, M, L (tested), XL 

Comments 

A solid, value-packed 

machine that definitely 

shreds. 

tune the suspension to the style of riding desired: soft for a trail-bike feel, firming 

up all the way to a cross-country-race feel. This bike is efficient even while set up 

soft, which was also impressive. For those looking to exploit the full potential of 

the Edict platform, I’d recommend a 120mm fork. 

The frame delivers low weight but retains torsional stiffness through the skilled 

use of UHC Advanced carbon fibre. The Edict 3 uses Boost spacing front and rear, 

a SRAM Eagle drivetrain, a crowd-pleasing return to a threaded bottom bracket and 

extremely clean internal cable routing (including routing for a dropper seatpost). 

The bike’s wheels track well, and there is no discernable lateral flex, though I’d 

upgrade the wheelset to lighten this rig up from its 28.1 lb. overall weight. The 

exact frame built to Edict 1 spec is 25 lbs., while the higher-grade FRD flagship 

model tips the scale at a mere 22.77 lbs. 

Felt’s geometry updates to its platform translate into responsive manoeuvring 


Felt packs fantastic 

value into the updated 

Edict 3 that is ready to 

rip out of the box for 

incredible shredding 


while retaining excellent climbing prowess and handling on descents, making 

this ride much closer to a trail bike than a typical cross-country machine. Felt 

packs fantastic value into a machine that is ready to rip out of the box. 

The Edict 3 delivers a solid value at less than $5,000, with rock-solid specs 

that require no immediate modification and a frame that is worthy of upgrades 

over time. SRAM’s 1x12 Eagle drivetrain functions effectively, simplifying shifting 

and allowing the rider to focus on the trail. 

The lasting impression delivered by the entire package is that every part of the 

bike does its job seamlessly beneath the rider, without drama. This is exactly what 

lets you hone in on the trail, focus on the push and the pull and feel that sensation 

we’re all after – fun! 

www.can-en.feltbicycles.com 


TEST 

GEAR 

SPECIALIZED 

DIVERGE COMP 

BY EMILY FLYNN 

Fall is the perfect time to get outside and 

enjoy the changing colours. After a long 

season, the Specialized Diverge Comp is 

the ultimate tool for new adventures, new 

roads, new cafes and more. 

have always loved Specialized bikes, and this one was no different. On first 

I impression, this bike rolled effortlessly and was extremely comfortable. The 

Diverge is considered a gravel-road bike, but from my experience riding it, the 

Diverge is a perfect all-rounder. From the trail, to the path, to the café, it was 

smooth sailing. Perhaps the only trait the bike lacked was a race-like kick, but 

otherwise, the Diverge can be a great year-round all-terrain bike. 

The bike handled trail riding in Quebec’s Gatineau Park with ease, thanks 

to Specialized’s unique Future Shock suspension in the steerer tube. The Future 

Shock has 20mm of travel when facing rugged conditions. Where traditional 

front suspension would see the fork compress to absorb the shock, the Future 

Shock keeps these components rigid, rather than absorbing the roughness 

through the steerer tube and into the handlebars. 

The benefit of keeping the frame and fork the same shape is that the wheelbase 

remains unchanged. This is a win-win benefit when you want to continue 

rolling fast and predictably. When I first rode it, the Future Shock did not make 

the bike feel much different in terms of handling, but as the ride went on, I did 

notice that I was not feeling the cracks in the road or the jarring washboarding 

of gravel roads that you often experience on a road or cyclocross bike. 

Another component added in the name of comfort is the CG-R carbon 

seatpost, which has a unique zig-zag design and uses Specialized’s exclusive 

Zertz elastomer technology (a soft, rubber-looking block that fills the middle 

space of the zig-zag design) to absorb any vibrations travelling up the frame to 

the saddle. While suspension designs can sometimes look odd, I did find the 

combined steerer tube and seatpost suspension helped me to tackle all sorts 

of bumps and rough gravel with ease. Adding to this, the Diverge is equipped 

with Specialized-2bliss-compatible tires and will easily fit 42mm tires with 

room to spare, allowing you to tackle whatever terrain you could throw at it. 

Comfort is key in an adventure bike, and I can tell you that Quebec roads 

have nothing on the Diverge! Having ridden the bike on numerous rides of 

more than 100 kilometres, it certainly stood the test of time in terms of comfort. 

Not having to worry as much about cracks and potholes in the roads took 

the unneeded stress of dodging these obstacles off my plate, and this allowed 

THE BIKE 

Price 

$3,950 

Components 

Praxis Alba 2D, BB386 

crankset, Shimano 

RS505 disc shift levers, 

Shimano 105 derailleur 

and cassette, 48/32T 

chainrings and Axis Elite 

disc wheels 

Frame/Fork 

Specialized FACT 

carbon fork and frame, 

open-road geometry 

Geometry 

Headtube 71°, 

seat-tube 74° 

Sizes 

48, 52 (tested), 54, 56, 

58, 60 and 64cm 

Comments 

A great all-round bike at 

a reasonable price. 

me to enjoy the ride that much more. The hydraulic brakes ensured reliable 

stopping, while the shifters were comfortable and allow you to change hand 

positions on longer rides. 

Furthermore, the Diverge is equipped with a wide range of gears, and 48/32T 

chainrings in the front and an 11-32t cassette in the back make climbing more 

enjoyable. Adding to the adventure, the Diverge has three bottle cage mounts 

to keep you going farther, as well as mounts for racks and fenders to allow for 

bikepack camping. 

When on a ride with others who were on road bikes, the Diverge’s Endurance 

technology and larger-volume tires did not hinder my ability to roll fast 

along paved roads. However when the roads got rough, those on road bikes 


The Diverge is considered 

a gravel-road bike, but 

from my experience, it is 

a perfect all-rounder for 

new adventures. 


were not so lucky: two succumbed to flats and others complained of numb 

hands. This really showcased how the Diverge emphasizes comfort without 

sacrificing performance or weight. 

Overall, I am big fan of this bike, and while the Shimano 105 components 

are great and never held me back, I thought I might see Ultegra at this bike’s 

price point. Still, I understand there is a larger focus on keeping the Diverge 

comfortable in all conditions, and it is meant for adventure riding. 

Ultimately, the Diverge inspires you to be unafraid to take the road less 

travelled. That is what the Diverge is for. Adventure awaits! 

www.specialized.com/ca 


TEST 

GEAR 

KONA 

PROCESS 153 AL/DL 27.5 

BY PAUL NEWITT 

The 2018 Process 153 AL/DL 27.5 is 

Kona’s latest all-day, everyday trail bike 

built to hold its own against the most 

aggressive downhill challenges and to 

tame the climbs it takes to get to them. 

saying that I’d come across years ago but had long forgotten was “trust the 

A process,” and the opportunity to test Kona’s version brought this to mind 

and now made complete sense to me. 

At first glance, many would judge the Process 153 AL/DL 27.5 in its matte 

“Special-Forces”-looking olive-green paint scheme and 160mm RockShox Yari 

Solo Air to be a downhill dominant machine. Yet a closer look at the spec sheet 

and a couple of good gritty rides on the Process 153 will have you re-evaluating 

your “book-cover” judging ways. 

First off, the relatively steep 76° seat-tube angle, 66° headtube angle and 

short stem combined with a vertically positioned RockShox Deluxe RT trunnion 

shock remove the climbing-dread factor significantly. In fact, the climbing 

capabilities of the Process verge on enjoyment, a quality that is generally 

rare when describing 27.5” trail bikes with 160mm of travel. 

Much of this climbing charisma was accomplished through this year’s geometry 

tweaks, the SRAM GX-Eagle 10-50t 12-speed freewheel with one-ringto-rule-them-all 

up front in the form of a 34t X-Sync Eagle chainring, as well as 

the efficiency and placement of the trunnion shock. The Deluxe RT trunnion 

provides excellent suspension when needed, but doesn’t suck the life out of 

your legs when you are putting in your punchy efforts. There was absolutely 

no “bobbing” on the trail, and it not only dampens rough terrain, but also any 

desire to lock it out on the rest of your ride. 

Those of us who would rather spend our bike time on our bikes rather than 

looking at them through the rearview mirror of a Dodge RAM or Ford Bronco 

truly appreciate the effort Kona has put into the climbing prowess of this 

year’s Process. That being said, we are not opposed to the occasional, leisurely, 

power-assisted lift to the summit because a) we won’t smell as much on the 

descent and b) well, we get much more descent! And the Process 153 AL/DL 

27.5 loves to descend. 

That same RockShox Deluxe RT Trunnion shock that makes the climbs so 

much more pleasant now shows its aggressive nature and chews through whatever 

terrain Mother Nature throws at it. Working in harmony with a 160mm 

RockShox Yari Solo Air up front, the suspension on the Process performs like 

noise-cancelling headphones for your butt – trail noise, not acoustic. It’s all 

thanks to what Kona calls “Beamer Independent Suspension,” and it helps the 

bike to stay higher in the travel and recover from hits more quickly by eliminating 

sideload. Ride it – you will get it! 

Also helping you to conquer your climbs and dominate your descents 

are a set of solid 27.5” wheels wrapped in a pair of Maxxis Minion DHF 

EXO TR 3C tires – 27.5x2.5” up front and 27.5x2.3” out back. The wheels 

on the Process also feature tubeless-compatible WTB Asym i29 TCS rims, 

Formula hubs (110x15mm front/148x12mm rear) and a set of SRAM 

Guide R brakes with Centerline 200mm/180mm (front/rear) rotors to 

tame it all. 

THE BIKE 

Price 

$4,799 

[CDN] 

Components 

SRAM, Formula, WTB, 

Kona 

Frame/Fork/Shock 

Kona 6061 aluminum-- 

butted 153mm Travel/ 

RockShox Yari Solo 

Air 160mm tapered 

110mm spacing/ 

RockShox Deluxe RT 

trunnion 

Geometry 

66º headtube 

76° Repour seat-tube 

Sizes 

S, M, L, XL (M tested) 

Comments 

Once again, Kona 

leads the way with the 

Process Enduro bike. 


Kona’s versatile line 

of Process bikes offers 

eight Enduro options 

that should satisfy most 

mountain-bike palates. 


The 27.5” wheels allow for some impressive roll-over and manoeuvrability 

on roots, rocks and ruts, and make every effort to help eliminate the word 

“Endo” from the English language. Of course, if you’re still having trust issues 

on really aggressive vertical, Kona has your back. The seat-tube length on the 

Process (410mm on the Medium) is short enough to handle some of the longest 

dropper posts on the market. The Process comes with a RockShox Reverb dropper 

post (with plunger lever), so drop your saddle, drop in and trust the Process! 

Along with the Process AL/DL 27.5, Kona offers eight other Process options, 

including carbon-frame options and 29’er wheel sizes. Which one is best for 

you? Well that depends on your bank account and terrain preference. Suffice 

it to say, Kona has an Enduro mountain-bike flavour that should satisfy most. 

www.konaworld.com 


OUT IN FRONT 

Inaugural Tour de l’Abitibi 

Hall of Fame Inductions 

Harvey, Van den Eynde, Normand, 

Pagé, Lemay and Val-d’Or Honoured 

The inaugural Tour de l’Abitibi Hall of Fame inducted two athletes, 

three builders and one partner during a tribute evening held 

Saturday, July 21 at the Forestel Hotel in Val-d’Or, Que., the day 

before the conclusion of the 50th edition of the legendary stage race. 

The honourees were Pierre Harvey and Eric Van den Eynde in the 

athlete category, as well as Léandre Normand, Claude Pagé and Marc 

Lemay in the builder’s category. The city of Val-d’Or, the host city in 2018 

and on 21 other occasions over the years, was inducted as a partner. 

This initiative was part of the celebrations of the 50th Tour and will 

be repeated in the province of Quebec next year in Rouyn-Noranda, in 

2020 in Amos and then every five years thereafter. 

“It was very easy to identify the first 20 people we want to honour. 

Unfortunately, we can’t induct everyone in the first year. However, we 

will honour them and make sure they are never forgotten,” said 

Suzanne Fortin, president of the board of the Tour. 

Harvey and Van den Eynde were former Tour champions in the 

1970s. Harvey went on to become a double Olympian in cycling and 

cross-country skiing, while Van den Eynde became a renowned coach. 

Tour founder Normand was a visionary who, perhaps without 

Tour de l’Abitibi Hall of Fame honourees (l-r): Pierre Harvey, Eric Van den Eynde, 

Léandre Normand, Marc Lemay, Claude Pagé, and Val-d’Or Mayor Pierre Corbeil 

knowing it, built something grandiose. He is well deserving of the 

nickname “Father of the Tour.” 

Race director for 26 years, Pagé had the Tour tattooed on his 

heart. His innovative underground start to the time trial was a brilliant 

idea that became the signature of the Tour. 

Lemay began as a racer at the Tour, became part of the organizing 

committee and went on to become president of Cycling Canada 

and head of the UCI MTB Commission. 

Earlier in the day, more than 100 former participants, including 

Gérald Rocheleau, the first winner of the Tour de l’Abitibi in 1969, took 

part in the Tour des Légendes, on a 1.5km Criterium course in 

downtown Val-d’Or. 

“For us, this is the unifying element of this 50th edition of the Tour 

de l’Abitibi,” said Fortin. “We were thrilled to see how excited our 

former participants were after getting our invitation. These early 

participants helped bring the Tour to life, and we had to thank them 

for it.” For more information, visit www.tourabitibi.com. 

Silber Pro Cycling Seeks 

New Title Sponsor 

After five great years of partnership, the Silber Pro Cycling 

team is on the hunt for a new title sponsor, as Silber Investments 

will not continue in the coming 2019 season. Team 

owner Scott McFarlane and the entire squad expressed overwhelming 

gratitude to Arthur Silber for his leadership role in providing 

unconditional support and dedication since 2012. 

Arthur Silber (l) and Benjamin Perry 

In 2014, Silber became the team’s title sponsor and leaves a 

lasting legacy in Canada’s cycling scene, as the development squad was known for fostering some of the 

best Canadian riders in the recent half-decade, with four graduates going on to pursue Professional contracts 

at the highest levels of racing. 

Back in 2014, there were no riders representing Canada at the U-23 Road World Championships, but 

Silber changed that, taking out a Continental Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) licence for the team and 

nurturing three out of four Canadian riders who competed at the U-23 Road Worlds in 2015. 

Silber riders have represented Canada more than 18 times, and the team has been largely responsible for 

most of Canada’s UCI U-23 points, accounting for roughly 65% through participation in UCI-level races. The 

Joe Martin Stage Race, Tour de Beauce, Road World Championships and the Canadian WorldTours were 

some of the team’s most prestigious races in the 2017/2018 season. 

In 2016, the Silber squad’s Matteo Dal-Cin made history as the first Canadian to win the 32nd annual Redlands 

Bicycle Classic. The team also earned invitations to the Tour of California and Tour of Utah, bringing 

home a stage win from Utah in addition to stage victories from the Tour de Beauce. 

Silber Pro Cycling became a focal point for the Canada’s development program. “Arthur Silber, Michael 

Wolfe of Mandevco Properties and Harold Stotland of Hamelin Industries helped shape one of Canada’s 

most successful teams,” said McFarlane, which was echoed by Gord Fraser, team director, adding that the 

trio’s enthusiasm and passion for the sport have created a tremendous legacy that will help future generations 

of Canadian Professional riders. – CH 

SILBER PRO CYCLING 

CANADIAN RACHEL 

MCKINNON: FIRST 

TRANSGENDER 

WORLD CHAMPION 

Canada came home 

with five medals 

following the Union 

Cycliste Internationale 

Women’s 35-44 

sprint podium 

(UCI) 2018 Masters Track Cycling World 

Championship held Oct. 6-13 in Los 

Angeles, Calif. The biggest buzz came 

when Canadian Dr. Rachel McKinnon 

won the women’s 35-44 sprint on Oct. 

13, becoming the first transgender 

athlete to win a World title. 

Fabien Lamaze kicked things off with 

a gold medal in the men’s 35-39 time 

trial on Oct. 6. Other Canadian medals 

included Vikki Appel’s bronze in the 

women’s 45-49 Individual Pursuit, 

Charlotte Roberge’s silver in the women’s 

35-44 Scratch race and Bruce Camacho’s 

silver in the men’s 70+ Points race. 

McKinnon, who was born a biological 

man and identifies as a transgender 

woman, also briefly set a world record in 

the Flying 200-metre, qualifying with a 

time of 0:00:11.92. 

In July 2017, the UCI, Cycling 

Canada and Ontario Cycling changed 

their policies regarding transgender 

female athletes in the settlement of a 

human-rights action by Kristen Worley 

and embarked on programs related to the 

inclusion of all participants. 


FALL/WINTER 2018 PEDAL 31 

www.pedalmag.com FALL/WINTER 2018 PEDAL 31 

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Harley-Davidson 

Announces New 

E-bike Concepts 

At the beginning of 2018, motorcycle manufacturer 

Harley-Davidson announced its plan to enter the electrical-bicycle 

market – a dramatic twist for the company 

that produces the iconic chopper-style bike. But as its loyal 

following ages, Harley-Davidson decided it was time to look 

into alternative transportation, introducing the large youthful 

demographic to motorcycles. Currently its LiveWire electric 

motorcycle is on track for to debut in 2019. 

With the goal to reach the market in only 18 months, Harley-Davidson 

has partnered with Alta Motors. This California-based 

company produces a high-performance electric motocross bike, as 

well as a road-legal commuter. As more name-brand companies such as Bosch, 

GM and Volkswagen enter the e-market with bicycles, Harley sees potential 

and hopes to stake its claim in this rapidly expanding segment that has many 

existing brands already delivering quality bicycle products. 

Harley-Davidson has released photos of four electric-concept bikes. With 

its unique motocross-style design, the dual-suspension e-MTB is the most intriguing 

for cyclists, and the only pedal-assist option. The other three include 

Legendary Harley-Davidson’s new e-bike concepts include an e-MTB model (bottom right) that is most 

intriguing for cyclists. 

an electric scooter, a lightweight road motorbike and a full-sized electric motorcycle, 

all with the classic Harley-Davidson orange colour incorporated into 

the design. 

Staying true to its promise, the new LiveWire will be ready to purchase in 

2019, but the company says it will continue to release electric bikes through 

2022, so there is some serious potential for these concepts to be put to test in 

the next few years. Will we see an electric chopper-style bike released? Only 

time will tell. For more information, visit www.harley-davidson.com. – NS 

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 

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2018 Cube Town Hybrid Sport 400 

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cube-bikes.ca 



eBIKE 

eBIKES 

eBIKE 

eBIKES 

TEST 

CUBE TOWN HYBRID SPORT 400 BY LINDA SHIN 

When asked to review the Cube Town Hybrid Sport 400 e-bike, e-bike can definitely handle an adventure on a rail trail and country 

I jumped at the chance to ride with easier effort, as a nagging touring on dirt roads. 

hamstring injury had kept me off my bike and away from When some of my cycling friends happened by while on an epic 

my cycling friends for far too long. 

gravel ride, I jumped in and rode with them for a bit to see how the 

This e-bike is ready to ride in all kinds of conditions and comes Cube Town Hybrid Sport 400 would stack up against their gravel and 

stock with mudguards, rack mount, front and rear 

integrated lights, hydraulic disc brakes, a Suntour 

50mm suspension fork and Cube’s own suspension 

seatpost, offering comfort for long tours and rough 

roads. With four levels of power-assist and a ninespeed 

Shimano drivetrain, there are plenty of 

options for how hard or easy to ride. 

I took the Cube Town Hybrid Sport 400 north of 

the city to test how it fares on the hilly dirt roads of 

Mono, Ont. The initial swift-paced ride of the e-bike 

was revitalizing. With the extra boost of the Boschpowered 

drive system, the range of gears is just 

enough. There wasn’t as much of a boost at the 

Cube has been at 

the forefront of 

the booming 

e-bike industry 

with 100+ models. 

cyclocross steeds. 

A black swan riding in a summer dress with 

this Spandex-clad group of serious riders, I 

was dropped on the first descent, pedaling 

hard even in Turbo mode, but knew I would 

whiz by them once the road turned upward 

again. Predictably, as the gradient increased, I 

easily cruised by each rider, dropping words of 

encouragement on the way. Though I still had 

to shift down to the lowest gear and put in 

some effort, with its Turbo-assist, I barely 

broke a sweat. We rode on at a steady pace for 

a while longer before parting ways, with me 

lowest Eco level, but the cruise control dialed in with one pedal stroke happy to have been out riding again with friends. 

on its Tour setting, and there was a noticeable kick into overdrive in Cube has been at the forefront of the booming e-bike industry, 

the Turbo mode with its extra 250 watts. 

offering more than 100 different models from hybrid commuters to 

The Bosch PowerPack battery sits snugly behind the e-bike’s seattube, 

Enduro e-MTBs and suitable for any type of rider, ability and 

so the steering and handling felt quite good and there was even terrain. Riding the Town Hybrid Sport 400 e-bike was a great 

weight distribution. The battery’s range is up to 110 kilometres and it confidence-booster and a fun, non-invasive way to return to riding 

charges fully in just 2.5-3.5 hours, so you can be up and ready for a while still injured. 

long countryside haul within a few hours. 

At $3,199, the urban features and practicality of the Cube Town 

Off-road on the easier trails of Mono Cliffs Provincial Park tested Hybrid Sport 400 allow for fun rips around town and long 

the Cube Town Hybrid Sport 400’s suspension and its 47mm Schwalbe comfortable rides out in the countryside. For more information, visit 

Range Cruiser tires, and it impressively soaked up the terrain. This www.cube-bikes.ca. 




eBIKE 

eBIKE 

TEST 

BULLS STURMVOGEL E EVO 

BY LINDA SHIN 

If you’re looking for a stylish urban e-bike and ready to cruise, you’ll rear rotor may be considered overkill for a commuter cruiser, but 

like the Bulls Sturmvogel E EVO’s sleek minimalist design. It comes responsive braking is ensured. An internal shifter and brake-cable 

equipped with a powerful Brose motor and its extra-large 650Wh routing complete its elegant design. 

battery pack helps you go farther and faster with little effort. 

The frame is thoughtfully designed to conceal the battery and 

Bulls’ Sturmvogel 

is an elegant 

urban e-bike that 

is sure to take you 

farther and faster. 

Brose motor while providing even weight 

distribution for stability. The battery is 

integrated into the frame, yet is easy to remove 

for external charging or to lighten the bike. The 

Sturmvogel E EVO’s 220-kilometre battery 

range, depending on the boost level employed, 

is impressive, and it’s one of the longest-lasting 

batteries on the market. The battery takes up to 

five hours to fully charge and is good for up to 

1,000 cycles at full strength, which could net 

you five years of battery life. A spare battery can 

be $800 to $1,000, which is a pretty hefty 

sticker price, but at least the battery is recyclable. 

This fully rigid aluminum hybrid comes in four 

sizes and provides modern appeal and extra visibility 

with its cool white paint job and matching reflective 

white sidewall tires and rims. To counter its rigid 

fork, the wide 2.35 Schwalbe tires have enough 

squish to float over curbs. Another great safety 

feature is its integrated front and rear LED lights, 

which run off the main battery pack. A leather saddle 

and its ergonomic leather handle grips on mustache 

handlebars lend the Sturmvogel E EVO a classy Eurolook. 

The e-bike also comes with a sturdy kickstand, 

so your “Insta-pics” can easily show your ride off in 

any setting. It’s also outfitted with fender and rackmount 

eyelets on its downtube for a bottle cage or mini pump. As well, I have to give props to the padded sticker along the downtube, 

The Sturmvogel E EVO has three modes of pedal assist: Eco, Tour which protects the frame from dings and scratches. 

and Sport, all easily navigated with its bar-mounted display panel. I tested the Sturmvogel E EVO during a busy week of working on 

This control panel displays speed and battery range and has a light Toronto, Ont.’s waterfront. I efficiently cruised back and forth along its 

switch. The display is minimal and easy to use, and there is a micro bike path, all the while passing many cars stuck in traffic. My non-cyclist 

USB port in the button pad’s base so your phone or extra lights can co-workers were intrigued by this e-bike. With encouragement and a 

charge off of the e-bike’s battery. 

quick tutorial, they were impressed by how easily it moved in each of its 

Its low-maintenance, clean-looking Shimano Alfine drivetrain pedal-assist settings. While its $3,299 price tag seemed high to some, 

features an internal eight-speed hub. The front chainring is covered they saw the pluses of its lower maintenance costs and its stress-free, notraffic, 

with a chain guide, which prevents chain drops, grease marks on your 

open-air rides, and when compared to a car, they had to agree that 

legs and any loose clothing from getting caught within. The reliable the Sturmvogel E EVO is stylish, uncomplicated and well worth its price. 

Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm front rotor and 160mm For more information, visit www.bullsebikes.com. 




eBIKE 

eBIKES 

eBIKE 

eBIKES 

TEST 

MOTORINO XLR 

BY PAUL NEWITT 

For 15 years, Motorino, founded by Steve Miloshev, a former 

mechanical environmental engineer, has been blazing a path for 

electric bicycles and scooters in Canada. This summer and 

marking a new era, the Vancouver, B.C.-based company took delivery 

of its new state-of-the-art lightweight e-Roadster. The innovative ironand-aluminum 

alloy frame is reported to be stronger than each of the 

materials on its own, but the real advancement is its weight, as the bike 

is just 28 lbs., including all of its electric components. 

Pedal recently had the opportunity to take Motorino’s latest innovation, 

now dubbed the XLr, on a city-wide commute throughout Vancouver to 

get a feel for this lightweight, urban e-bike. The XLr is considered one, if 

not “the” lightest commuter electric bike on the market. 

A sleek-looking bike, the XLr features a classic flat-bar road-frame 

design. There’s no bulky battery look to this beauty. The 36V 8Ah 

replaceable battery, built with Panasonic Lithium-ion cells, is integrated 

into the downtube and hardly noticeable within its TIG-welded 

aluminum alloy frame – a frame material that Miloshev specifically 

chose to ensure low weight, stability and long-term durability. 

Equally low profile is the 250W 36V rear hub motor that features 

brushless geared 50Nm torque at stall. The mini hub motor tucks 

away nicely into the 700C 32H double-walled Alex alloy rim, which is 

also featured up front, sans motor, with a quick-release skewer. Each 

wheel comes with 700x28C ThickSlick WTB black tires with a white 

sidewall logo. Also adding to its classic look is a CNX Speed chromeplated 

chain, tan-coloured K.SAN Silverbow microfibre saddle and 

grips, and SVMONO 31.8x600mm flat handlebar. The single-geared 

XLr also makes use of 200mm Promax Forced Alloy cranks, Syun LP- 

MO21 pedals and a U-Brake JK-AS2.6D both front and rear. 

Control of the XLr comes from a three-button control pod mounted 

on the handlebar and features a program mode for changing speed 

and assistance, backlit LCD display with indicators for speed (“inst, 

avg, max”), trip distance, odometer, battery voltage monitor and 

power-assist level indicator. The XLr has five levels of programmable 

speed control, with a maximum speed of 32km/h on Level 5 pedal 

assist – to meet government regulations. On Level 2 assist (with a 

standard 75kg load), Motorino indicates that you can max out your 

range at 50km on a single charge. The XLr is charged via an easily 

assessible panel on the left side of the downtube. 

When out on the road, the XLr’s motor provided smooth speed 

buildup when needed, with no surging. As soon as you hit the pedals, 

its motor engagement was responsive, with more than 50NM of torque, 

and when on the inclines, the responsiveness of the XLr’s torque 

sensors and the power of the XLr’s rear hub motor is really appreciated. 

With a huge variety of grades in and around Vancouver, the XLr 

really met the challenge wherever it was taken and was a wonderful 

assist on the steeper grades around the city. The control panel was 

easy to manipulate and view, and speed-assist level changes couldn’t 

have been easier. The XLr was easy to handle throughout the 

commutes, and even when the motor was not assisting, the XLr was a 

fun bike for exploring the vast bike routes of the city. 

The Motorino XLr is well-priced for a bike of this calibre at $2,390 

and currently comes in a 51cm (20" from center of pedal axle to the 

top of seat-tube) or a 76cm (30") standover height and weighs in at 

12.7kg (28 lbs.), including battery. Its colour options include black, 

blue or olive-green. 

For more information, go to www.motorino.ca. 


DRIVEN BY PERFECTION 

Flawless performance down to the last detail – that is the ST5. The boost? Unbeatable thanks to the 

powerful motor which, in addition to the three conventional modes, also features the sport mode for 

extra kick. Dynamic and smoothness? A dream thanks to the 27.5” wheels, the high-performance 

tires from Pirelli and the perfect frame geometry. Design? Clean and confident. Finesse? Of course, 

such as «keyless» – battery ejection at a touch. Or «seamless» – locking and unlocking via Bluetooth, 

without a key or PIN. Sounds like it’s made for you? It is. 

stromerbike.com 



eBIKE 

eBIKES 

eBIKE 

eBIKES 

TEST 

AMEGO 

FREEDOM 

BY YURI HRYCAJ 

As one of the largest retailers of electric bicycles in the Canada, reach my front brake, as well as the Das-Kit LCD display. This shows your 

Amego has launched many innovative renditions of its speed, trip distance and assist and battery levels, while it also features a 

trekking, mountain, cargo and folding electric-bicycle lineups, 

and the Amego Freedom is no different. 

Putting the Freedom through its paces, I drained the battery to Level 

built-in back light for early mornings or late evenings 

After riding on the Amego Freedom for more than 700 kilometres 2 and did hill repeats on Ellis Avenue and the notorious Olympus Avenue 

around Toronto, Ont., I found this bike to be an unbelievably fun, switchback. These hills are famous among the city’s roadie crowd and 

effective way to travel about its congested city streets. 

can cause even the fittest road riders to come to a 

Simply put, the one-size-fits-most step-thru folding 

bicycle is perfect for all-day city adventures. Featuring 

six electronic pedal-assist settings, the Freedom comes 

with a 350W Das-Kit geared rear-hub motor and is 

powered by 480Wh Lithium-ion battery capable of 

covering 90 kilometres on Level 1 assist. Everything 

you could need while riding in the city is found on 

this bike, as it comes with a front-suspension fork and 

seatpost, alloy front and rear fenders, a rear rack 

capable of holding 27kg, rear disc brakes and batterypowered 

front and rear lights. 

After using it as my daily commuter bike for a week, 

Amego’s Freedom 

is an effective 

urban commuter 

for fun city biking. 

standstill. I was suitably impressed when the 

Amego took me uphill at a whopping 27kphaverage 

speed even while carrying my laptop bag 

with approximately 15 lbs. of gear in it. Despite 

gradients of upward of 20%, the electric motor 

plugged along up the switchbacks and never 

failed me. 

Considering all this was done on a 20” folding 

bike, I found the smaller, wider tires made the 

ride zippier and suppler. Also key, the bike felt 

really balanced. The battery is placed behind the 

seat-tube, and I was unsure as to whether this 

I was surprised to see that it still had enough battery to run a few extra would make it feel rear-heavy. But when I rose out of the saddle to 

errands around the city. Riding at Level 6 or maximum pedal assist, I was punch up a few climbs, I didn’t feel off-balance or experience any sideto-side 

able to average between 31-33kph, depending on how heavily I assisted 

swaying. 

the electrical motor. Initial seat and bar positioning were done very easily The only downside is that this ride weighs in at approximately 50 lbs., 

via a quick-release lever, so I was able to set my bike up and get on the road which can make it a bit more cumbersome to carry despite its portable 

in less than a minute. 

nature. My daily commute from Toronto’s South Etobicoke neighbourhood 

On the right handlebar is access to the rear disc brakes, Shimano’s to the downtown core was easily handled, and I had a ton of fun doing it. 

seven-speed grip shift, a bell and a throttle trigger to modulate the six At $1,599, the Amego Freedom is definitely an effective urban 

electronic pedal-assist settings. With the throttle trigger, you can easily commuter. In Toronto’s chronic congestion, constant delays and 

set the bike to lower levels and give a modulated pull of the trigger to seemingly insurmountable traffic, you may have found your best friend. 

throttle yourself to a speed up to its max. On the left handlebar, I could For more information, visit www.amegoev.com. 


eBIKE 

eBIKES 

eBIKE 

eBIKES 

TEST 

IGO ELECTRIC ERÖ 

BY EMILY FLYNN 

Launched in 2006 and based in Montreal, Que., iGo Electric is ERÖ, most will want to protect their investment with additional 

at the forefront of the e-bike movement. As the “e-Revolution” security options. 

takes hold across Canada and around the world, companies such The Samsung 48V battery gives an approximately 90-kilometre 

as iGo are excited to see this segment of the cycling industry evolve range per charge, depending on temperature, terrain and battery age. 

and grow, with e-bikes becoming an increasingly popular option for The 500W Hi Torque geared brushless rear hub motor is supported 

those looking to travel on two wheels. 

by eight settings of electric-assist, as well as 

The ERÖ is iGo’s luxury commuter model, and 

an on-demand throttle “boost” button to be 

features a step-thru frame for easy mounting and 

dismounting, Suntour NEX E-25 front suspension 

with lockout, as well as Schwalbe Big Ben 48C tires 

to ensure a plush ride. Thanks to the power provided 

by the 48V Samsung 18650 LiMnC02 battery, city 

cruising is easy no matter what the terrain. The iGo 

ERÖ is a great option for older adults looking to 

remain active or for anyone with injuries that prevent 

them from riding a traditional bike. 

The iGo ERÖ is designed to be one size fits all. 

It features a quick-release saddle and adjustable 

handlebars/stem, providing users measuring in 

height from five to six feet tall with a comfortable 

Your go-to bike for 

commuting and 

leisurely weekend 

exploring. 

used when starting or powering up a hill. The 

Shimano Acera nine-speed drivetrain worked 

well, as did its Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc 

brakes with 180mm rotors both front and rear. 

As expected, shifting up from the lower 

support settings delivered smooth acceleration. 

The “boost” offered much more of a kick 

than anticipated (actually, a bit of a jolt until 

I got used to it), quickly bringing me up to 

cruising speed. As well, the battery provided 

ample speed at minimal pedaling effort, 

though its power-assist discontinues once you 

stop pedaling. 

ride. As mentioned before, its step-thru toptube design makes it easy Note that given all of an e-bike’s components, as a rule these bikes 

to mount and dismount, a particularly useful feature for those with a tend to be heavier. As such, if you’re looking for weight-savings, its 

more limited range of motion. 

suspension fork could be swapped out since the Schwalbe Big Ben 48C 

The iGo ERÖ comes stock with a rear rack and bungee straps, tires really cushion your ride for most city commutes. Also always 

front and rear fenders and lights, a bell, a kickstand and even a ensure that the battery is fully charged so that you don’t get more of 

computer to track such things as speed, distance and battery status. workout than planned. 

Furthermore, the iGo ERÖ is equipped with an integrated AXA The iGo ERÖ could become your go-to for commuting, as well as for 

defender lock mounted to its seatstays. Locks are a common feature leisurely weekend exploring. At $2,499, it’s a worthwhile investment, 

on European commuting bikes and a nice touch, though with the and iGo offers free shipping and a seven-day trial on any of its e-bikes. 

prevalence of bike thefts and the lure of the uniquely designed iGo For more information, visit www.igoelectric.com. 



Island eHopping 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN DENNING 

The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia 

(also known as the Salish Sea or the Gulf of Georgia) between 

Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia. The division of the 

Gulf Islands into two groups, the Southern and Northern Gulf Islands, is relatively common. 

GOOGLE MAPS 

The first trip was made to Salt Spring Island in March, followed by a 

camping trip to Galiano Island in June. Hooked, my partner, Gilles 

Rousseau, and I continued the adventures and explored Saturna and 

Mayne in September and finished off our bucket list by visiting Pender 

Island in October. No matter what time of year, the scenery was similar 

– and similarly breathtaking – every time we rode to the Swartz Bay Ferry 

Terminal early in the morning. The sun was coming up and the clouds 

were slowly lifting on the meadows by the Lochside Trail on the way 

to Sidney. Our first destination was Salt Spring Island. Looking back, 

we were “e-bike touring rookies” at best: underestimating the range of 

our bikes, overrating the safety of a fully charged battery and so much 

more. We travelled fairly light – one set of panniers holding both of our 

clothes and a backpack each with a charger and snacks. 

#1 – Salt Spring Island 

We left in the early morning to catch the 9 a.m. ferry from Swartz Bay. However, 

we didn’t make the ferry. But that didn’t bother us too much as it actually 

gave us more time to recharge our batteries at the terminal. The 42-kilometre 

ride from home to the ferry didn’t drain the battery entirely – and yet, not really 

knowing what was ahead of us, we felt safer. 

Being renowned as a very hilly island and without any previous (e-)bike 

touring experience on our side, we played it safe and had reserved a hotel room 

for the night. We took the road less travelled to Ganges, hanging a right after 

getting off the ferry at Fulford Harbour. A little side tour to Ruckle Provincial 

Park (what a nice campsite) and the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company (where 

I bought way too much goat cheese to eat in one day) took us up and down the 

mountains of the southern island. We joyfully kept repeating ourselves how 

much of a breeze the ride was and that we wouldn’t want to do it any other way. 

At that point, being quite the “e-bike-rookies,” upon arrival in Ganges we 

called it a cycling-day. Apart from not wanting to sit on a bicycle seat anymore, 

we weren’t sure how much farther our batteries would take us. Our hotel in 

Ganges didn’t have designated bike, or e-bike, parking, but was generous 

enough to let us store our e-bikes in the staff room. All locked up and the batteries 

plugged in inside our hotel room, we explored Ganges on foot. 

The next morning, we loaded up the bikes – we didn’t really have much: 

two panniers and a backpack each – and headed north. The bigger loop, the 

bigger expectation when it comes to beaches and sights. Unfortunately, those 

expectations were not met as it was mostly private land with rarely any beach 

access once you are on the northwestern side of the island. But the ride was 

nice, and we decided to stop at Salt Spring Island Ales before catching the ferry 

back to the “big island.” 

We figured with e-bike touring it’s all about timing and logistics, especially 

when it comes to recharging the battery. Arriving at Fulford Harbour a bit earlier 

than necessary gave us some time to recharge our batteries, as we knew we had 

a 42-kilometre ride home ahead of us, which included headwind and some hills. 

#2 – Galiano 

Needless to say, we were hooked. Travelling by e-bike not only extends the length 

of your trip, it also removes the strenuous part of cycling (uphill) from the equation 

and allows you to carry a couple of things (such as camping gear) and not 

feel much of a difference. As they say, e-bikes flatten the hills – and yes, it’s true. 


Our next island adventure took us camping on Galiano Island in June. Two 

nights, three days – without the guaranteed comfort of charging our batteries 

overnight. This time, we had a set of panniers each, a tent and the good old 

milk crate for more camping-cooking needs – a very different experience compared 

to the trip to Salt Spring Island in so many ways. 

We booked two nights at the Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park 

campsite in advance – this feature is available in the summer, and we were 

happy we had done so as the campsite was full when we arrived. We had a 

nice spot by the water with views over the harbour, and after dinner (with 

some of the best fried potato ever), we explored the surroundings and watched 

a beautiful sunset. 

We didn’t think much of it when we saw the first raccoon roaming around 

the campground – or the second one just sneaking out of a tent. But once we 

returned to our tent, we realized how smart they are: they had opened our tent’s 

We were e-bike touring rookies, 

but we loved exploring on 

this amazing adventure. 

zipper and got Gilles’ jacket. If it hadn’t been for them fighting over the dogtreat 

crumbs in one of the pockets, we would not have noticed that those rascals 

had actually dragged it out of our tent and into the bushes. And even though 

we stored everything in the cache, they kept coming back, regularly checking 

our tent for more treats. The campsite has now issued a “raccoon bulletin.” 

Camping requires a little flexibility, especially when you don’t know if the 

campsite provides somewhere to plug in the battery. Since we didn’t have a 

chance to charge the batteries overnight, plus we gone a couple of kilometres the 

day before with camping gear in tow (just getting to the ferry from home is 42 

kilometres), we decided to take it easy and stick around the southern part of 

Galiano and explore the Bluffs. Maybe not the most suitable bikes for the terrain, 

however the e-bike’s assist (thanks, Bosch Performance CX motor) worked just 

fine. We made it all the way up and around, taking in the view over the Active 

Pass and soaking up the sun on the rounded rocks of Bellhouse Provincial Park. 

Once back at the campsite in the afternoon with almost entirely drained 

batteries, we found the Park Operators – and a power outlet. The good thing 

about the Bosch system is that you don’t need any special adapters – just like 

a toaster, you plug it in wherever there is a wall socket. We charged our batteries 

right next to the ice machine and even had them delivered, together with 

some firewood, to our campsite later in the evening. 

The next day, it was time to break down the tent and load up the bikes for 

the ride home. Our batteries were fully charged, so we didn’t have to hang out 

at the ferry terminal too long before departure time. Nonetheless, we charged 

the batteries one last time on the ferry, just for our peace of mind. With 42 kilometres 

and a steady headwind on the way home, you don’t want to run out 

of battery, especially with all the gear. 

#3 – Saturna, #4 – Mayne 

When we started planning our next island adventure for September, consulting 

ferry schedules and such, we figured that we might as well knock two islands 

off of our bucket list in one trip. We wanted to go camping again, preferably 

provincial or national parks’ campsites, but weren’t too sure about distances 

and elevation should we not have the opportunity to charge our batteries fully 

over night. Even though the battery charges halfway in only two hours (or 

fully in four hours), we didn’t want to spend that time in a cafe or sitting 

around – we wanted to ride our bicycles. 

Since the ferry stopped at Lyall Harbour on Saturna first before arriving at 

Village Bay on Mayne, we decided to hop off on Saturna and take the coastal 

route to the East Point Lighthouse. Our batteries were almost fully charged 

thanks to the ferry ride and we were not afraid of hills anymore even with all 

our luggage. We took our time and made it a day, exploring some hidden 

beaches and cruising along the coast. We pretty much had the roads to ourselves 

– a few cars and cyclists happily greeted us when passing. So far, Saturna 

had the friendliest vibe of all. 

We returned to Lyall Harbour with a bit of time on our hands to charge up 

the batteries before heading on to Mayne, where we had booked a campsite at 

Mayne Island Camping for the night. The final ferry ride of the day was rather 

short, and we didn’t bother to charge the batteries. Once landed on Mayne Island, 

we made our way straight to the campsite to get settled. We should have 

gone to “town” for our shopping needs before doing so, since everything 

closed at 6 p.m. Still, we made the most of it and treated ourselves to a really 

nice dinner and even found a loophole in B.C.’s liquor law on how to get a 

bottle of wine after liquor-store hours. 

Contrary to what we had assumed when booking the campsite – it being 

somewhat serviced – we didn’t have the possibility to charge our batteries overnight, 

so it was a good thing we had charged them up at the ferry terminal on 

The scenery was breathtaking 

and energizing – we couldn’t get enough of it. 



etility 

e·til·i·ty \ ē-ti-lə-tē \ noun 

1. ebike + utility + agility 

Etility Design is at the heart of every Benno 

ebike. It’s what makes us different. A typical 

ebike offers a nice ride, but not much utility. 

A cargo ebike carries heavy loads, but can be 

difficult to maneuver. We believe what people 

really need is an everyday ebike that offers the 

best of both worlds. Awesome agility with the 

ability to carry exactly what you need. People 

say it’s like having an ebike with a trunk. We 

call it etility. bennobikes.com 

BENNO. THE ETILITY BIKE. 

Saturna. That juice easily got us to the Georgina Point Lighthouse and around 

the northern loop of Mayne Island, and that’s all we really wanted. And even 

though we had looked into distances and ride duration, we still had quite a bit 

of time on our hands before catching the mid-day ferry back home so we took 

a lovely side trip to the Japanese Garden. 

On the ferry, we took the batteries off one last time to fully charge them for 

the ride home – more for our peace of mind than out of necessity. For a change, 

the 42-kilometre ride to the Westshore was smooth and we didn’t have to pedal 

against the wind that usually freshens up in the afternoon - cruising times! 

#5 – Pender Island(s) 

Our last island adventure of the season took us to the Pender Islands for two 

nights in early October. We knew camping was out and always wanted to try a 

tiny home. We found the Orca Cove Tiny House on Airbnb – conveniently located 

smack in the middle of the two islands, a stone’s throw from the canal. 

After experiencing early store-closing hours on Mayne, this time we were 

prepared – we played it safe and brought our own food for the first night. No 

camping gear freed up two panniers – dessert included. We got on the bikes as 

soon as the sun was up and stopped at our usual “breakfast spot” in Sidney for 

some sweet treats with a view. We were fast, perhaps due to appropriately inflated 

tires (the right tire pressure does make a difference, especially with 

e-bikes!), less luggage, a supportive tailwind, or just having found our rhythm. 

The ferry was 35 minutes late, apparently too much traffic on a weekday. 

That didn’t bother us much as we were in vacation mode. And not being 

“e-bike rookies” anymore, we didn’t even bother to charge the batteries while 

waiting for the ferry. We knew we had approximately a one-and-half-hour ferry 

ride ahead of us, which is plenty of time to recharge. Due to the heavy vehicle 

traffic on Mayne, there was even more time, so we ended up with fully charged 

batteries. Good thing, as Pender was hillier than expected. 

When we rolled off the ferry at the Otter Bay ferry terminal on North Pender, 

it started raining. Once all the cars had unloaded, the drizzle turned into 

heavy raindrops. Not too stoked about that, we got on the bikes. We had another 

10 kilometres ahead of us, approximately a half-hour ride. After approximately 

20 minutes, the sky cleared and the sun came out. So we did a little side 

trip to the Mortimer Spit before checking into our tiny house. 

It wasn’t too late and it was just so nice out that we decided to explore the 

south of North Pender – Pirates Road (*Aarrr) took us almost all the way to the 

tip and to the Oaks Bluff on our way back. If it wasn’t for a cyclist coming out 

of the viewpoint’s parking lot, we would have not known of such a beautiful 

view over the islands, well worth the short (and somewhat steep) hike. 

The next day, we went all the way to the southern tip of South Pender 

(catching a good glimpse of Mount Baker) to Brooks Point – riding Canal Road 

is so much fun! The road is in excellent condition with almost no traffic and 

those rolling hills – it was one of the few moments when I wished I had my 

human-only-powered road bike. On the way back, we had to do a little detour 

(short but steep – happy to have the assist here) to the grocery store. It was a 

Wednesday, so the Tourist Information office was open. Keep in mind that 

travelling during the off-season can be challenging for store-opening hours. 

On our last day, we took the long way back to the ferry terminal via Hope 

Bay and Port Washington, and some of the views along the way were just 

breathtaking. And if it weren’t for the e-bikes, we never would have travelled 

Bridges Road and found this little gem of a beach. 

As usual, we arrived a little early at the terminal, which allowed us to 

charge up the batteries for our ride home from Swartz Bay. The ferry from 

Pender to Vancouver Island was short so we didn’t bother to take the batteries 

off the bikes. And since the weather was so nice and we were in no rush, we 

decided to take the Lochside Trail and the Galloping Goose Trail all the way 

to downtown Victoria and extend the ride home via the E&N Trail along the 

docks and through View Royal back on the Goose out to the Westshore. Our 

amazing new adventures by e-bike delivered memories of a lifetime. 


Our mission is to educate, inform and excite readers about e-bike 

styles, trends, fashions and adventures from local to international. 

eNEWS 

GENERAL MOTORS 

GM to Launch eBikes in 2019 

Plus $10,000 Naming Prize 

General Motors is getting into the e-bike 

business, announcing its first two models 

and launching a crowdsourcing campaign 

to name the new bike brand going forward. 

In early November, the automobile company 

revealed two e-bikes — one folding model 

and one sturdy compact model. The bikes 

have been developed by the GM engineers 

who also worked on its Bolt electric vehicle. 

The company has already established itself 

as a leader in the electric-vehicle marketplace, 

and its presence is only increasing 

with the news that it plans to launch more 

than 20 electric vehicles by 2023. It also has 

a large stake in Lyft, a car-sharing business. 

“As an avid cyclist and urban commuter, I 

know how great it feels to get where I’m going 

easily and to show up sweat-free,” said 

Hannah Parish, director of General Motors 

Urban Mobility Solutions. “We blended electrification-engineering 

know-how, design 

talents and automotive-grade testing with 

great minds from the bike industry to create 

our e-bikes. Now we want to expand our 

thinking beyond the company walls and 

hear from people who like to move and have 

rad ideas.” 

The company isn’t saying much yet about 

the technology behind the bikes themselves 

or price points as they aren’t slated for release 

until some time in 2019, but it did 

launch a global search to name the new bike 

brand, with a $10,000 prize going to the winner. 

There are nine other prizes for “simple, 

smart and bold concepts capable of bringing 

the e-bike brand to life.” GM is asking 

for “fun ideas, capable of being understood 

around the world.” – RJ 


GM is introducing 

two e-bikes: a compact 

model and a folding model. 

Stromer Launches New ST5 for 2019 

Stromer’s latest e-bike, the ST5, comes with a 

newly developed Syno Sport motor boasting 

850W watts of power (650W in North America) 

with a range of 60 to 180 kilometres and 48Nm 

of torque. The ST5 is the first in the Stromer line 

to feature Sport Mode, which offers you more 

power at the push of a button. 

Other exciting features include a new keyless, 

Bluetooth-enabled locking mechanism for 

the battery that automatically activates when you approach or walk away from your ST5, a toptube-integrated 

touch-screen control panel that has connectivity capability for a second screen mounted to 

the bars, as well as high-performance Pirelli Cycle-e tires developed exclusively for Stromer. 

The ST5 comes with a Shimano Alfine XTR Di2 11-speed 11-42 drivetrain, an FSA Gossamer 

52T crank, TRP brakes, integrated Supernova M99 Pro headlight and Supernova M99 tail-light, 

and custom aluminum fenders in sizes M, L and XL. The ST5 retails for $9,999 and fits under 

most Xmas trees. – PN 

Volkswagen Unveils Its First E-bike 

Stromer’s new 

top-end ST5 

Volkswagen’s new 

Cargo e-Bike 

Automotive giant Volkswagen unveiled the Cargo e-bike, 

its first electric bike, last September at the 2018 IAA 

Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany. In 

development with Volkswagen’s strategic partner ABT, 

the three-wheeled Cargo e-bike is part of the company’s 

initiative to create more sustainable mobility solutions. 

With the ability to carry up to 210 kilograms – including 

the driver – and a one-half cubic metre of volume, 

the Cargo e-bike is equipped with a 250W mid-mounted 

motor and automatic gearbox. A small turning circle and innovative tilt-compensating technology 

keep the load platform horizontal and reduce the risk of falling cargo. 

“In the tradition of Volkswagen to be one step ahead, we are just now working on solutions for 

the challenges of tomorrow, thinking ahead about sustainable mobility for our customers and for 

better air quality in our cities,” said Dr. Thomas Sedran, chairman of Volkswagen Commercial 

Vehicles brand’s board of management. 

Volkswagen also introduced the I.D. Buzz Cargo van, e-Crafter HyMotion concept van and an 

e-Cabby to demonstrate how Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is entering the new era of 

electric mobility. 

Volkswagen AG is owned by Pon Holdings, one of the biggest family-owned businesses in The 

Netherlands, which, in its Pon.Bike Group division, also owns Cervelo, Santa Cruz, Gazelle, Focus, 

Univega, Kalkhoff and more. Gazelle presented its cargo e-bike, the D10, at the show as well. – NS 

UCI to Launch Inaugural e-MTB World Championships in 2019 

Electric-bike racing has officially arrived and will be front and center in Quebec later in 2019 at legendary 

Mont-Ste-Anne with the announcement by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that an e-MTB race 

category will be part of the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships. 

The sport is growing so quickly that cycling’s governing body made the announcement in September 

during the 2018 Road Worlds in Innesbruck, Austria. New specialities, including the e-mountain bike, snow 

bike and pump track, have been integrated into the official Mountain Bike Regulations, according to UCI. 

“These [new categories] show that cycling is a dynamic sport that continues to evolve. The UCI encourages 

these evolutions to grow cycling globally,” said David Lappartient, UCI president. In Europe, a large 

number of events have already added an e-bike category to their road and MTB races. 

Details regarding guidelines and restrictions are yet to be released for the inaugural e-MTB Worlds 

race, but it’s speculated that it will likely be limited to 25km/h-max pedal-assist bikes. The 2019 UCI Mountain 

Bike World Championships are scheduled for Aug. 21 to Sept. 1. – RJ 


MYSTROMER AG 

VOLKSWAGEN 

TONY DONALDSON

Cyclocross 

2018/19 Season Rocks 

BY SANDRA WALTER 

Quebec’s Maghalie Rochette kicked 

off her cyclocross season with a new 

privateer team, U.S. victories and a 

top-10 result in Europe. 

COR VOS 

The Canadian cyclocross season, already in full swing, 

promises much more action this season, including the 

inaugural Pan Am CX Continental Championships in Midland, 

Ont. on Nov. 3, followed by the National CX Championships in 

Peterborough, Ont. on Nov. 10. 

The U.S. calendar is highlighted by two UCI (Union Cycliste 

Internationale) Telenet World Cups in Waterloo, Wis. and Iowa City, 

Iowa respectively. Marianne Vos (NED, WaowDeals Pro Cycling) 

opened up her season with a victory in the first round of Elite women’s 

competition, but it was Kaitlin Keough (USA, Cannondale Cyclocrossworld) 

who took the win in round two in Iowa City, with Canada’s 

Maghalie Rochette (CAN, CX Fever p/b Specialized) scoring a strong 

ninth. When the World Cup moved to Bern, Switzerland for the third 

stop, Vos was back on top, defending her series lead, while Rochette 

powered to an impressive sixth place, which makes her a good 

candidate in the bids for the Pan Am and Canadian titles. 

On the men’s side, Toon Aerts (BEL, Telenet Fidea Lions) scored 

two in a row in the U.S., getting the drop on defending CX world 

champion Wout van Aert (BEL, Cibel-Cebon Offroad Team), who was 

hit with sponsorship and team controversies right before the first 

World Cup. National champion Michael van den Ham (CAN, Garneau 

Easton p/b Transitions Lifecare) was the top Canuck at both rounds, 

finishing 28th and 29th respectively. He is clearly on track to defending 

his National title and will enter a strong case for the Continental 

Championships in Midland, Ont. 

Mathieu Van der Poel (DEN, Corendon-Circus) dominated last 

year’s series, but sat out the first two rounds – a much-needed break 

after contesting a full mountain-bike season. He was back on the race 

course and the top of the podium for the third round in Bern, chased 

by Van Aert, who lost contact with his Dutch archrival when he 

dropped his chain while shifting on the fourth lap of 11. Aerts took 

third and holds onto his lead in the series. No Canadians competed. 

The World Cup series continues Nov. 17 in Tabor, Czech Republic, 

then moves to the sport’s holy land, Belgium, for rounds five through 

seven. On Jan. 20, Pont-Chateau, France welcomes the World Cup 

before it visits longtime venue Hoogerheide for the grand finale in The 

Netherlands a week later. World champions will be crowned in 

Bogense, Denmark on Feb. 2-3. 


The Canadian UCI CX season boasts four C2 events in addition to 

Pan Am’s and Nationals. Sherbrooke, Que. stepped up and put on a 

UCI C2 doubleheader on Oct. 20-21 after hosting the 2016 and 2017 

Canadian Championships. Ruby West (CAN, Specialized-Tenspeed 

Hero) won both Elite women’s races, while Gunnar Holmgren (CAN, 

Garneau-Easton p/b Transitions Life Care) took back-to-back victories 

in the Elite men’s ranks. 

The long-running Silver Goose CX in Midland, Ont. is also offering 

Canadians a chance to earn UCI points with a C2 on Nov. 3, the day 

before the Pan Am Championships. Likewise, Peterborough is giving 

riders an opportunity for redemption with a C2 the day after Nov. 10’s 

Canadian Championships with the PTBOCX Lift Lock Cross on 

Remembrance Day. 

With too many events to mention, Canadians have been using the 

jam-packed U.S. UCI race schedule to prepare themselves for the 

season, with such solid results as consecutive wins for Rochette at the 

Rochester, N.Y. doubleheader. She followed it up with a victory at 

RenoCross, Reno, Nev., while fellow countryman Van den Ham took a 

strong fourth in the Elite men’s, which he matched at the C1 Charm 

City Cross in Baltimore, Md. in October. The U.S. UCI calendar wraps 

up in December with the Ruts n’ Guts C1 in Broken Arrow, Okla., 

before everyone’s attention turns to Europe for the renowned 

Christmas Week cyclocross binge. 

MAJOR 2018/19 CYCLOCROSS EVENTS 

CANADA 

Oct. 20-21 – Sherbrooke Cyclocross (C2) – Sherbrooke, Que. 

Nov. 3 – Silver Goose CX Festival (C2) – Midland, Ont. 

Nov. 4 – Pan American CX Championships – Midland, Ont. 

Nov. 10 – Canadian Cyclocross Championships – Peterborough, Ont. 

Nov. 11 – PTBOCX Lift Lock Cross (C2) – Peterborough, Ont. 

U.S.A. 

Sept. 1-2 – Deschutes Brewer’s GO Cross (C2) – Roanoke, Va. 

Sept. 8-9 – Rochester Cyclocross (C1, C2) – Rochester, N.Y. 

Sept. 15-16 – Nittany Lion Cross (C2) – Breinigsville, Pa. 

Sept. 19 – RenoCross (C1) – Reno, Nev. 

Sept. 21 – Trek Cup (C2) – Waterloo, Wis. 

Sept. 28 – Jingle Cross (C2) – Iowa City, Iowa 

Sept. 30 – Jingle Cross, Iowa City (C1) – Iowa City, Iowa 

Sept. 30 – KMC CrossFest (C2) – Thompson, Conn. 

Oct. 6 – Charm City Cross (C1) – Baltimore, Md. 

Oct. 6-7 – West Sacramento CX WP (C2) – West Sacramento, Calif. 

Oct. 13-14 – US Open of Cyclocross (C2) – Boulder, Colo. 

Oct. 13-14 – CRAFT Sportsware GP of Gloucester (C2) – Gloucester, Mass. 

Oct. 27 – Cincinnati UCI Cyclocross (C1) – Kings Mills, Ohio 

Dec. 1 – NBX GP of Cross 1 (C1) – Warwick, R.I. 

Dec. 8 – Ruts n’ Guts (C1) – Broken Arrow, Okla. 

WORLD CUPS 

Sept. 23 – UCI World Cup Waterloo – Waterloo, Wis. 

Sept. 29 – UCI World Cup Iowa City – Iowa City, Iowa 

Oct. 21 – UCI World Cup Bern – Bern, Switzerland 

Nov. 17 – UCI World Cup Tabor – Tabor, Czech Republic 

Nov. 25 – UCI World Cup Koksijde – Koksijde, Belgium 

Dec. 23 – UCI World Cup Namur – Namur, Belgium 

Dec. 26 – UCI World Cup Heusden-Zolder – Heusden-Zolder, Belgium 

Jan. 20 – UCI World Cup Pont-Chateau – Pont-Chateau, France 

Jan. 27 – UCI World Cup Hoogerheide – Hoogerheide, The Netherlands 

Feb. 2-3 – UCI Cyclocross Championships – Bogense, Denmark 



Lord of the Squirrels is truly a masterpiece, 

delivering stellar riding and amazing scenery for 

an alpine-cycling adventure of a lifetime. 

LORD OF THE 

Whistler’s Hidden Mountain-Biking Gem 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANTÓNIO ABREU 

After a couple of summer trips to Whistler, B.C., we were excited to 

finally get the chance to ride an amazing trail dubbed one of the best 

riding experiences in the world, the infamous Lord of the Squirrels. 

Built over the course of three years by the Whistler Off-Road Cycling 

Association (WORCA), this route is truly a masterpiece when it comes to 

delivering scenery, riding and an alpine-cycling adventure to remember. 


Although locals may suggest that on this trail you’re not really that far 

away from civilization, it often felt that we were heading “nowhere” or 

. . . into bear territory. The map pointed somewhere up in the mountains, 

just beneath Mount Sproatt, and the statistics showed us that the route 

was no joke. A 1,700-metre ascent from the valley floor at Creekside was ahead 

of us, followed by another 1,700 metres of descent. Okay, full disclosure, that 

descent was the “real” reason why we climbed. 

One year earlier, we couldn’t realize this bucket-list adventure because it was 

snow-covered, and we returned home knowing that we had to come back one 

day. With the trail now open and only a couple sections of it under snow, there 

was no turning back and our small crew of riders immediately undertook its 

challenge. Despite our enthusiasm, 13 straight days of riding in North Vancouver, 

Roberts Creek, Pemberton and Squamish left us feeling a bit tired. To be 

totally honest, our legs cramped up from time to time. Joining our six-rider 

The crew at the start of Into the Mystic... 

let the pain and pleasure begin. 

Filipe riding the first sections of 

alpine on Lord of the Squirrels. 

replied. “Lucky you. It’s quite something else. Enjoy the pain and have fun,” 

said one of the guides as we parted company. 

A part of me yearned to follow those kids down the blue line they were 

taking, but our destination was upward. The decision had been made and we 

cut to the chase and began pushing our bikes up a one-kilometre fire road 

called Leftovers. The 200-metre climb was unrideable and the pedaling effort 

was cruel. Soon, my calves were burning from being constantly on my toes. 

Finally at the top, we arrived at Into the Mystic, a 12-kilometre trail with 

1,100 of metres of climbing that really kicked off our journey to Lord of the 

Squirrels. This machine-built non-technical climb is wide enough to ride beside 

your buddies and offers the perfect balance of steep sections with small 

descents or flat sections that allow you to recover. “It would be so cool if the 

uphill was actually like this all the way to the top,” said Tiago. “No way,” we 

replied in unison. 

SQUIRRELS 

group was a longtime friend, Nicholas Sousa, who has worked in Whistler for 

the past two years, but never ridden the renowned loop. In fact, despite being a 

bike-park rat, he’d never even heard of it. 

Into the Mystic – Earning the Ride 

“Where we’re going, there’s no rush or time schedule. The destination doesn’t 

matter,” remarked Filipe, one of the fittest guys in our crew, with a sneaky smile. 

“Yeah, yeah, stop being so philosophical. I hope you have a rope to drag me to 

the top,” I quipped. 

The journey begins in Creekside, which saw five new trails open this past 

summer, adding more route options to enjoy at Whistler Bike Park. We crossed 

the Sea to Sky Highway with its stunning views of beautiful Nita Lake and then 

traversed a railway trail to begin the first part of the climb. The tarmac road 

weaved along beside some luxurious houses on the hillside before taking us to 

a fire road, where we finally got our tires dirty. 

“We’re going to suffer, boys,” said Tiago, looking at the Trailforks graphics 

while keeping his pedals turning. “We knew that before leaving home this 

morning,” said a smiling Filipe, who was super-excited to begin pedaling upward, 

while everyone else was taking their time. Along the steepest part of the 

climb, we met a couple of bike-park instructors with three kids all geared up in 

tow. “Are you heading up to Squirrels?” they asked. “Yes, first time for us,” I 


The climb just went on and on below the tree line, zigzagging all the way 

with an unbelievable flow. “Now I understand why it took so much time to 

build. The way they took advantage of the mountain is incredible,” observed 

Roberto, who is responsible for developing our trail network at home on Madeira 

Island. “It’s a work of art.” The effort, the sweat and the pain paid off with 

spectacular views and the feeling of really being in the middle of nowhere. We 

Summer in Canada mixed with 

altitude meant we found a couple 

of sections still filled with snow. 


Nice touch ... a chain to help riders 

get to the bottom of a river section. 

were earning this ride 

and the descent that lay 

ahead of us. 

Once we reached the 

alpine, the trail took on 

a different look. We kept 

pedaling up, balancing 

our breathing and enjoying 

the incredible 

views while we toiled at 

the task at hand. I tried 

to catch up with Roberto 

as the altitude kicked 

in and the fresh air filled 

my lungs with oxygen. 

The singletrack continued up amidst the massive mountains as Into the Mystic linked up with On the 

Rocks, a 3.6-kilometre ride with 200 metres of climbing. This two-way trail winding through the alpine to 

the top of Mount Sproatt was also machine-built, though a bit more rocky and technical. We were stoked 

to take on these final pedal strokes to reach Lord of the Squirrels and realize a dream come true. 

Respect for Builders 

To reach the alpine meant we crossed freshwater streams via wooden bridges. We took a rest stop and 

quickly refilled our bottles after our dry throats enjoyed the brief refreshment. The sun was stronger as we 

gained altitude, but we were up to the challenge, refreshed by the mountain stream’s magical cold liquid. 

But getting to the top also meant that we’d have to cross some sections that were still snow-covered, 

and it actually felt great to get our socks wet in these conditions. Along the way, we split into two groups. 

“Where’s Paulo?” I asked, wondering if he was up the road. Tiago couldn’t stop laughing, but didn’t give 

us an answer. Ahead of us, Paulo appeared butt-naked as he exited a small lake that was still surrounded by 

snow just below Tonic Peak. Being quite a hairy guy, we were a bit stunned, as we thought a grizzly bear 

might be upon us. “It was so hot, and you guys were taking so long,” he said smiling. “I was sweating my 

ass off the entire ascent.” As he quickly dressed, he challenged us to take a dip in the lake, but there were 

no brave takers willing to jump into the freezing-cold water. 

As we waited for Paulo, we saw a small group of WORCA trail builders coming from the opposite direction 

carrying tools and small orange flags to mark the way through the dense snow. So work on the trails 

didn’t stop for these fine folk. We learned that it took five years of planning and three years to build Lord 

of the Squirrels, with an estimated 8,784 hours of work during that period of time. 

Roberto on the descent of the 

final section of On the Rocks at 

approximately 1,760 meters altitude 

Approximately 13% of the trail was built in 2014, 

another 57% was completed in 2015 and the final 

section was built in 2016. The trail includes a total of 

60 elevated rock walls and 29 bridges. We still had all 

of this ahead of us. “Thank you, guys,” we said in 

unison before embarking on the final kilometre of 

trail of the legendary Lord of the Squirrels. 

Although I was initially reluctant as I’m not a 

big fan of climbing, reflecting on this adventurous 

journey revealed to me what mountain biking is 

really all about, and it made me appreciate all the 

hard work put in by WORCA personnel. They are 

true architects of fun. Their creative thinking and 

imagination got us from the bottom of the valley, 

through fir, hemlock and cedar forests to the open 

meadows and rocky trails below Mount Sproatt, sitting 

at 1,834-metres altitude – amazing! 

Descending Lord of the Squirrels 

“Well, this is it guys – we made it,” said Roberto, 

getting his kneepads on. Like a mirage, the Lord of 

the Squirrels trail sign matched our Trailforks map 

perfectly. The excitement was brewing, as we would 

soon engage the final seven kilometres of trail with 

approximately 900 metres of descent, and, of 

course, Filipe sped up as usual. 

I was just happy to survive the climb – with my 

butt out of the seat along the way, I was trying to 

find a bit of power to keep my feet pedaling. From 

Creekside, it took four hours and 30 minutes to get 

to this point, and while we knew it could be done 

much faster, we were all stoked to have accomplished 

this amazing climb. “We can stop here and 

there at some spots along the way down,” added 

Roberto. We all agreed, and the descent began. 

We left any anxiety behind at the top of the hill 

and suddenly understood that stopping along the 

way wouldn’t happen. The descent was a rollercoaster, 

throwing us left and right down big, steep 

rock slabs. My bike just naturally found its way and 

I quickly noticed that there are no dangerous features, 

as everything was well built. There were no 

trees, stumps or badly placed rocks. There are no big 

blind drops that could surprise you in a bad way. 

The trail layout makes you feel instantly connected 

The trail builders at WORCA 

created an amazing work of art that 

brought smiles to our faces ... thanks. 


$5.95 

to it and you slowly gain a trusting relationship 

with it. 

Each corner gave us a taste of what was coming 

up next. From the open alpine areas with rock rolls 

to jumping back into the cedar forest, the trail just 

kept giving, challenging the strength left in our legs 

with small climb sections while sucking any remaining 

power left out of our hands and forearms. As our 

handlebars tried to take control from our hands, we 

decided we needed to take a brief rest. Everyone was 

smiling, so we knew it was all worth the effort. 

“I wanted to stop because I don’t want it to finish,” 

shared Tiago, often the one who takes the 

lead in our group. “Should we do it again tomorrow?” 

quipped Filipe. We all laughed, knowing 

that this moment was special for all of us and 

would never occur the same way again. This feeling 

of riding one of the best trails in the world for the 

first time was so rewarding – this is mountain biking! 

“Next stop is at the bottom,” added Filipe, as 

he jumped on his saddle once again to continue 

our journey of brutal pleasure. 

Lord of the Squirrels delivered a fabulous outdoor 

adventure. It scrambled our emotions and got 

the best out of us. Finishing the ride near Into the 

Mystic a couple hours later and completing the 

loop was an unforgettable experience and something 

that we will never forget. 

Trail Tips and Tricks 

Water: There is no need to carry three litres of water 

to re-hydrate. Take a water bottle to refill at several 

locations along the trail route. 

Wildlife: This is bear territory, and we saw two bears 

just above Creekside. Follow WORCA’s advice and 

for more information, visit www.bearsmart.com. 

Start early: It is best to start early so that you 

have enough time and light to descend to the end 

of the trail safely. Even if you’re a skilled, fit rider, 

do not begin this ride late in the day. Bear in mind 

that after completing Lord of the Squirrels you still 

have to ride back down to Creekside on some 

gnarly trails. 

Route: Begin at Creekside and head up fire road 

Westside Powerlines, then onto Lower Sproatt. You 

can then push your bike up Leftovers or follow the 

blue singletrack Danimal Middle to Industrial 

Waste and onto Rainbow-Sproatt Flank. You’ll then 

come to Into the Mystic, which takes you up to 

Lord of the Squirrels. For more information, visit 

www.trailforks.com. 

Cellphone signal: Most of the trail has a constant 

cellphone signal, though there are some zero-signal 

points along the way. 

Trail statistics: From start to finish, we covered a 

total distance of 32 kilometres. The highest point 

of the trail was 1,810 metres and lowest point was 

825 metres. 

WORCA’s trail network: Visit www.worca.com. 


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Canadians Get Fat This Winter 

FATBI 


With the onset of winter, skinny tires and Lycra 

don’t cut it outside for many these days. This time 

of year is when we find out who’s Canadian to 

the core. The ones who say: “Snow? Bring it on!” 

Those who strategically pile on layers of wool, 

down, Neoprene and Gore-Tex and pull comically 

wide-tired bicycles out of garages to roll into the 

snowy world wearing goggles and giddy balaclava-covered 

grins. Some are simply addicted to this 

new winter pastime. Of course we still have faith in 

all the Zwift’ers out there who could become yearround 

outdoor cyclists if they just gave this weird 

and wonderful thing called fatbiking a shot. 


Fatbike fever in Quebec includes La Traversée 

du Lac St-Jean, the infamous 32km traverse 

of the region’s namesake, celebrating 

its sixth edition on Feb. 16. 

Winter brings out the 

best in some cyclists. 

PHOTOS: LA TRAVERSÉE DU LAC ST-JEAN 

KING 



Also quite popular in Quebec is 

the FAT Rendez-vous Charlevoix on Feb. 2, 

held at the region’s Le Massif resort. 

PIERRE BOUCHARD 

With the continual addition of fatbike-accessible terrain, more fatbiking 

events naturally follow. Quebec is clearly the province stricken 

with the most serious case of fatbike fever, boasting as many as 20 

races on the calendar, according to the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes 

(FQSC). Feb. 16 will see the sixth annual edition of La Traversée du Lac 

St-Jean, the infamous 32-kilometre traverse of the region’s namesake. Another 

one of the province’s most popular fatbike races is the FAT Rendez-vous 

Charlevoix on Feb. 2, held at the region’s Le Massif resort. 

Quebec has several popular resort destinations for the two-wheeled winter activity, 

including Mont-Ste-Anne of mountain-biking fame. Mont-Ste-Anne also hosts 

a race and offers 23 kilometres of designated fatbiking recreation trails. Likewise, 

Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentians boasts approximately 60 kilometres of fatbiking 

terrain, 40 kilometres of which are shared with cross-country skiing, while another 

17 kilometres are specifically for fatbiking. Many of the province’s parks welcome 

the big rigs, too, making hundreds of kilometres of track accessible. Even the 

federal government has recognized it’s more than a fad and is allowing users to 

make fat-tracks in select Canadian National Parks, including Quebec’s La Maurice. 

Ontario is in a fatbiking frenzy as well, evidenced by its five-leg 45NRTH 

Ontario Fat Bike Series presented by Cannondale, including stops in riding 

destinations Parry Sound, Kingston and at Barrie’s Hardwood Ski and Bike. If 

athletes want to get extreme, they can take on the Wendigo Ultra – a 150-kilometre 

self-supported fatbiking ultramarathon from the Gatineau region’s Cobden, 

Ont. to Shawville, Que. and back on Feb. 9. 

For those inclined toward a more leisurely pace and hot-cocoa stops, Ontario 

has no shortage of recreation trails open to fatbikes, such as a groomed 

nine-kilometre loop at Horseshoe Valley Resort, Ottawa’s 10-kilometre Sir John 

A. Macdonald Trail, the 49-kilometre Millennium Trail between Carrying Place 

and Picton, the 14-kilometre Old Railway Trail in Algonquin Park and 28 kilometres 

in Gatineau Park to name a few. 

The sport that has been described akin to riding on pillows has not bypassed 

the Maritimes. Corner Brook, Nfld. will host two fun races this winter, while 

Nova Scotia welcomes riders to the Mahone Bay Fat Bike Festival, which includes 

a race on Feb. 3. New Brunswick’s Fundy and Kouchibouguac National 

Parks are also open to recreational fatbikes, boasting 18 kilometres and 12.5 

kilometres of trail, respectively. 

Moving farther west, Manitoba holds a race series with four dates through 

the winter, kicking off in Roseisle on Dec. 9 and wrapping up Winnipeg on Feb. 

24. Organizers Two Wheel Revolution also host several social events throughout 

the season. Birds Hill Provincial Park, Riding Mountain National Park, Fort 

Whyte, Brandon Hills and the Pembina Valley all offer fatbiking-friendly terrain 

for those looking to explore the province’s extensive winter wonderland. 

Saskatoon fatbiking club the Fatlanders are organizing a social ride on Dec. 

1 to celebrate Global Fat-Bike Day. Favourite rides recommended by the group 

include the 20-kilometre Grey Owl’s Cabin Trail in Prince Albert Provincial 

Park and the 21.5-kilometre Green Lake Loop in Duck Mountain Provincial 

Park, as well as the trails of Blue Mountain Adventure Park. 

Alberta is home to a huge amount of real estate open to fatbikes, so it’s no 

wonder the province is also high on the list for competitions, starting with 

Frosty’s Fatbike Series in Jasper, Alta. 

Jan. 10-12 features three events 

and a $5,000 cash purse. 

PIERRE BOUCHARD 


MIKE SARNECKI 

the new three-event Grizzly Fatbike Series in Canmore. Frosty’s Fatbike Series 

in Jasper on Jan. 10-12 features a XC-style race, a social ride with the Pros and 

the main-event Endurance XC race with a $5,000 cash purse, while the third 

annual Hinton Growler promises lots of snowy fun on Feb. 9. 

Alberta has many options for “fatties” in the picturesque Canmore/Banff 

area, as well as neighbouring Kananaskis Country. Farther south is a new fatbiking-friendly 

provincial park, Castle, which was established in 2017 and features 

a cozy new warming hut. The Canmore Nordic Centre opens several of its 

popular summer mountain-biking trails to fatbikes in winter, such as EKG, Blue 

Coal Chutes and Odyssey. Fatbikes are prohibited on groomed ski trails. Nearby 

Highline Trail is also a favourite. Banff National Park gems Lake Minnewanka, 

Moraine Lake, Tunnel Mountain and Goat Creek areas all feature fantastic fatbiking 

choices in the heart of the Rockies. 

B.C. is on the snowbiking bandwagon with some great places to shred. 

One of the country’s top fatbiking destinations, Nipika Mountain Resort in the 

Kootenay Rockies, grooms 30 kilometres of flowy, rolling singletrack through 

forests punctuated by stunning views of canyons and rivers. Nipika also hosts 

the Cross River Ripper fatbike race on Feb. 23. Other hot spots in B.C. for this 

cool activity include the Okanagan’s Silver Star Resort in Vernon, B.C. with 

15+ kilometres of groomed trail, as well as the east Kootenay’s outdoor playground, 

Fernie. 

It’s no surprise that one of the wintriest places in Canada has awesome 

spots to fatbike. Some of the Yukon’s favourite rides are at Grey Mountain and 

Mount MacIntyre in Whitehorse, as well as the multi-use Millennium Trail, 

which follows the Yukon River through town. Other suggestions include Bennett 

Lake near Carcross, which features impressive mountain views. The more 

adventurous will love to ride in the Fish Lake and Bonneville Lakes areas outside 

Whitehorse. 

As fantastic as fatbiking is for active people seeking more outdoor recreation 

options in winter, controversy still exists around how trail access is managed 

and how terrain is shared among user groups, especially with Nordic 

skiers. The trouble lies in the way fatbikes leave their mark in the snow, often 

sinking in and chopping up the surface if conditions are too soft or warm. 

While many areas are multi-use, more fatbike-only trails are being developed 

to keep them off Nordic trails. Increased awareness and education about when 

and where to ride is helping users find harmony in the snow. Areas are also 

developing clear rules to help fatbikers make better choices. For example, Silver 

Star Resort does not allow fatbikes in above-freezing temperatures and 

restricts tire width to 3.75” or wider and pressure to 8psi or less to ensure 

minimal trail impact. 

More fatbiking frenzy can be found 

at the five-leg 45NRTH Ontario FatBike 

Series presented by Cannondale. 

2018/2019 FATBIKING EVENTS CALENDAR 

Dec. 1 – Global Fat Bike Day Saskatoon Social Ride – Saskatoon, SK 

Dec. 9 – Manitoba Fatbike Series #1 – Roseisle, MB 

Dec. 15 – 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series p/b Cannondale #1 – Turkey Point, ON 

Jan. 10-12 – Frosty’s Fat Bike Race Series – Jasper, AB 

Jan. 12 – 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series p/b Cannondale #2 – Location TBA 

Jan. 13 – Grizzly Fatbike Series #1 – Canmore, AB 

Jan. 19 – Manitoba Fatbike Series #2 – Falcon Lake, MB 

Jan. 26 – 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series p/b Cannondale #3 – Parry Sound, ON 

Jan. 27 – Fat Bike Fun Race #1 – Corner Brook, NL 

Feb. 3 – Mahone Bay Fat Bike Festival – Mahone Bay, NS 

Feb. 2 – FAT Rendez-vous Charlevoix – Le Massif de Charlevoix, QC 

Feb. 9 – Hinton Growler – Hinton, AB 

Feb. 9 – 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series p/b Cannondale #4 – Kingston, ON 

Feb. 9 – Wendigo Ultra – Ottawa, ON 

Feb. 10 – Manitoba Fatbike Series #3 – Winnipeg, MB 

Feb. 16 – La Traversée du Lac St-Jean – Lac St-Jean, QC 

Feb. 17 – Grizzly Fatbike Series #2 – Canmore, AB 

Feb. 24 – Manitoba Fatbike Series #4 – Winnipeg, MB 

March 10 – 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series p/b Cannondale #5 – Hardwood Ski and Bike, ON 

Feb. 23 – Cross River Ripper – Nipika Mountain Resort, BC 

March 10 – Grizzly Fatbike Series #3 – Canmore, AB 

March 16 – Fat Bike Fun Race #2 – Corner Brook, NL 

POPULAR WEBSITES 

2wheelrevolution.ca 

substanceprojects.com/fat-bike 

jasper.travel/january/events/frostys-fat-bike-race-series 

grizzlyevents.ca 

velocharlevoix.ca/fat-rendez-vous 

velosurlac.com 

bikehinton.com/hinton-growler 

nipika.ca 

wendigoultra.blogspot.com 

velomonttremblant.com 

albertaparks.ca 

mont-sainte-anne.com 

skisilverstar.com 

horseshoeresort.com 

panoramaresort.com 

mahoneybay.com 

fqsc.net 

cyclesolutions.ca 

pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/conseils-tips/fatbike 

hardwoodskiandbike.com 

imba.com/resources/land-protection/fat-bikes 

fatlanders.bike 

travelyukon.com 

Get fat 

this winter! 

DAVID ROWSOME 



QUEBEC SINGLETRACK EXPERIENCE 

Bucket List MTB Riding 

BY LISA WILLEMSE 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GROUPE PENTATHLON 

The Quebec Singletrack Experience offers a unique blend 

of superb world-class singletrack and an inviting base 

camp where laughter flows freely. 

For anyone who’s never been to Quebec City, mountain biking may not be the first thing that 

comes to mind. It’s the oldest city in North America, steeped in history, with gorgeous Old- 

World architecture on cobbled streets that offer melt-in-your-mouth pastries, ice cream and 

a dizzying range of entertainment. But don’t be fooled: Quebec City and region are home to 

a veritable gold mine of truly sublime singletrack that deserves to be on every rider’s hit list. 

B 

efore we get into the race stages, there are a few things you need to 

know about the Quebec Singletrack Experience (QSE). First, if you don’t 

speak French, don’t worry. Even the most unilingual Anglo will get all 

the information needed – the QSE staff are fluent in both languages and, with 

riders hailing from many different countries, English tended to be the default 

for many conversations. 

Second, as I discovered, this event can be done with minimal training. The 

stages are not as long as those in some of the big European events, and the 

longest stage, at Mont-Ste-Anne, starts from the top of the mountain – thanks 

for that – so the day was abundantly, blissfully downhill (mostly). That said, 

if you want to compete for the coveted “Que-biker” leader plates, you’ll need 

to be very fit. 

Finally, come prepared for fun. Laughter flows freely, as does the beer (on 

some evenings, thanks to event sponsor Boréale), and each stage introduces 

something intrinsically Québécois, such as poutine, maple syrup shots or 

axe-throwing. Plus, the organizers made the base camp truly more inviting 

than just a place for the day’s awards and to grab food and catch the daily 

shuttle to each stage. It’s a setting in which to relax by a fire in an Adirondack 

chair, listen to music, or get your morning cappuccino or post-race massage. In 

short, the QSE is as much about forming friendships as it is about riding, and 

both are found at a level that rivals any other. 

QSE is as much about forming 

friendships as it is about riding. 


Stage One – Valcartier 

Starting easy at the QSE is not really an option. Stage One may look tame on 

paper as one of the shortest stages, but it didn’t take long to figure out why it’s 

short – it’s technical and twisty with some exceptionally steep pitches. 

Valcartier is a Canadian Armed Forces base boasting a solid network of running 

trails, many of which cut across the wider tracks used for biathlon and 

cross-country skiing. Even though they’re not purpose-built for knobby tires, 

the old-school riding is similar to that in my hometown near Ottawa-Gatineau, 

so the rocks and roots felt like old friends. But there were few sections to relax 

on over the first 19 kilometres of the stage. The timed ascent was relentless and 

had me wondering if I’d made a mistake in signing up. Thankfully, Valcartier’s 

choppy and narrow downhill sections made every metre of climbing worth it. 

Sadly, this is to be the swan song for Valcartier as a QSE stage, as we were informed 

that it would be QSE’s final visit there. Because it’s on an active military 

base, the area could be subject to last-minute closure, which doesn’t make it an 

ideal location for a stage race. I’m very glad I was able to ride it and, judging by 

the mood and comments at the finish, most of the other riders felt the same. 

From fabled Mont-Ste-Anne, to incredible 

Vallée Bras du Nord–Saint-Raymond, and 

amazing Sentiers du Moulin, you’ll be smiling 

when officially becoming a “Qué-biker.” 

Stage Two – Saint-Raymond sector, Vallée Bras du Nord 

Stage Two offered up plenty of undulating hills to get my legs in shape. Unlike 

the rocks and roots on the first day, Vallée Bras du Nord–Saint-Raymond offered 

up some incredible flow, both up and down. Most was contained within 

some stunning pine forests that afforded open views of the trail ahead, as well 

as a bit of respite from the sun and high humidity that had temperatures soaring 

to near 40°C. 

It’s truly hard to choose a highlight of the day, however there was one 

standout – a new trail, La Montée de Julien, had opened that morning just for 

the QSE. At approximately four kilometres, it was part climb, part descent and 

a total rip the entire way, and not just because I was one of the first to ride it. 

True, it was mushy under the tires, as most new trails are, and that in itself was 

a lot of fun, but once it firms up, it will be a worthy addition to the existing 

Saint-Raymond network. 

Such new trails are part of the legacy left by QSE. A not-for-profit, the organization 

has designated a portion of its annual income generated through 

sponsorships and registration fees toward the creation of new trails in the Quebec 

area. Each year, the local networks can apply for one of five grants that 

are up for grabs. La Montée de Julien, along with a new bridge, will add to the 

experience at Saint-Raymond, making the region an even greater magnet for 

local and visiting riders. 

Stage Three – Mont-Ste-Anne 

If there was one day of the QSE that had me in equal fits of excitement and 

trepidation, it was the stage at Mont-Ste-Anne. These fabled fern-lined trails 

have hosted the UCI World Championships twice (with the third taking place 

in 2019) and have been an annual stop on the World Cup circuit since 1991. 

The DH and XCO races took place over the weekend directly after QSE ended, 

and I was very much looking forward to being trailside at that time. But first I 

got to stake my own claim on the mountain. 

As the longest stage, Mont-Ste-Anne fittingly offered the longest day of 

both climbing and descending. It was absolutely brilliant. The organizers did 

a fantastic job of pulling together a mix of just about every kind of trail you 

can name: downhill tracks (the cross-country-friendly variety), Enduro, gravel, 

rock gardens, root and bridge networks, and smooth flowy trails. Even better, 

they were mixed together in a way that was constantly changing, somehow 

making the total distance seem much shorter. Favourites for me that demanded 

full attention and quick reflexes were Riverside Down and Longue-Rive, 

two old-school, rooty and mucky (thanks to some rain) sections hugging both 

sides of a river. 

I rode the last 15 kilometres of the 45-kilometre stage with a former Quebecker 

now living in Texas. On the first two stages, she and I had been trading 


positions; she would overtake me on flats and climbs and I would jump in 

front on technical sections and descents. Inevitably, we’d connect several times 

during the day and, at the last food station, we decided to ride the remaining 

distance together. As she put it, “We’re stronger together.” And we were; I waited 

at the bottom and she waited at the top. We crossed the finish line together, 

cementing a friendship and memory I’ll have long after I’ve forgotten the details 

of everything else. 

Stage Four – E47 Lac Delage 

Just one valley east of Valcartier lies the small town of Lac Delage, which rings a 

lake of the same name. And while they may favour skis and rifles in Valcartier, 

it’s all about the fat-tires at E47 Lac Delage. This relatively new 21-kilometre 

trail network was promised as a “recovery day,” however, owing to a downpour 

the night before and rain that fell steadily for the first hour of the stage, there 

wasn’t much recovery on the mud-soaked trails, but it was a whole lot of fun. 


Quebec City and region are home to a veritable gold 

mine of truly sublime singletrack that deserves 

to be on every rider’s hit list. 

I have never been a big fan of riding in the wet, mostly due to my disdain 

for cleaning my bike afterwards rather than the trail conditions themselves. At 

Lac Delage, however, I forgot about the dreaded bike cleaning at the end and 

really – really – enjoyed the riding. Each stage of the QSE has a timed climb and 

timed descent and classifications for both. The designated segments for both at 

E47 were incredible – the descent down Kamasutrail was a superb combination 

of technical features and flow, including a narrow pass through a rock canyon, 

barely wide enough for 800mm bars. The climb, La Montée de Lait, was also 

varied, with switchbacks, small bridges and some rock problems, made all the 

more challenging by the water and mud. Although we missed E47’s signature 

trail, a double-black called Haute Valkyrie, I will put it and the rest of the region 

on my must-do list for a return trip. 

Stage Five – Lac Beauport 

Stage Five was set in the beautiful region of Lac Beauport, surprisingly close 

to downtown Quebec City. The trails around Lac Beauport are largely off the 

map (i.e., Trailforks), as they are situated on private property. A whopping 68 

agreements were made with area landowners to allow access. There’s something 

extra special about being shown a network of trails known only to the 

locals who built them – I’m the kid who’s been given not just one candy, but 

the whole damn store. 

On the bus over, it was announced that the stage would have a 10-kilometre 

chicken line, due to the humidity and aggressive final section. Anyone who hit 

the 26-kilometre mark could take a shortcut and suffer a time penalty. I didn’t 

plan to use it, but you can never predict what might happen in mountain biking, 

even more so in stage racing. 

My first mistake was getting off course in the first five-kilometre section. I 

realized the error quickly, but when trying to correct it, I made another wrong 

turn. Pulling over afforded a good chance for me to watch the top 20 or so riders 

going hard on the hill. The men’s lead belonged to Montreal’s Marc-Andre 

Daigle since Day One. The women’s General Classification race was closer, with 

American Emma Maaranen holding a slim lead over France’s Laurence Champavier 

– until this point, when Champavier assumed the lead. 

I missed two more turns farther on, the result of a mushy brain after five 

days in the saddle and an assumption that the fast way must be the chosen 

way. Fast was not the name of the game on these trails, owing to slippery 

roots and some steep, hike-a-bike uphills. Shortly after I got back on track, my 

Mont-Ste-Anne riding partner, Annick, caught me and we continued together. 

At approximately the 22-kilometre mark, she broke her saddle. A DIY fix with 

zip-ties helped, but she still rode much of the next four kilometres out of her 

seat and we both gladly took the chicken line to the finish. 

Stage Six – Shannahan sector, Vallée Bras du Nord 

More than any other stage, the Vallée Bras du Nord-Shannahan sector created 

the most buzz among the QSE riders, as it was well-hyped as the signature stage 

of the event. 

Vallée Bras du Nord-Shannahan sector was conceived in 2002 as a co-op 

to support outdoor activities in the area. The mountain-bike trails were initially 

drafted with input from Vermont’s Kingdom Trails, which remains its 

sister destination. One can certainly see some similarities in design, especially 

at Saint-Raymond. But Vallée Bras du Nord-Shannahan (and the region in general) 

is not a lesser sibling. Riders from across the east – and farther away – now 

travel to Quebec to bike these iconic trails, which top the must-do lists for 

anyone who sets a wheel down in eastern North America. 

From the start at the far end of a rumbly fire road, the stage soon spit riders 

onto the fabled Neilson trail, which hugs the edges of its namesake river as it 

descends approximately 300 metres into the valley. There’s so much to appreciate 

about this trail, from the technical rocks and bridges to the occasional 

waterfalls to the ingenuity of the trail’s design. Photo stops obligatory! 

But Neilson isn’t the only trail Vallée Bras du Nord-Shannahan has to offer, 

and we rode a total of 44.5 kilometres of them, including new trails Petite Ourse 

and Chutes à Gilles, both of which have beautiful trailside waterfall features. 


My favourites of the day were the timed climb and descent trails: L’Aurore 

and Boréale. The last time I was here, I missed these two trails due to a malfunctioning 

dropper, so this was a bit of redemption. The 4.1-kilometre climb, with 

its 115 switchbacks and 68 bridges, is a work of art, and the descent is more 

than two kilometres of pure joy. Other than finishing the final stage, my 28th 

overall descent time might stand as my personal triumph for the race. 

Stage Seven – Sentiers du Moulin 

Blue skies greeted Stage Seven at Sentiers du Moulin, located near Lac Beauport. 

The mood among riders and volunteers that morning was decidedly different 

– there was a sense of satisfaction and excitement for the last ride, with far 

less tension, especially among the General Classification contenders, as only 

a major blowout could change the final standings. All of it was tempered with 

fatigue, and, of course, a bit of sadness: more than one rider told me they rode 

slowly to enjoy the event as long as possible. 

Sentiers du Moulin offered up a course that demanded full attention 

through the full 19 kilometres and delivered maximum reward for the effort. 

Three of the top-10 trails in Quebec can be found at Sentiers du Moulin, and 

we rode two of them: the rambling Raph climb and Super G, a fast Enduro-style 

descent complete with big banked turns, drops and a wooden roller perched 

atop a small cabin. The third, Léon, is a more aggressive Enduro line, one of 

several to be found at Sentiers du Moulin. 

As you might expect, there was a great deal of celebration at the finish, where 

each rider received a loud welcome and a medal to officially become a “Qué-biker.” 

For one female rider, Sophie, the race was especially sweet, as, at the finish 

line, her boyfriend on bended knee greeted her with an engagement ring. 

The day ended with awards, dinner, a video recap of each stage, dancing 

and a good deal of contact-info-sharing among the cyclists. The organizers and 

There are so many fabulous trails it’s hard 

to pick a favourite, and new trails are 

part of the legacy left by QSE. 

volunteers have done a stellar job of putting together a stage race that offers 

a collection of superb world-class singletrack, however it is much more than 

race – it truly is an experience. 

Québec Singletrack Expérience 

762, rue Jacques-Berthiaume, porte 6 

Québec City, QC G1V 3T1 

418-907-5734 

www.quebecsingletrack.com 

Mission accomplished. 



Double Bronze for Canada 

Team Canada Ranked 4th Overall at 2018 Road World Championships 


ANTHONY LEUTENEGGER 

Canada’s Mike Woods savours his 

historic bronze medal in the Elite men’s 

road race, ending a 34-year drought. 

Canada took home two bronze medals from the 2018 Road 

World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria on Sept. 22-30, 

en route to one of the nation’s best performances ever. 

Along with the two individual podiums, Canadian riders 

delivered a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and an eighth-place finish, 

including bronze and silver medals with their respective 

Team Time Trial (TTT) squads. The National team finished 

the Championships in a remarkably strong fourth place, 

just behind The Netherlands, Italy and Belgium. Highlighted 

by Mike Woods’ gutsy bronze-medal ride in the Elite men’s 

road race, Canada proved that it can compete with the 

world’s best cycling nations. 

Elite Men’s Road Race final podium 

(l-r): Romain Bardet (FRA) 2nd, 

Alejandro Valverde (ESP) 1st, 

Michael Woods (CAN) 3rd 

ANTHONY LEUTENEGGER 


TIME TRIALS 

Team Time Trials 

On the opening day of the 2019 Road Worlds, Canada 

captured two podiums in the Elite women’s 

54.7km TTT. Karol-Ann Canuel, racing for 

Boels-Dolmans, took home a silver medal, while 

Leah Kirchmann with defending champions Team 

Sunweb settled for the bronze. The Canyon-SRAM 

team that took home the surprise victory, finishing 

the course in 1:01:46, averaging 52.544km/h. 

Turning to the men’s Elite TTT, the flat 62.8km 

course featured only one real obstacle: a 4.6km 

climb at 5.7% to the village of Axams, cresting 

with almost 18 kilometres left to the finish line. 

Belgium’s Quick-Step Floors averaged 55.522km/h 

en route to claiming its fourth TTT World title by 

19 seconds over defending champions Team Sunweb 

in second, with BMC Racing in third. Canada 

was still able to crack the top 10 as Hugo Houle, 

racing with Astana Pro Team, finished 10th overall. 

Leah Kirchmann took home the best time 

trial of her life, racing to an incredible 

4th to finish just off the podium. 

Elite Men 

Houle was the sole Canadian rider in the 52.1km 

Elite men’s ITT, finishing 32nd, as Rohan Dennis 

(AUS) claimed his first World title, finishing the 

course in one hour, three minutes and two seconds 

at an average speed of 49.585km/h. Defending 

champion Tom Dumoulin (NED) was second at 1:21 

behind, while Victor Campenaerts (BEL) was third. 

Elite Women 

In the Elite women’s Individual Time Trial (ITT), 

Kirchmann of Winnipeg, Man. delivered the best 

time trial of her life, finishing just off the podium, 

as she raced to an unbelievable fourth-place finish 

on the 27.7km course. Coming in only 1.62 seconds 

off the podium, she finished in a time of 35 minutes 

and 52.17 seconds, one minute and 26.81 seconds 

behind winner Annemiek van Vleuten (NED). 

Teammate Canuel of Gatineau, Que. also had a 

stellar performance, finishing eighth overall 

among 51 starters, at two minutes and 16 seconds 

behind the Dutch champion. 

broke her thumb, but still finished 46th on the day. 

In the junior men’s 27.7km time trial, Canada’s 

Conor Martin of Kelowna, B.C. was 25th, while 

teammate Ben Katerberg suffered the similar fate of 

Vallieres Mill with an unfortunate early crash and 

did not finish. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) won the title. 

ROAD RACES 

Elite Men 

In the Elite men’s 258km road race, Woods became 

the first Canadian in 34 years to win a World 

Championship medal, finishing third overall in 

the final sprint. With 300 metres to go from the 

Junior women’s road race podium (l-r): 

Marie le Net (FRA) 2nd, LauraStigger (AUT) 1st, 

Simone Boilard (CAN)s 3rd 

finish line, Woods was neck-and-neck with cycling 

legends Alejandro Valverde (ESP) and Romain Bardet 

(FRA), with Dumoulin (NED) just behind. As 

Valverde opened up the final charge, Woods dug 

deep in his fight for top position, but was hindered 

by leg cramps and had to settle for third. 

“I had a lot of confidence in my sprint, so my 

plan was to simply wait until 150 metres to go,” 

said Woods. “When Valverde opened at 300 metres, 

I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was going to 

beat him.” 

Fellow Canadian Rob Britton animated the race 

in an early break and was at the front for more 

COR VOS 

U-23 Men 

In the men’s U-23 ITT, Canada’s Nickolas Zukowsky 

put on a good performance, finishing just outside 

the top 20 on the 27.7km time-trial course, to finish 

21st. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) took the overall win, 

while Brent Van Moer (BEL) and Mathias Norsgaard 

Jorgensen (DEN) were second and third respectively. 

Fellow Canuck Adam Roberge raced to 

40th overall. 

Juniors 

Canadian national junior women’s road champion 

Simone Boilard had a great performance in the ITT 

event, finishing fifth overall at only 6.17 seconds 

from a bronze medal. Canada’s other race entrant, 

Magdeleine Vallieres Mill, suffered an early crash and 

CHRIS AULD 



Team Canada’s Karol-Ann Canuel 

raced to her best-ever Elite women’s 

road-race result at Worlds, finishing 6th. 

Juniors 

In the junior women’s 71.7km event, Boilard of Quebec City raced to a bronze 

medal for Canada, finishing third in a four-rider sprint for the title. It was Canada’s 

first medal in this category since Clare Hall-Patch of Victoria. B.C. won 

bronze in 2000, the year Boilard was born. Laura Stigger (AUT), who also recently 

won the MTB junior world title, won gold and Marie Le Net (FRA) took 

the silver. Other Canadians included Vallieres Mill in 38th despite riding with 

a broken thumb from her time-trial crash, Kaitlyn Rauwerda was 48th and 

Elizabeth Gin was 73rd. 

Thomas Schellenberg in 46th led the Canadians in the junior men’s 

131.8km road race won by Belgium’s Evenepoel, who soloed in for his second 

victory after suffering a wheel change early on and battling back for the victory. 

Canadian Katerberg finished 71st, while fellow countrymen Martin, Robin 

Plamondon and Carson Miles did not finish. 

Team Canada (l-r): Antoine Duchesne, 

Hugo Houle, Mike Woods, Rob Britton 

CHRIS AULD 

than 200 kilometres, eventually finishing 76th. Teammates Antoine Duchesne 

and Houle helped protect and put Woods in good position throughout, but did 

not finish. 

The race featured the most climbing in recent memory, and Woods had fans 

on the edge of their seats when he attacked on the final three-kilometre climb 

that reached a maximum gradient of 28% before dropping back down to the 

finish line in the center of Innsbruck. Only Valverde and Bardet could stay with 

Woods, as Dumoulin tried to bridge in vain. 

“To be that close and have it go out the window because of cramping, in that 

moment, it was disappointing. Now, after having 24 hours to think about it, I’m 

over the moon. I didn’t sleep last night. That’s how excited I was,” said Woods. 

Elite Women 

Team Canada delivered strong performances in the grueling 155.6km Elite women’s 

road race, as Gatineau native Canuel took home an amazing sixth-place 

finish. Sara Poidevin from Canmore, Alta. finished 14th overall despite a crash 

around the 60-kilometre mark. As the top U-23 woman, she claimed the unofficial 

title. Kirchmann finished 25th to round out a strong day for the Canucks. 

“It was a long, hard race,” said Canuel, who won silver in the TTT and placed 

eighth in the time trial. “I had trouble following attacks, but I held my pace 

until the end. On the last climb, I was able to get away with two other girls, and 

[that] worked for me to end up with my best road-race result at Worlds.” 

U-23 Men 

The Canadian U-23 men put in a solid effort during the 179.5km road race, but 

struggled to keep pace with the other world-class riders. Canada’s Zukowsky 

joined an early break at the 25km mark by attacking on the first climb, and 

tried to go solo with a little more than 110 kilometres to go. He would eventually 

be caught by the main group, and only teammate Charles-Étienne Chrétien 

ended up finishing, coming in 85th overall. Belgium’s Bjorg Lambrecht 

took the final victory, while Zukowsky and teammates Roberge and Edward 

Walsh did not finish. 

2018 UCI Road World Championships 

Sept. 22-30, 2018 – Innsbruck, Austria 

TTT 

Elite Men 1. Quick-Step Floors 1:07:25; 2. Team Sunweb 0:19; 3. BMC Racing Team 

0:20; Elite Women 1. Canyon-SRAM 1:01:46.60; 2. Boels-Dolmans 0:21.90; 3. Team 

Sunweb 0:28.67. 

ITT 

Elite Men 1. Rohan Dennis (AUS) 3:45.5; 2. Tom Dumoulin (NED) 1:21.1; 3. Victor 

Campenaerts (BEL) 1:21.6; Canadians 32. Hugo Houle (CAN) 5:39.5; Elite Women 1. 

Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) 0:34:25; 2. Anna van der Breggen (NED); 3. Ellen van Dijk 

(NED) 1:25; Canadians 4. Leah Kirchmann (CAN) 1:27; 8. Karol-Ann Canuel (CAN) 2:16; 

Junior Men 1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) 0:33:15; 2. Lucas Plapp (AUS) 1:23; 3. Andrea 

Piccolo (ITA) 1:37; Canadians 25. Conor Martin (CAN) 3:35; DNF Ben Katerberg (CAN); 

Junior Women 1. Rozemarijn Ammerlaan (NED) 27:02.95; 2. Camilla Alessio (ITA) 

0:06.8; 3. Elynor Backstedt (GBr) 0:17.94; Canadians 5. Simone Boilard (CAN) 0:24.11; 

46. Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (CAN) 3:10.09; U-23 Men 1. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) 0:32:31; 2. 

Brent Van Moer (BEL) 0:33; 3. Mathias Norsgaard Jorgensen (DEN) 0:38; Canadians 21. 

Nickolas Zukowsky (CAN) 1:20; 40. Adam Roberge (CAN) 2:09. 

Road Race 

Elite Men 1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) 6:46:41; 2. Romain Bardet (FRA); 3. Mike Woods 

(CAN); Other Canadians 76. Rob Britton (CAN) 0:19:37; DNF Antoine Duchesne (CAN); 

DNF Hugo Houle (CAN); Elite Women 1. Anna van der Breggen (NED) 4:11:04; 2. Amanda 

Spratt (AUS) 3:42; 3. Tatiana Guderzo (ITA) 5:26; Canadians 6. Karol-Ann Canuel 

(CAN) 6:17; 14. Sara Poidevin (CAN); 25. Leah Kirchmann (CAN) 8:18; 51. Alison Jackson 

(CAN) 0:12:48; 74. Sara Bergen (CAN) 0:18:20; DNF Katherine Maine (CAN); U-23 

Men 1. Marc Hirschi (SUI) 4:24:05; 2. Bjorg Lambrecht (BEL) 0:15; 3. Jaakko Hanninen 

(FIN); Canadians 85. Charles-Étienne Chrétien (CAN); DNF Adam Roberge (CAN); DNF 

Nickolas Zukowsky (CAN); DNF Edward Walsh (CAN); Junior Men 1. Remco Evenepoel 

(BEL) 3:03:49; 2. Marius Mayrhofer (GER) 1:25; 3. Alessandro Fancellu (ITA) 1:38; Canadians 

46. Thomas Schellenberg (CAN) 0:16:22; 71. Ben Katerberg (CAN) 0:20:34; DNF 

Conor Martin (CAN); DNF Robin Plamondon (CAN); DNF Carson Miles (CAN); Junior 

Women 1. Laura Stigger (AUS) 1:56:26; 2. Marie Le Net (FRA); 3. Simone Boilard (CAN); 

Other Canadians 38. Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (CAN); 48. Kaitlyn Rauwerda (CAN); 73. 

Elizabeth Gin (CAN). 

COR VOS 


Canada’s Batty Wins Bronze 

2018 MTB World Championships 


PHOTOS: ARMIN KÜSTENBRÜCK 

Canada’s Emily Batty battled to 

a brilliant bronze medal in the 

Elite women’s cross-country race. 

Canada’s Emily Batty took home a bronze medal in the Elite women’s cross-country at the 2018 MTB World 

Championships on Sept. 5-8 in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, regarded by many as the home of mountain biking. 

The Championships also featured numerous Canadian top-10 finishes and multiple career-bests. 

Team Relay 

Team Canada was as high as fourth during the five-lap, 21km Team Relay competition, 

and finished eighth overall. Sean Fincham (U-23), Carter Woods (junior), 

Laurie Arseneault (U-23), Haley Smith (Elite women’s) and Peter Disera 

(Elite men’s) delivered a solid top-10 results, with Disera, the final rider, moving 

up two spots to finish eighth in the contest where Switzerland won over 

Germany, with Denmark in third. 

Elite Men 

For the men’s eight-lap final of the 33.6km race, Switzerland’s Nino Schurter was 

the clear favourite of the partisan crowd on hand, as he lives only 20 minutes from 

the MTB Worlds venue. An early attack by the Swiss rider put him out front, later 

joined by Italian rider Gerhard Kerschbaumer. The two went back and forth for 

the remaining seven laps, with Mathieu Van der Poel of The Netherlands in hot 

pursuit. It wasn’t until the final lap that Schurter pulled ahead to take the win by 

11 seconds, leaving Kerschbaumer in second, with Van der Poel settling for third. 

Léandre Bouchard was the top Canuck, claiming 26th place overall on the 

rough and bumpy track. “My goal was for a top-30, so it’s great to achieve it. 

I’m really happy to finish the season with my best performance of the year,” he 

said. “I had some ups and downs this year, so to prove to myself that I was capable 

of that kind of performance is pretty sweet.” 

Other Canadians at the event included Raphael Gagné in 48th, Peter Disera 

in 49th and Andrew L’Esperance in 60th. 

Elite Women 

Canada delivered a stellar performance in the Elite women’s 29.4km race, highlighted 

by Batty’s bronze-medal performance. A career-best sixth by Haley 

Smith put two Canadians in the top-10. 

The women’s race, featuring a start loop and six laps, began with an attack 

by 2016 world champion Annika Langvad of Denmark, who opened a gap on 

Kate Courtney of the U.S.A. and Batty, with Jolanda Neff of Switzerland in 

fourth. Batty took over second, but Courtney battled back to pass Batty on a big 

climb, and then on the final lap, closed the gap to Langvad, winning her first 

women’s Elite title by 47 seconds. Langvad settled for silver as Batty took home 

the bronze. 

“When I was racing, I knew that there was no way I was going to walk away 

without a medal. I found my limit; I’ve never gone as hard as today. That was 

my goal: to turn myself inside out and leave it all out there,” said Batty after 

the race. 

Smith also finished off the season on a high note, as her sixth-place finish 

eclipsed her recent best-ever eighth at the Mont-Ste-Anne MTB World Cup, a 

huge improvement from a career high of 42nd only two years ago. 

Former world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Catharine Pendrel 

suffered a flat with a lap and a half to go, putting her out of contention, and 

she finished 20th. In other Canadian results, Sandra Walter finished 21st after 

riding in the top-20 for most of the race. Cindy Montambault was 31st, Elyse 

Nieuwold was 38th and Catherine Fleury was 42nd. 


U-23 Men 

Sean Fincham of Squamish, B.C. led the Canadians in 14th in the U-23 men’s 

29.4km race and a field of 90+ starters. The race was won by last year’s silver 

medalist, Alan Hatherly of South Africa, followed by U.S. rider Christoper 

Blevins and David Nordemann of The Netherlands. 

Fincham, the reigning U-23 National champion, started in the fifth row, but 

quickly advanced to the mid-20s. His second lap was the fastest of the entire 

field, moving him into 16th. From there, he would push for a top-10 result, but 

settled for 14th after putting in the big effort. 

Fincham, who was a member of Canada’s Team Relay squad that finished 

eighth, told Pedal, “It’s been a pretty awesome Worlds, I’m stoked. The start is 

always hectic, but I managed to sneak by a few people before the singletrack, 

and I hit there to move up. I was in there fighting for the top-10, but fell apart 

a little bit at the end. It’s been an eye-opening year . . . I know it’s possible now, 

and I’m looking forward to next year.” 

U-23 Women 

The U-23 women’s 25.2km race, which included a start loop and five laps, saw 

a dominating performance by Swiss riders Alessandra Keller and Sina Frei, who 

finished 1-2 on the final podium. Italy’s Marika Tovo was third. Emily Unterberger 

of Revelstoke, B.C. earned a well-fought 20th place, having moved her 

way up steadily throughout the race from the mid-30s to solidify her final result 

with a little more than one lap to go. 

Laurie Arseneault of Terrebonne, Que., the current National champion, had 

a strong start, but began to fade as the final lap approached to finish 21st. Also 

racing for Canada were Mackenzie Myatt in 27th and Juliette Tetreault in 42nd. 

Marianne Theberge 

claimed 8th in the 

junior women’s race. 

Léandre Bouchard 

was the top Canuck 

claiming 26th in 

the Elite men’s race. 

Junior Men 

In the junior men’s 25.2km, five-lap race, Canadian Holden Jones, the defending 

bronze medalist, placed ninth for a top-10 finish, followed by Carter Woods 

in 12th. Switzerland’s Alexandre Balmer eventually claimed the win over Germany’s 

Leon Reinhard Kaiser in second and France’s Mathis Azzaro in third. 

Charles-Antoine St-Onge was 25th, Tyler Clark finished 56th and Colton 

Woods was 61st. 

Junior Women 

Canada’s Marianne Theberge cracked the top-10 with a strong eighth-place 

result in the 21km junior women’s XCO race after a hard-fought battle with 

two Swiss riders in a field of 53 starters. Laura Stigger of Austria won the overall 

title with Tereza Saskova of Czech Republic in second, followed by Harriet Harnden 

of Great Britain in third. Canadian Roxane Vermette was 22nd, Mireille 

Larose Gingras placed 28th and Eva Poidevin was 43rd. 

Haley Smith raced to a 

career-best 6th in the 

Elite women’s race. 

Switzerland’s Nino Schurter 

won the Elite men’s race. 

American Kate Courtney captured 

her first women’s Elite title. 

2018 UCI MTB XCO World Championships 

Sept. 5-8, 2018 – Lenzerheide, Switzerland 

Team Relay 1. Switzerland (Filippo Colombo, Alexandre Balmer, Sina Frei, Jolanda 

Neff, Nino Schurter) 1:00:00; 2. Germany (Leon Reinhard Kaiser, Elisabeth Brandau, 

Maximilian Brandl, Ronja Eibl, Manuel Fumic) 0:13; 3. Denmark (Sebastian Fini 

Carstensen, Alexander Young Andersen, Annika Langvad, Malene Degn, Simon Andreassen) 

0:34; 4. Italy (Gerhard Kerschbaumer, Filippo Fontana, Eva Lechner, Marika 

Tovo, Juri Zanotti) 1:02; 5. France (Joshua Dubau, Mathis Azzaro, Loana Lecomte, 

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Maxime Marotte) 1:25; Canadians 8. Canada (Sean Fincham, 

Carter Woods, Laurie Arseneault, Haley Smith, Peter Disera) 2:23; Elite Men 1. 

Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:29:21; 2. Gerhard Kerschbaumer (ITA) 0:11; 3. Mathieu Van der 

Poel (NED) 1:14; 4. Henrique Avancini (BRA) 1:53; 5. Florian Vogel (SUI) 1:54; Canadians 

26. Léandre Bouchard (CAN) 4:53; 48. Raphael Gagné (CAN) 7:56; 49. Peter 

Disera (CAN) 7:56; 60. Andrew L’Esperance (CAN) -2 laps; Elite Women 1. Kate 

Courtney (USA) 1:34:55; 2. Annika Langvad (DEN) 0:47; 3. Emily Batty (CAN) 1:58; 

4. Jolanda Neff (SUI) 2:13; 5. Maja Wloszczowska (POL) 3:15; Other Canadians 6. 

Haley Smith (CAN) 3:39; 14. Catharine Pendrel (CAN) 5:57; 21. Sandra Walter (CAN) 

7:58; 31. Cindy Montambault (CAN) -1 lap; 38. Elyse Nieuwold (CAN) -1 lap; U-23 

Men 1. Alan Hatherly (RSA) 1:21:22; 2. Christopher Blevins (USA) 0:27; 3. David Nordemann 

(NED) 1:05; 4. Petter Fagerhaug (NOR) 1:24; 5. Jonas Lindberg (DEN) 1:28; 

Canadians 14. Sean Fincham (CAN) 3:09; 20. Marc-André Fortier (CAN) 4:16; 27. 

Quinton Disera (CAN) 5:16; 32. Raphael Auclair (CAN) 5:54; 35. Gunnar Holmgren 

(CAN) 6:03; U-23 Women 1. Alessandra Keller (SUI) 1:22:53; 2. Sina Frei (SUI) 1:22; 

3. Marika Tovo (ITA) 1:40; 4. Ronja Eibl (GER) 2:32; 5. Caroline Bohe (DEN) 3:25; 

Canadians 20. Emily Unterberger (CAN) 10:24; 21. Laurie Arseneault (CAN) 10:48; 

27. Mackenzie Myatt (CAN) -1 lap; 42. Juliette Tetreault (CAN) -2 laps; Junior Men 

1. Alexandre Balmer (SUI) 1:13:45; 2. Leon Reinhard Kaiser (GER) 0:02; 3. Mathis 

Azzaro (FRA) 1:13; 4. Loris Rouiller (SUI) 1:22; 5. Moritz Schäb (GER) 1:53; Canadians 

9. Holden Jones (CAN) 2:45; 12. Carter Woods (CAN) 4:07; 25. Charles-Antoine 

St-Onge (CAN); 56. Tyler Clark (CAN) -1 lap; 61. Colton Woods (CAN) -1 lap; Junior 

Women 1. Laura Stigger (AUS) 1:09:46; 2. Tereza Saskova (CZE) 3:03; 3. Harriet Harnden 

(GBr) 3:37; 4. Isaure Medde (FRA) 4:39; 5. Sofie Heby Pedersen (DEN) 5:04; 

Canadians 8. Marianne Theberge (CAN) 6:06; 22. Roxane Vermette (CAN) 9:59; 28. 

Mireille Larose Gingras (CAN) 11:10; 43. Eva Poidevin (CAN) -1 lap. 



Canada’s Jamieson 

Wins Bronze at 

2018 DH Worlds 

Atherton and Bruni Take Elite Titles 


Team Canada took home its second medal of the 2018 MTB World Championships 

in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, as Elliot Jamieson from White 

Rock, B.C. claimed the bronze medal in the junior men’s Downhill race. 

In the Elite men’s Downhill race, Finnley Iles finished 14th, Mark Wallace 

was 18th and Magnus Manson placed 19th, while Miranda Miller was 18th in 

the Elite women’s final. 

For Jamieson, landing on the podium was a huge surprise. “I can’t really 

believe it,” he admitted. “This is my third Downhill race of the year, so I didn’t 

have any expectations. I just wanted to have fun and ride well. I was shaking 

when the top 10 were dropping in and I was still on the hot seat. I’m so stoked, 

I can’t believe I am on the podium.” 

More than 20,000 fans came out to watch Rachel Atherton of Great Britain 

win her fifth title and Loic Bruni of France repeat as the men’s champion, for 

his third title. Total attendance over the five days of the Championships 

reached 65,000 – a record for the MTB Worlds. 

The Elite women’s competition was expected to be a face-off between British 

teammates Atherton and Tahnee Seagrave, who battled all season on the 

World Cup circuit and finished 1-2 in qualifying. 

Morgane Charre of France set the first sub-3:40 time, which stood until 

Swiss rider Emilie Siegenthaler knocked three seconds off. Two French riders – 

Marine Cabirou and Myriam Nicole – took the lead in quick succession, with 

Nicole taking the lead time down to 3:26. 

Seagrave knocked another seven-tenths off, and it was down to Atherton, 

who was clearly riding at a different level. She was three seconds ahead at the 

first split, six seconds up at the second, and a staggering 9.983 seconds by the 

finish. Canada’s Rachel Pageau was 25th. 

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Atherton. “I knew it was going to be a hard 

race and that I had to be fast. All the way down, I thought I was going to crash. 

Coming into the finish, I could hear the announcer saying I was the 2018 world 

champion, and I just had to push right to the end. It’s hard, because we train earlier 

in the day when the light is different, so it was hard to see the lines during the race.” 

The lead time for the men’s field went down slowly until three-time world 

champion Greg Minnaar of South Africa became the first to go under three 

minutes. Minnaar started early, since he missed much of the season to injury, 

but once he was in the hot seat, he stayed there through 27 riders, until Belgium’s 

Martin Maes displaced him by 2.4 seconds. Maes was beginning to look 

untouchable, as rider after rider failed to match his time. 

It wasn’t until defending champion Bruni came down with five riders to go 

that Maes was bumped from the lead, and only by a slim 0.213 seconds. The 

top two spots on the podium were set, with Danny Hart of Great Britain taking 

the bronze. 

“I had a really good weekend and everything clicked,” said Bruni. “I didn’t 

make any mistakes today and the times were super-close, so I guess that is what 

made the difference. It was dusty and slippery, but still wet in the woods, so it 

was hard to know where to push because there were a lot of places you could 

crash. I’m so happy because it’s been a year with a lot of bad results and a few 

good ones. Couldn’t finish the season in a better way.” 

ALEX BROADWAY/SWPIX.COM 

FRASER BRITTON 

Junior men’s DH podium (l-r): Kye A’Hern (AUS) 2nd, 

Kade Edwards (GBr) 1st, Elliot Jamieson (CAN) 3rd 

Other Canadian results in the Elite men included Henry Fitzgerald in 45th, 

Forrest Riesco in 49th and Luke Stevens in 70th. In the junior men’s category, 

Canada’s Lucas Cruz finished 14th, Ben Wallace was 15th, Kendall McLean 

raced to 24th, Justin Clements was 27th, Ian Milley was 40th and Keegan Fry 

placed 47th. 

In the junior categories, Valentia Holl of Austria completed a perfect season 

with her win in the women’s race after winning every World Cup during the 

season. The men’s title went to Great Britain’s Kade Edwards. 

Canada’s Finnley Iles 

UCI DH World Championships 2018 

Sept. 9, 2018 – Lenzerheide, Switzerland 

Elite Men 1. Loic Bruni (FRA) 02:55.114; 2. Martin Maes (BEL) 0.213; 3. Danny Hart 

(GBr); 4. Loris Vergier (FRA) 0.749; 5. Aaron Gwin (USA) 1.341; Canadians 14. Finnley 

Iles (CAN) 3.954; 18. Mark Wallace (CAN) 4.872; 19. Magnus Manson (CAN) 5.807; 

45. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN) 11.016; 49. Forrest Riesco (CAN) 12.491; 70. Luke Stevens 

(CAN) 20.340; Elite Women 1. Rachel Atherton (GBr) 3:15.738; 2. Tahnee Seagrave 

(GBr) 9.983; 3. Myriam Nicole (FRA) 10.676; 4. Marine Cabirou (FRA) 15.963; 5. 

Tracey Hannah (AUS) 15.966; Canadians 18. Miranda Miller (CAN) 33.325; 25. Rachel 

Pageau (CAN) 47.714; Junior Men 1. Kade Edwards (GBr) 3:03.225; 2. Kye A’Hern 

(AUS) 4.410; 3. Elliot Jamieson (CAN) 5.438; 4. Thibaut Daprela (FRA) 5.811; 5. Henry 

Kerr (GBr) 5.815; More Canadians 14. Lucas Cruz (CAN) 10.252; 15. Ben Wallace 

(CAN) 11.301; 24. Kendall McLean (CAN) 14.013; 27. Justin Clements (CAN) 15.456; 

40. Ian Milley (CAN) 22.834; 47. Keegan Fry (CAN) 27.485; Junior Women 1. Valentina 

Holl (AUT) 03:39.726; 2. Anna Newkirk (USA) 10.881; 3. Mille Johnset (NOR) 16.694; 4. 

Nastasia Gimenez (FRA) 17.291; 5. Paula Zibasa (LAT) 21.262. 



Canadian Miranda Miller

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Alex Stieda won 

the Tour in 1980. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOUR DE L’ABITIBI 

The legendary Tour de l’Abitibi 

began back in 1969. 

50 th 

ANNIVERSARY 

Legendary Tour de l’Abitibi 

An Amazing Journey 

BY RON JOHNSON 

Tour de l’Abitibi founder 

Léandre Normand 

The The 50th anniversary of the 

legendary Tour de l’Abitibi was 

held July 16-22 in northwestern 

Quebec, some 600 kilometres 

north of Montreal and 800 kilometres 

from Toronto, Ont. 

Founded by Léandre Normand back 

in 1969, the event highlighted riders 

and the racing scene from small towns 

such as Amos and Val-d’or in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue 

region, where mining 

for minerals such as gold and zinc 

is a key part of the communities. And 

hockey as well – lots of hockey. 

But every summer for the past 50 years, the region has been overrun by 

Spandex, as it plays host to the iconic cycling stage race Tour de l’Abitibi for 

junior riders, which has become renowned around the globe. The towns embrace 

it and come out by the hundreds to volunteer and line the roadways to 

cheer on the next generation of cyclists. 

Cycling hero Pierre Harvey, honorary president of this year’s 50th-anniversary 

Tour, credits the race with giving him the confidence to launch his career, 

which included competing at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal before 

competing in the 1984 Winter Olympics. Harvey was the first Canadian male 

athlete to compete in both a winter and summer Games. 

“This was my first big result, and it convinced me that I had some potential,” 

said Harvey. “From there, I became more confident and invested all I had 

to get as far as I could. Soon after, I succeeded in participating in four Olympic 

Games, but my journey began in Abitibi. I went to school in Abitibi to learn 

about cycling.” 

As the only North American stop out of eight competitions that comprise 

the UCI Juniors Nations Cup, its humble beginning saw 52 cyclists on the start 

line for three stages. Fifty years later, more than 4,000 riders from 45 countries 

have pedalled their lanky cabooses through the northern region of Quebec 

dotted with small towns. 

The famous seven-stage race has included competitors from outside Quebec 

since 1973, and European teams have been attending since the early 1980s. In 

1986, The Netherlands’ Michael Zanoli, the reigning junior world champion, 

won the Tour. According to Marc Lemay, former president of Cycling Canada, 

the Tour de l’Abitibi began as a season-end race similar to the three-stage Cyclo-Nordo 

Challenge, already organized by Normand and his brother Yvan, with 

cyclists from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region competing. Soon after, teams 

from Montreal and Ontario joined in, 

as well as other Quebec riders. 

In 1981, the first international team 

from France participated and the Tour 

received its first UCI sanction, becoming 

a juniors-only race. The original 

format was point-to-point, but a “star” 

system was later adopted that “likely 

saved the Tour,” said Lemay, even 

though he admits he wasn’t in favour 

of it at first. 

Under the new “star” system, all 

stages finished in the same town, 

Inaugural Tour winner Gerald 

Rocheleau still has his trophy. 

Louis Garneau: a huge stepping 

stone in his cycling career. 


which acted as the host for that particular year. With four towns involved – 

Rouyn-Noranda, Amos, Val-d’Or, La Sarre – and a two-year mandate for each, 

the Tour was guaranteed for eight more years. 

The Tour de l’Abitibi debuted in 1969 in the town of Amos, with Gerald 

Rocheleau crossing the finish line first. Decades later, the list of Tour winners 

and participants has grown to include some of the world’s greatest cyclists, 

from top Canadians Steve Bauer and Alex Stieda (winner in 1980) to France’s 

Laurent Jalabert and Americans Bobby Julich and Andy Hampsten. 

For Rocheleau, his trophy from Tour de l’Abitibi is the only one he’s kept 

after all these years. “It was the first time I was taking part in such a big race. 

Legendary Pierre Harvey, 

winner in 1975 and honorary 

president of this year’s 

50th-anniversary Tour. 

There were people sitting in patio chairs around the course to look at us pedaling,” 

Rocheleau says. “I still have the trophy that I won there, and it stayed 

for a long time in my kids’ bedroom. I got rid of my other trophies, but not 

this one.” 

The race has not only become a unique competition in Canada, but also a 

crucial one for young riders who dream of making their mark in the world of 

international cycling, according to Louis Barbeau, director-general of Quebec’s 

Cycling Federation (FQSC). 

“The Tour of Abitibi has been and still is an essential event in the development 

of young riders for 50 years. For most junior riders who have participated 

in this event, it has been their first contact with the international scene and a 

chance to measure themselves against some of the best athletes in the world,” 

says Barbeau. “We are very fortunate to have such an event in Quebec and in 

Canada and very grateful to the organization that has relentlessly worked hard 

over the years to offer an amazing race to our athletes.” 

The crowds and the volunteers are part of what makes the race so memorable 

and so thrilling for the young riders often cutting their teeth on their first 

races with international competition. When you start a race with passionate 

people at the helm, this positively influences its race volunteers and its surrounding 

region. 

Such is the case with the Tour de l’Abitibi, which began with founder Normand 

and a group of cycling zealots from the Abitibi area. “We can say that it’s 

about a bunch of passionate people, not to say maniacs, crazy about cycling, 

who, at this given time, started to focus on something other than hockey,” says 

Normand. “I was avidly reading cycling magazines, and we then decided in a 

joint move to get together and organize a stage race and showcase genuine 

Abitibian experiences. It just kept on expanding.” 


Over the years, many of the most notable North American cyclists attended 

the race, with the exception of Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong. For Steida, 

the first North American to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey and winner 

of the Tour de l’Abitibi back in 1980, it was a chance to compete against the 

best and helped hook him on cycling. “Winning Abitibi 38 years ago feels like 

a dream,” said Steida. “It was so long ago, we [the British Columbia provincial 

team] really didn’t know what we were doing then. We were just racing hard 

and aggressive every day. Back then, we were restricted to a 50x15, so my 

track-racing background helped me a lot. My hockey experience gave me the 

power. I had great teammates with me who absolutely sacrificed for me. I can’t 

thank them enough. It was that feeling of shared accomplishment that drew 

me deeper into the sport.” 

For Louis Garneau, it was a huge stepping stone in his cycling career. “The 

Tour of Abitibi was one of my first big races as a junior, in 1975 and 1976, and 

I will never forget the experience. The Tour de l’Abitibi has always been a big, 

well-organized race, and teams from all over are participating year after year. 

This race did a lot for me to gain experience and helped propel me to the forefront 

of racing. My junior years were very formative and launched my career all 

the way to the Olympics. They did the same for my son William, who raced in 

Abitibi in 2007 and again in 2008 as part of Team Canada – on his way to the 

World Championships. Abitibi was a big part of both our junior careers, and I 

want to send them my warmest congratulations on the occasion of their 50th 

anniversary, a true milestone in a great organization’s history. Happy 50th, and 

all the best for the next 50 editions,” said Garneau. 

The event has played an important role for Cycling Canada as well. “Abitibi 

has long played a pivotal role in the development of some of Canada’s best 

male cyclists. We are fortunate and incredibly grateful to have such a passionate 

community that has sustained such a successful and impactful event,” 

commented Matthew Jeffries, interim CEO and director of marketing at Cycling 

Canada. 

The Abitibi-Temiscamingue has been a proud partner since the beginning. 

“It’s a unique event in North America. In addition to highlighting the cyclists’ 

next generation, it has also made our region, Abitibi-Temiscamingue, shine for 

50 years,” said Emilien Larochelle, the chairman of Tourisme Abitibi-Témiscamingue. 

Released for its 50th-anniversary celebrations, a book entitled La Route des 

Champions chronicles each and every race as well as the history of the event, 

penned by Normand, along with Olivier Grondin and Emelie Rivard-Boudreau. 

On July 21, a tribute evening was held that included the first five nominees 

inducted to the Tour de l’Abitibi Hall of Fame (see page 30). Earlier in the day, 

a Tour of Legends race featured participants from the past 49 years of racing. 

For Normand, who managed the race for the first 10 years, the Tour’s growth 

and evolution are top of mind. “What makes me the most proud is that it’s still 

there 50 years later,” he says. “For me, it’s this longevity, rather than the international 

scope and reputation it has acquired throughout the years, that matters 

most.” 

For more information, visit www.tourabitibi.qc.ca. 

Hundreds of proud volunteers 

are the backbone of the Tour. 


Catch the Feeling... 

Canadians Shine 

at 50th Edition of 

Tour de l’Abitibi 

B.C.’s Pickrell Wins Three Stages 

Final jerseys at 50th Tour de l’Abitibi 

(l-r): Conor Martin (CAN),Riley Pickrell 

(CAN), Riley Sheehan (USA), Michael 

Garrison (USA) 

TOUR DE L’ABITIBI 

Canada’s cycling hubs 

www.fqsc.net 

ontariocycling.org 

cyclingbc.net 

albertabicycle.ab 

saskcycling.ca 

velo.nb.ca 

The 50th edition of the Tour de l’Abitibi on July 16-22 concluded with 

Team Canada’s Riley Pickrell winning his third stage and taking the 

overall Points jersey for the competition. Riley Sheehan led a Team USA 

sweep of the overall podium, and became only the fourth rider in the history 

of the event to win in both years that he raced. Kendrick Boots was second and 

Michael Garrison finished third overall. 

Conor Martin (TaG Cycling) was the top Canadian in the overall standings, 

finishing 10th, and also took the polka dot jersey as the top climber. He finished 

third in the Best Young Rider category as well. Team Canada placed 

fourth in the Teams Classification, which was won by the U.S.A. 

“The race was far more than I expected,” admitted Pickrell. “The strength of 

the international field is shocking, and to come away with three stage wins is 

surreal. Abitibi was amazing. It is by far the favourite stage race I’ve competed 

in, due to the sportsmanship and fellowship created by hard international 

racing. I was often amazed by the speed of the peloton as we flew through the 

Abitibi countryside.” 

Team Canada was directed by Scott McFarlane, owner of Canadian Professional 

development team Silber Pro Cycling, for the first five stages, with Kevin Field, 

road program manager at Cycling Canada, taking over for the final two stages. 

The only North American stop on the UCI Junior Men’s Nations Cup, Tour 

de l’Abitibi has seen legendary cyclists begin their careers here, such as Steve 

Bauer, Alex Stieda, Pierre Harvey, Louis Garneau and Laurent Jalabert. – JC 

cycling.mb.ca 

Cycling Yukonnaise 

Association Association 

of Yukon Cycliste 

sportyukon.com 

www.bnl.nf.ca 

bicycle.ns.ca 

www.cpei.ca 

www.cyclingcanada.ca 

Tour de l’Abitibi 

July 16-22, 2018 – Val-d’Or, Quebec 

Final GC 

1. Riley Sheehan (USA, Team USA) 14.05:15; 2. Kendrick Boots (USA, Team USA) 

0:19; 3. Michael Garrison (USA, Team USA); 4. Sam Cook (NZL, Desjardins Ford 

p/b Cromwell) 0:22; 5. Taisei Hino (JPN, Team Japan) 0:33; 6. Sean Quinn (USA, 

Team USA) 0:38; 7. Tom Mainguenaud (FRA, Team France) 0:42; 8. Burnie McGrath 

(NZL, Team New Zealand) 0:53; 9. Antonin Corvaisier (FRA, Team France) 0:59; 10. 

Conor Martin (CAN, TaG Cycling Race Team) 1:02; 11. Robin Plamondon (CAN, 

Team Canada) 1:04; 12. Madi Hartley-Brown (NZL, Team New Zealand); 13. Tristan 

Jussaume (CAN, Team Canada) 1:06; 14. Ethan Sittlington (CAN, Team Ontario) 1:07; 

15. Drew Christensen (NZL, Team New Zealand) 1:08. 

Final Jerseys 

Brown Jersey Riley Sheehan (USA, Team USA); Points Classification Riley Pickrell 

(CAN, Team Canada); Best Climber Conor Martin (CAN, TaG Cycling Race Team); 

Best First-Year Junior Michael Garrison (USA, Team USA). 


Woods 

Makes 

History 

at Vuelta 


COR VOS 

Canada’s Michael Woods (EF Education 

First-Drapac) continued his incredible season 

with a stellar performance at the 2018 Vuelta a 

España, from Aug. 25 to Sept. 16, taking a fabulous victory on the 

157km Stage 17 from Getxo to Balcón de Bizkaia for his first-ever Grand 

Tour stage win. 

He celebrated in the fog, raising a single hand as he came across the line 

in first, too tired to truly celebrate. And then he began to cry. His amazing win 

was overshadowed by the tragic loss of his son earlier this year, after he and 

his wife suffered a stillborn last July. 

“My wife had a stillbirth two months ago,” Woods said in a heartbreaking post-race 

interview. “We lost the little guy. His name was Hunter. The whole time I was going 

up the climb, I was thinking of him. I wanted to win so badly for him, and I did it.” 

This would be the driving force that pushed Woods up the final excruciating 

480-metre, 18% climb of the Balcón de Bizkaia, putting him out front of all 

competing rivals, including top riders such as Vincenzo Nibali (ITA, Bahrain-Merida) 

and Rafal Majka (POL, BORA-hansgrohe), as well as Dylan 

Teuns (BEL, BMC Racing Team) and David de la Cruz (ESP, Team Sky). 

Teammate Simon Clarke, already a stage winner at the 2018 Vuelta a, 

España had dedicated himself to Woods, marking all attempts from the 

leading group. Launching his own attack at the beginning of the final 

climb softened the legs of the breakaway, but it was the upper slopes 

that were the most decisive. 

De la Cruz set a tempo that saw all but Woods, Majka and Teuns 

fall away in the final 3 km. Woods marked an attack by Teuns and 

another by De la Cruz before launching his own to take the win. 

It took everything Woods had on the final brutal climb and he 

left it on the road. Woods finished five seconds in front of Teuns 

and 10 seconds ahead of De la Cruz, becoming the second-ever 

Canadian to win a stage at the Spanish Vuelta. 

“I had Juanma [Garate, EF Pro Cycling sport director] in my 

ear telling me to do it for my family, and I just channeled all 

my energy into thinking how tough this year has been,” said 

Woods. “I used my little guy Hunter as inspiration.” 

The emotional victory marked a milestone for Woods, who 

finished second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège this year and was 

also a close second at a stage of the Giro d’Italia. There was 

a feeling of not “if,” but “when” with Woods. 

“To win is great,” said Jonathan Vaughters, EF Pro Cycling CEO. 

“To overcome the sadness he and his wife have been through truly 

makes me grateful & humble [in having] someone like Mike amongst us.” 

Woods had been dubbed “Mr. Fourth Week” by the team for his 

increasing strength as the Grand Tour went on. Stage 17 marked what 

was likely his last opportunity to make optimal use of his form. 



Matthews Wins 

Both Canadian 

WorldTours 

Boivin Top Canuck 

Guillaume Boivin was the 

top Canadian at both 

WorldTour races in Quebec. 


Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) emulated fellow Australian Simon 

Gerrans (BMC Racing Team) when he won both races of the 2018 

Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal this year, as his compatriot 

did in 2014. 

Matthews proved to be the best man of the day on Sept. 7 at the ninth edition 

of the Grand Prix de Québec, which saw riders take on 16 hilly laps of the 

12.6km course around the Quebec City centre. The 201.6km route amounted 

to more than 3,000 metres of vertical climbing, finishing with a final sprint 

between Matthews, Greg Van Avermaet (BEL, BMC) and Jasper Stuyven (BEL, 

Trek-Segafredo) in the last 500 metres. 

Famously won by Peter Sagan (SVK, BORA-hansgrohe) in the last two editions, 

along with Rigoberto Uran (COL, Team EF Education First-Drapac p/b 

Cannondale) and Gerrans, the course is known for some rigorous punchy 

climbs, such as two 350+-metre climbs at more than 9% and a 165-metre climb 

at 13% within the final 3.5 kilometres. 

After two kilometres, five riders distanced themselves from the peloton, including 

Team Canada’s Rob Britton, Bruno Langlois and Alex Cataford. Accompanied 

by Guy Sagiv (Israel Cycling Academy) and Nicolas Dougall (Dimension 

Data), the break stayed away until two laps to go, before British rider Peter 

Kennaugh bridged and attacked alone with 16 kilometres to the finish. 

Kennaugh pushed hard for the win, but was caught with only 400 metres 

remaining by a storming BMC Race team, as they lined up Van Avermaet for 

the final sprint. Yet it was Matthews who created a definitive gap, crossing the 

line on the uphill finish in first, solidifying himself on top of the podium, with 

Van Avermaet in second and Stuyven in third. The top Canuck was Guillaume 

Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) in 21st, who showed good form after returning 

from a recent injury. 

Australia’s Michael Matthews 

did the double, taking backto-back 

victories in Quebec. 

With a Quebec City victory on his palmares, Matthews, aka “Bling,” still 

had enough strength to upstage Italian Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) two 

days later at the finish of the Grand Prix de Montréal, making it two Canadian 

victories in succession. 

Belgium’s Van Avermaet, second in Quebec, had to be content with third at 

the 16-lap, 195.2km race around Montreal. 

It took only one lap to see a five-man group emerge comprised of Canadians 

Hugo Houle (Astana Pro Team), Adam Roberge (Team Canada), Nigel Ellsay 

(Rally Cycling Team) and Charles-Etienne Chretien (Team Canada), as 

well as British rider Owain Doull (Team Sky). The peloton let them go and 

their lead reached five minutes at the end of the fourth lap to top out at 5:45 

shortly afterward. 

The break stayed away most of the day, but was finally caught near the end, 

and at 35 kilometres to go, Slovenia’s Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) attacked, 

and was quickly joined by compatriot Jan Polanc (UAE, Team Emirates). Soon 

after they were joined by Austria’s Gregor Muehlberger (BORA-hansgrohe). 

On the final ascent of Camillien-Houde, the three were caught by James 

Knox (GBR, Quick-Step Floors), 2015 winner Belgian Tim Wellens and Jakob 

Fuglsang (DEN, Astana Pro Team). But this small break was run down, and 

Dane Michael Valgren (Astana Pro Team) made the first move with less than 

one kilometre to go. In the final stretch, Matthews overtook Valgren, avenging 

a disappointing season with a second victory in Canada, sharing the podium 

with Colbrelli in second and Van Avermaet in third. 

Like he was in Quebec City, Boivin, with the help of his Israel Cycling Academy 

teammates, was the best Canadian, finishing 19th. 

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec et Montréal 

Sept. 7-9, 2018 

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 

1. Michael Matthews (AUS, Team Sunweb) 5:04:17; 2. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL, BMC 

Racing Team); 3. Jasper Stuyven (BEL, Trek-Segafredo); Canadians 21. Guillaume 

Boivin (CAN, Israel Cycling Academy). 

Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 

1. Michael Matthews (AUS, Team Sunweb) 5:19:27; 2. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA, Bahrain- 

Merida); 3. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL, BMC Racing Team); Canadians 19. Guillaume 

Boivin (CAN, Israel Cycling Academy). 

PHOTOS: TIM O’CONNOR 


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2018 MTB XCO Nationals 

Emily Batty and Peter Disera Headline –13 Titles Awarded 

Jersey winners at the 2018 Canadian 

MTB XCO Championships 

at Canmore, Alta. 

PHOTOS: CHRIS REDDEN 

Superb conditions greeted riders, with 13 titles awarded at the 2018 Canadian XCO Championships on 

July 21, headlined by Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory) and Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory), defenders 

of their Elite women’s and men’s titles respectively at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta. 

Elite Women’s Race 

BBatty was the clear favourite in the Elite women’s six-lap 22.5km race, with 

perennial rival Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) still recovering from an injury. 

Coming off three back-to-back podiums in Europe on the UCI MTB World 

Cup circuit, Batty gunned it from the start and took no prisoners with a 3:40 

gap at the finish for her third consecutive title. 

“It’s great to win the title again,” said Batty at the finish. “With lots of travel 

recently and having just returned from Europe, you never know, but I felt 

good. I was under pressure by the other girls for the first couple of laps, but I 

raced the course like a World Cup, as anything can go wrong.” 

Sandra Walter (BC, Liv Canada) took the silver after she battled with Haley 

Smith (ON, Norco Factory), who was ahead during the opening laps, but flatted, 

opening the door for Walter, who passed Smith and hammered on to extend 

her lead to 2:20 over her rival. At the finish, Smith settled for the bronze. 

“It’s great to have the opportunity to continue my strong results from Europe 

at home,” said Walter. “I was really motivated when I got by Haley following 

her flat, and really started pushing it until the finish.” 

Elite Men’s Race 

The Elite men’s seven-lap 22.5km race saw early action with defending champion 

Disera taking an early lead, but Raphael Gagné (QC, Silverback OMX), the 

winner in 2016, took over, gaining a strong gap of 52 seconds by the final lap. 

Fate was not on Gagné’s side, as a flat forced him into the pits for a wheel 

change, with Disera passing him and solo’ing to victory to defend his National 

title. Gagné recovered to take the silver, while Léandre Bouchard (QC, KMC- 

Ekoi-SR Suntour) took the bronze. 

“I wasn’t on today, and didn’t feel fantastic. I spent all my matches at the 

beginning trying to get a gap, but Raph counter-attacked and then the gap 

grew,” said Disera. “I wasn’t riding clean and was upset with myself the entire 

race. It was tough and it hurt, but it always does. Then when I finally accepted 

that I’d be second, I saw Raph in the pits on the last lap and gave it my all to 

the finish. Hats off to Raph – he rode amazing. I’m really happy with this victory, 

but that’s racing sometimes.” 

“I have a lot of reasons to be happy, but one reason [a silver medal] that is 

tough to swallow,” said Gagné. “It’s going to take a while to get over this one. 

But I’d rather have good legs and not deliver than the opposite, so I’m happy 

with my fitness. Today, I was strongest. I think I proved it, but sometimes you 

need a bit of luck. That’s racing.” 

U-23/Junior Women’s Race 

Laurie Arseneault (QC, ACQ) took an early lead and never looked back to win 

the U-23 women’s title over Emily Unterberger (BC, Pendrel Racing), who 

moved up well during the race to claim second. Sophianne Samson (QC, CVM 

Sigma Assurance) was third. Roxanne Vermette (QC, Équipe du Québec) defended 

her title as the junior women’s champion. 


World Cup star Emily Batty handily 

defended her Elite women’s title. 

U-23/Junior Men’s Race 

In the U-23 men’s race, Sean Fincham (BC, Forward Racing Norco) was unstoppable 

as he quickly established a gap and moved up well through the Elite 

men’s field – with a two-minute gap – to finish fourth overall. Marc-André 

Fortier and Raphael Auclair, both with Team Pivot-OTE, were second and third 

respectively. In the junior men’s race, it was Carter Woods (Cycling BC) who 

claimed the title. 

Masters Races 

Amy Woodward-Kennedy (AB, Cyclemeisters) won the Master Expert 30-39 

women’s title, while Denise Hill (AB, Bowcycle/Cyclemeisters) took home the 

Master Expert 40+ women’s jersey. 

The Master Expert 30-39 men’s National title went to Drummond Lawson 

(BC, Steed Cycles), while Travis Hauck (BC) claimed the Master Expert 50+ men’s 

crown, with Don Larsen (BC) winning the Master Expert 50+ men’s jersey. – JC 

Laurie Arsenault took an early 

lead in the U-23 women’s race 

and never looked back. 

Defending Elite men’s champion 

Peter Disera took home his second 

consecutive National jersey. 

Canadian MTB XCO Championships 2018 

July 19-22, 2018 – Canmore, Alta. 

Elite Men 1. Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team XC) 1:37:50.9; 2. Raphael 

Gagné (QC, Silverback OMX Pro Team) 00:49.8; 3. Léandre Bouchard (QC, KMC- 

EKOI-SR Suntour) 01:04.8; 4. Andrew L’Esperance (NS, Forward Racing-Norco) 

04:00.9; 5. Evan Guthrie (BC) 04:59.6; Elite Women 1. Emily Batty (ON, Trek 

Factory Racing) 1:37:25.4; 2. Sandra Walter (BC, Liv Cycling Canada) 03:40.4; 

3. Haley Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team XC) 06:00.9; 4. Cindy Montambault 

(QC, Trek GPL) 09:19.1; 5. Jenn Jackson (ON, AWI Racing) 11:21.0; U-23 Men 1. 

Sean Fincham (BC, Forward Racing-Norco) 1:23:27.8; 2. Marc-André Fortier (QC, 

Pivot Cycles-OTE) 02:38.2; 3. Raphael Auclair (QC, Pivot Cycles-OTE) 02:45.3; 

4. Quinton Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team XC) 02:56.5; 5. Félix Longpré (QC, 

Équipe du Québec/Club Cycliste Mont-Ste-Anne) 05:00.1; U-23 Women 1. Laurie 

Arseneault (QC, ACQ) 1:31:28.8; 2. Emily Unterberger (BC, Pendrel Racing) 

01:24.4; 3. Sophianne Samson (QC, CVM Sigma Assurance) 02:24.3; 4. Juliette 

Tétreault (QC, Skinouk-VDM/Van Dessel p/b Hyperth) 03:17.8; 5. Mackenzie Myatt 

(NS, Cyclesmith Cycling Club) 06:20.9; Junior Men 1. Carter Woods (BC, Cycling 

BC) 1:11:28.6; 2. Holden Jones (BC, Pendrel Racing) 02:43.3; 3. Colton Woods 

(ON, Team Ontario/Trek Store CC) 04:14.6; Junior Women 1. Roxane Vermette 

(QC) 1:12:29.1; 2. Emilly Johnston (BC, Trek BC Devo) 00; 3. Mireille Larose- 

Gingras (QC, Vélo Cartel X BL Coaching) 03:00.0; Cadet Men 1. Xavier Roy 

(QC, Vélo XTRM Amos) 1:04:31.7; 2. Owen Clark (ON, Team Ontario/Homestead 

Racing) 01:16.3; 3. Darwin Orsler (AB, Team Alberta) 01:53.1; Cadet Women 

1. Julianne Sarrazin (QC, Équipe du Québec/Vélo Pays-d’en-Haut) 57:03.6; 2. 

Juliette Larose-Gingras (QC, Vélo Cartel X BL Coaching) 00:40.9; 3. Julia Hill (AB, 

Team Alberta/Cyclemeisters) 00:41.0; Team Relay 1. Norco Factory Team XC 

(Quinton Disera, Gunnar Holmgren, Haley Smith, Peter Disera) 48:57; 2. Team 

Quebec 1 (Felix Longpre, Philippe Truchon, Cindy Montambault, Felix Longpre) 

1:42; 3. Team Pivot Cycle-OTE (Raphael Auclair, Felix Belhumeur, Frederique 

Trudel, Marc-André Fortier) 1:56; 4. Cycling BC Eh (Holden Jones, Rhys Verner, 

Emilly Johnston, Evan Guthrie) 2:48; 5. Team Ontario “Dream Team” (Brody 

Sanderson, Colton Woods, Erica Leonard, Tyler Clark) 3:26; Master 30-39 Women 

1. Amy Woodward-Kennedy (AB, Cyclemeisters) 1:20:12.8; 2. Caitlin Callaghan 

(AB, Hardcore CC) 02:53.2; 3. Jennifer Perry (AB, Independent) 02:54.7; Master 

40+ Women 1. Denise Hill (AB, Bowcycle/Cyclemeisters) 1:17:30.7; 2. Jill Cody 

(AB, Deadgoat Racing) 07:55.0; 3. Michelle Jackman (AB, Terrascape Racing) 

11:15.2; Master 30-39 Men 1. Drummond Lawson (BC, Steed Cycles) 1:21:43.0; 

2. Blaine Sherman (AB, Redbike) 00:34.6; 3. Eric Peace (AB, Onyerleft) 01:54.0; 

Master 40-49 Men 1. Travis Hauck (BC) 1:16:13.8; 2. Simon Dove (AB, RMCC) 

00:14.9; 3. Aroussen Laflamme (QC, Club Cycliste Mont-Ste-Anne) 01:38.7. 



New Road Champions Crowned 

BY TIM O’CONNOR 

New National champions donned the Maple Leaf jersey at the 2018 Global 

Relay Canadian Road Championships p/b Quebecor on June 21-24 

in Saguenay, Que. 

Originally awarded to the city of Kamloops, B.C., financial difficulties resulted 

in the Championships being moved to the amalgamated city of Saguenay, 

located two hours north of Quebec City. 

With the late cancellation of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay this year 

due to its timing conflict with the G7 Summit in Quebec, organizers of the 

Grand Prix Saguenay were eager to take on the organization and the hosting of 

the National Road Championships. 

Antoine Duchesne captures 

the Elite men’s road title. 

PHOTOS: PIERRE BOUCHARD 

quickly built a gap of a minute. As the finish line approached, Maine jumped 

to claim the victory over Gibson, with Bergen taking the bunch sprint for third. 

“My whole team just laid it all out there, and we raced really well together 

and trusted each other. I think that’s what was most important in the end,” 

commented a smiling Maine post-race as she credited her Rally teammates for 

making it happen. 

Elite men’s ITT podium (l-r): 

Rob Britton, Svein Tuft, Alex Cataford 

Elite/U-23 Men 

IIn the Elite/U-23 men’s road race, it was Saguenay’s own Antoine Duschene 

(Groupama-FDJ) who was the victor in the 12-lap, 180km contest to claim his 

first National road-race jersey title. With extremely hot temperatures, many 

riders struggled in the oppressive conditions, resulting in only 28 of the 128 

starters finishing the race. In the U-23 category, Edward Walsh (T-Palm PCW) 

of Nova Scotia took home the title as the first in his category to take the Maple 

Leaf jersey, placing 10th overall. 

Racing without any teammates, Duschene was under pressure, but was up 

to the challenge. “The plan was to always be ahead, to never put myself in a 

position where I would have to chase. That’s what I did, and I was feeling really 

great today,” he said post-race in an interview with Pedal. 

Elite/U-23 Women 

Ottawa’s Katherine Maine (Rally) pulled the double in the Elite/U-23 road race, 

claiming National Championships in both the Elite and U-23 categories when 

she crossed the line ahead of Kinley Gibson (The Cyclery Racing) and Rally 

teammate Sara Bergen. 

The 20-year-old Maine was one of the early escapees in the 120km road race. 

When the break was reeled in, Maine was once again part of a new front group 

that quickly formed. Maine attacked the group along with Gibson and the two 

Junior Women and Men 

In the junior women’s 75.5km race, cadet rider Adele Desgagnes (Vélo Club 

Métropolitain-Quebecor) took the win, with Kaitlyn Rauwerda (NCCH Elite 

p/b MGCC) in second and Elizabeth Gin (Cycling BC) in third rounding out 

the podium. 

The 120km junior men’s race mirrored the Elite men’s contest in that it was 

a race of attrition, with a selection of eight riders emerging with three laps to 

go. Over the following 1.5 laps, this group was whittled down to four, and the 

selection continued. Finally, two riders emerged to contest the final, with Ben 

Katerberg (TaG Cycling) outsprinting Robin Plamondon (Équipe du Québec) 

for the victory, with Alexandre Poirier (Équipe du Québec) claiming the bronze. 

Time Trial Championships 

In the Elite women’s time trial, Winnipeg’s Leah Kirchmann (Sunweb) mastered 

the 25km out-and-back course to take her first Elite women’s title since 

2014, edging out Karol-Ann Canuel (Boels-Dolmans) by eight seconds and Kirsti 

Lay (Rally), who came in 39 seconds down for the bronze. 

Rally Cycling dominated the U-23 women’s test, sweeping the podium, with 

Sara Poidevin claiming the title, Gillian Elsay in second and Maine in third. 

Over on the men’s side, contre-le-montre legend Svein Tuft (Mitchelton-Scott) 

claimed his 11th National time-trial title, winning by 36 seconds over Rob 

Britton (Rally). The two dominated the field, with UnitedHealthcare’s Alex 

Cataford standing on the bottom step at the end of the day, having finished a 

distant 1:43 behind Tuft. 

As with the U-23 women’s time trial, one team swept the podium in the 

U-23 men’s contest. Silber Pro Cycling’s Adam Roberge took the National 

Championship, with teammates Nickolas Zukowsky and Adam Jamieson placing 

second and third. 


Criterium Results 

Silber Pro Cycling swept the podium again in the Elite/U-23 men’s Criterium. 

Zukowsky crossed the finish line first to claim both the Elite and U-23 National 

Championships, while Ryan Roth took the silver at six seconds behind, with 

Pier-André Côté in third. 

On the women’s side, Rally’s Bergen improved upon her bronze in the road 

race, solo’ing to the finish for the gold in the Criterium with more than a 

minute lead. Maine stood on the podium for her third time during National 

Championships week, outsprinting Kirchmann (Sunweb) for second overall, 

but also as champion in the U-23 category. 

U-23 men’s RR podium (l-r): 

Ben Perry, Antoine Duchesne, Nigel Ellsay 

Para-cycling Champions 

The Para-cycling Championships were also contested on Day Two. In the 

men’s tandem race, Daniel Chalifour and his pilot Jean Michel Lachance 

claimed the National Championship title, while in the women’s tandem, Robbie 

Weldon and Audrey Lemieux (Macogep Argon 18 Girondins p/b Mazda) 

emerged victorious. 

U-23 women’s ITT podium (l-r): 

Gillian Ellsay, Sara Poidevin, Katherine Maine 

Katherine Maine claimed her 

first Elite women’s road title. 

In handcycle competition, Holly Dapp (Team Ontario) won the women’s 

H1-2, Kara Douville (Team Alberta) won the combined women’s H3-5 

and men’s H1-2 category and Charles Moreau (Équipe du Québec) won the 

men’s H3-5 category. 

Marie-Eve Croteau (Équipe du Québec) took the women’s T1-2 tricycle 

title, while Mike Shetler (Équipe du Québec) won the men’s T1-2. The 

combined women’s and men’s C4-5 title was won by Marie-Claude Molnar 

(Équipe du Québec). 

Canadian Road Championships 2018 

June 21-24, 2018 – Saguenay/Chicoutimi, Que. 

Time Trial Elite Men 1. Svein Tuft (BC, Michelton-Scott) 46:38.26; 2. Rob Britton (AB, 

Rally Cycling) 35.9; 3. Alex Cataford (ON, UnitedHealthcare) 01:42.7; Junior Men 1. 

Ben Katerberg (BC, TaG Cycling Race Team); 2. Conor Martin (BC, TaG Cycling Race 

Team 0:47.2; 3. Jacob Rubuliak (BC, Cycling BC) 01:00.0; U-23 Men 1. Adam Roberge 

(QC, Silber Pro Cycling) 48:35.87; 2. Nickolas Zukowsky (QC, Silber Pro Cycling) 0:53; 

3. Adam Jamieson (QC, Silber Pro Cycling) 0:54; Elite Women 1. Leah Kirchmann (MB, 

Team Sunweb) 36:12.8; 2. Karol-Ann Canuel (QC, Boels Dolmans Cycling) 8:12; 3. Kirsti 

Lay (QC, Rally Cycling) 38.49; Junior Women 1. Simone Boilard (QC, Équipe du Québec) 

27:14.7; 2. Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (QC, Équipe du Québec) 01:13.6; 3. Kaitlyn 

Rauwerda (ON, NCCH Elite p/b MGCC) 01:32.0; U-23 Women 1. Sara Poidevin (AB, 

Rally Cycling) 37:33.63; 2. Gillian Ellsay (BC, Rally Cycling) 0:27; 3. Katherine Maine 

(ON, Rally Cycling) 0:46. 

Road Race Elite Men 1. Antoine Duchesne (QC, Groupama FDJ) 4:17:18; 2. Benjamin 

Perry (ON, Israel Cycling Academy); 3. Nigel Ellsay (BC, Rally Cycling); Junior Men 1. 

Ben Katerberg (BC, TaG Cycling Race Team) 3:11.55; 2. Robin Plamondon (QC, Équipe 

du Québec); 3. Alexandre Poirier (QC, Équipe du Québec) 0:08; U-23 Men 1. Edward 

Walsh (NS, T-Palm PCW) 4:24:01; 2. Noah Simms (ON, Toronto Hustle) 0:08; 3. Connor 

Toppings (AB, Probaclac/Devinci) 0:12; Elite Women 1. Katherine Maine (ON, Rally Cycling) 

3:20:41; 2. Kinley Gibson (AB, The Cyclery Racing) 0:02; 3. Sara Bergen (BC, 

Rally Cycling) 0:31; Junior Women 1. Adele Desgagnes (QC, Vélo Club Métropolitain-Quebecor) 

2:15.06; 2. Kaitlyn Rauwerda (ON, NCCH Elite p/b MGCC); 3. Elizabeth 

Gin* (BC, Cycling BC); U-23 Women 1. Katherine Maine (ON, Rally Cycling) 3:20:41; 2. 

Callie Swan (BC, Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic) 0:36; 3. Sara Poidevin (AB, Rally 

Cycling) 0:47. 

Criterium Elite/U-23 Men 1. Nickolas Zukowsky (QC, Silber Pro Cycling) 1:05:05; 2. 

Ryan Roth (QC, Silber Pro Cycling) 0:06; 3. Pier-André Côté (QC, Silber Pro Cycling) 

0:08; Junior Men 1. Riley Pickrell (BC, Cycling BC) 0:50:56; 2. Thomas Schellenberg 

(BC, Cycling BC/Applewood Garneau); 3. Robin Plamondon (QC, Équipe du Québec); 

Elite/U-23 Women 1. Sara Bergen (BC, Rally Cycling) 1:06:46; 2. Katherine Maine (ON, 

Rally Cycling) 1:06; 3. Leah Kirchmann (MB, Team Sunweb); Junior Women 1. Simone 

Boilard (QC, Équipe du Québec) 0:37:39; 2. Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (QC, Équipe du 

Québec) 0:01; 3. Elizabeth Gin (BC, Cycling BC) 0:45. 



James Picolli (l) and Svein Tuft: the 

latest and last Canadian winners 

of the Tour de Beauce. 

TIM O’CONNOR 


Canadians Shine 

at Tour de Beauce 

Quebec’s Piccoli Takes Home Biggest 

Win of his Career 

BY TIM O’CONNOR 

The 2018 Tour de Beauce on June 13-17 began under sunny skies in 

Saint-Georges, Que., and among the riders taking the start line for the 

33rd edition was Svein Tuft. Tuft, the last Canadian to win the legendary 

Tour back in 2008, was on loan to Team Canada from his WorldTour 

Mitchelton-Scott squad. 

The inclusion of Tuft may have been a good omen, as the week proved to be 

bountiful for the Canucks among the 19 teams and 120+ international field of 

racers in attendance. 

Team Canada mobs overall winner 

James Picolli in celebration. 

With a peloton comprised of North America’s top Pro teams such as Rally, 

UnitedHealthcare and Jelly Belly, along with such international Pro teams as 

JLT Condor (GBr) and Canel’s-Specialized (MEX), Team Canada arrived with a 

strong group of riders on loan from their respective Pro teams. 

In hot, windy conditions, Stage One featured 177 kilometres of rolling hills 

on the outskirts of beautiful Saint-Georges. While the day included a strong 

break of five riders, the parcours and a full peloton of fresh legs almost guaranteed 

the stage would come down to a small group or a bunch sprint. 

Making his Tour de Beauce debut, 21-year-old Pier-André Côté (Silber Pro 

Cycling) demonstrated his sprinting chops by moving to the front with 50 

metres remaining on the slightly uphill finish to take the biggest career win of 

his young career. 

Hailing from Saint-Henri-de-Lévis, less than an hour from the stage finish, 

Côté was able to take the win in front of friends and family, and appreciated 

the significance of his accomplishment. “I think that winning a stage at the 

Tour de Beauce is bigger for me than a podium at the Canadian Championships,” 

said the elated winner. 

With the win, Côté took the initial jerseys for General Classification (GC) 

Leader, Best Young Rider and Points. 

Stage Two promised to determine who the GC shakers and fakers were with 

a summit finish at the top of Mont-Mégantic, and the stage did not disappoint. 

The riders and caravan arrived in Lac Mégantic for the start amidst cool temperatures 

and with heavy dark clouds threatening rain throughout the region. 

Early in the 169km stage, a breakaway of three riders formed, including 

Canadian National champion Matteo Dal-Cin, who won the grueling stage last 

year. As the race progressed, weather conditions deteriorated, with heavy rains 

and a maximum temperature of 12°C, which caused some suffering in the peloton 

and seemed to keep things under control, with the breakaway’s gap never 

exceeding three minutes. 

As the race approached the foot of the 3,635-foot Mont-Mégantic, the rain 

intensified. With the summit shrouded in cloud, the breakaway was caught on 

the climb, and the race for victory was on. With less than four kilometres to go on 

the climb, Jack Burke of Squamish, B.C. (Jelly Belly) demonstrated his grinta with 

a decisive attack after more than four hours in saddle. He emerged alone from the 

mist at the summit to cross the line with a 30-second gap on his closest chaser. 

“Many people complained about the weather, but I love this type of day. It 

was great. Where I live, it always rains like that, without interruption,” explained 

Burke. 

With his win on the Queen stage, Burke took the yellow jersey. However, 

lurking in the background was UnitedHealthcare’s Serghei Tvetcov, who finished 

47 seconds behind in third. A renowned time trialist, Tvetcov was in a 

good position for the next day’s Individual time trial. 



As many predicted, the Stage Three (a) time trial came down to a battle between 

Tvetcov and Tuft, with Tvetcov edging the Canadian out for the win by 

15 seconds amidst controversy, as the organizers had some timing issues, initially 

naming Tuft the winner. While Burke had put in a solid time trial to finish 

12th, his 1:15 deficit was too much and Tvetcov moved into the leader’s jersey. 

Later that day, Stage Three (b), a short 77km rolling race, was won by Project 

303’s Griffin Easter, but did not produce any changes in the GC, with Tvetcov 

in yellow, Adam Roberge (Silber Pro Cycling) in second and Burke rounding 

out the top three. 

While Mont-Mégantic remains the undisputed Queen stage of the Tour de 

Beauce, the Stage Four Criterium in Quebec City is a regular fan favourite. With 

the race passing the provincial legislature, brushing past the Old City and having 

its start/finish on Quebec City’s glorious Grand Allée, the two-kilometre 

circuit guarantees fast racing, beautiful backdrops and large energetic crowds. 

Early in the race, a group of nine riders, including a number of Canadians, 

formed a breakaway. With none of the riders in the group threatening on the 

GC, UnitedHealthcare was happy to form a blue train on the front of the peloton 

and keep the breakaway on a leash. 

With four laps to go, Montreal native James Piccoli (Team Canada/KHS-Elevate) 

attacked the break and managed to ride solo to the line, finishing 46 

seconds ahead of the remnants of the breakaway and 1:04 ahead of the main 

pack. With his audacious raid in La Vieille Capitale, Piccoli managed to move 

up from 14th to eighth overall, now only 1:10 down on the leader Tvetcov. It 

was, at this point, the biggest win of his career. 


“Everything 

worked 

well. The opportunity 

came and the Canadian 

team played the card 

well. It’s a great win,” 

said an overjoyed Piccoli. 

The final, Stage Five 

of the Tour, was a winding, 

hilly urban route of 

122 kilometres. Although 

UnitedHealthcare’s 

Tvetcov had performed 

well on the 

Mont-Mégantic summit 

finish in Stage Two, the 

lumpy profile of the final 

stage and the fact that 

five separate riders from 

four different teams were 

sitting within one minute of him meant his UnitedHealthcare team had to be 

vigilant and expect threats from all sides throughout the day. 

Early in the race, Piccoli was able to slip away into a breakaway with an all-star 

cast of Canadians contributing, including Dal-Cin (Rally), Côté (Silber Pro Cycling), 

Jordan Cheyne (Team Canada-KHS Elevate) and Bruno Langlois (Team Quebec), as 

well as Daniel Whitehouse (Interpro Stradalli), who had started the day in ninth. 

As the race progressed, and realizing the threat up the road, United- 

Healthcare amassed at the front and chased after the breakaway, lap after lap 

of the 10.2km course. However, with Cheyne burying himself for Piccoli, and 

others in the break also putting in strong contributions to stay away, United- 

Healthcare was not having much success in bringing back the opportunistic 

group. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the stage win would come 

from the breakaway. 

Canada’s Jack Burke 

took a stunning 

solo victory on the 

Queen stage up 

Mont-Mégantic. 

The cohesion of the breakaway remained strong until near the end of the 

stage, and, once again, Silber Pro Cycling’s Côté took the sprint for the stage 

win. Piccoli finished fourth with the same time, and the exhausted Quebecer 

grabbed a patch of grass under a tree near the finish line with Cheyne and his 

other teammates, as Team Canada anxiously awaited the finish of the main 

pack that contained Tvetcov to see if they had a big enough gap. 

One minute and 36 seconds later, Tvetcov and the peloton crossed the line. 

Cheers erupted among the crowd, and Kevin Field, Canadian director sportif, 

leapt toward his riders, screaming, “We won! We won it all!” 

Piccoli collapsed into the embraces of his teammates and, among them was 

the last Canadian winner of the Tour de Beauce from a decade earlier, Svein Tuft. 

“I can’t believe it,” said Piccoli. “I never thought about it during the stage. I 

knew it was close with two laps from the end.” 

Another beneficiary of the breakaway was Great Britain’s Whitehouse, who 

climbed from ninth to second overall and pushed Tvetcov to the final step of 

the podium. 

“We had no idea it would play out the way it did,” said Piccoli. “With two stages 

to go, we were kind of hungry because the first part of the race had not gone to plan, 

but we vowed to fight on and make the race hard and attack and animate. The team 

did an incredible job. We tore the race to shreds and came out with the victory.” 

Reflecting on his veteran teammate Tuft being the last Canadian to win the 

race 10 years ago, Piccoli looked back to his first Tour de Beauce in 2012. “I remember 

Svein was there. When I was in the peloton, I totally looked up to 

him. I remember seeing him and thinking, ‘That’s a real bike rider.’ I aspired to 

one day be able to race like him, and to have him as a teammate this week has 

been surreal. I am super-happy.” 

2018 Tour de Beauce 

June 13-17 – Saint-Georges, Que. 

Final GC podium celebrations 

(l-r): Daniel Whitehouse, 

James Piccoli, Serghei Tvetcov 

Quebec’s Pier-André Côté was 

impressive with two stage victories. 

Final Results 

1. James Piccoli (CAN, Team Canada) 15:11:52; 2. Daniel Whitehouse (GBr, Interpro 

Stradalli Cycling) 00:11; 3. Serghei Tvetcov (ROU, UnitedHealthcare) 00:27; 4. Jack 

Burke (CAN, Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) 00:49; 5. Robert Britton (CAN, Rally Cycling) 01:03; 

6. Alexey Vermeulen (USA, Interpro Stradalli Cycling) 01:23; 7. Thomas Revard (USA, 

Hagens Berman Axeon) 01:32; 8. Keegan Swirbul (USA, Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) 02:17; 9. 

Jordan Cheyne (CAN, Team Canada) 02:23; 10. Svein Tuft (CAN, Team Canada) 02:28. 


BRIAN HODES BRIAN HODES

Canada Cup MTB Season Finale 


NICOLE BRADBURY 

Can MTB Cup XCO series winners (l-r): 

Holden Jones, Felix Burke, Jenn Jackson, 

Marianne Theberge 

The 2018 Canada Cup MTB series featured seven XCO rounds and three 

DH events, with the XCO action kicking off at Bear Mountain Resort in 

Victoria, B.C. 

The field was deep, thanks in part to the Team Canada training camp being 

held at the squad’s official headquarters during the same March weekend. A dry 

course meant fast conditions in the Elite women’s competition, as 2016 Rio 

Olympic bronze medalist Catharine Pendrel (BC, Clif Pro Team) assumed control 

from Haley Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team) in the second half of the first lap. 

Smith finished second, followed by U.S. young gun U-23 racer Haley Batten (USA, 

Clif Pro Team) in third, with Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) in fourth. 

The Elite men’s race saw Andrew L’Esperance (NS, Forward Racing-Norco) 

grab the top spot over some heavy hitters, including Olympian Léandre Bouchard 

(QC, KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour), who finished second, and Canadian champion 

Peter Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) in third. U-23 National champion Sean 

Fincham (BC, Forward Racing-Norco) was top U-23 and a strong fourth overall. 

Mireille Larose-Gingras (QC, Equipe du Quebec/Sigma Assurances) overcame 

a strong junior women’s pack to finish first in the season-opener ahead of fellow 

Quebecker Marianne Theberge (QC, Equipe du Quebec/Mathieu Performance). 

In the junior men’s competition, Holden Jones (BC, Pendrel Racing) took top 

spot in an exciting three-up sprint with Carter Woods (BC, Dodge City Cycles/ 

RMB/Cycling BC) and Denmark’s Markus Heuer (DEN, Danish National Team). 

Riders had to wait nearly two months until the next round in Baie-St-Paul, 

Que. in May. A date conflict with a World Cup gave Canada’s up-and-comers a 

chance to shine on the domestic circuit. In the Elite women’s race, Maghalie 

Rochette (QC, Clif Pro Team) took the reins and the win, finishing nearly two 

minutes ahead of first-year Elite and former National team Nordic skier Jenn 

Jackson (ON, AWI Racing), who scored enough points to pull on the leader’s 

jersey. Emily Unterberger (BC, Pendrel Racing) was the top U-23 in fourth overall, 

just behind teammate Elyse Nieuwold (ON, Pendrel Racing). 

The Elite men’s competition also saw a new young face on the top step – 

Quebec speedster Felix Burke (QC, Rocky Mountain). In his last year as a U-23, 

Burke stormed to the front of the race to capture his first Elite Canada Cup 

victory and take over the leader’s jersey. 

Theberge (QC, Equipe du Quebec/Mathieu Performance), who finished second 

in round one, bettered her result for the win in Baie-St-Paul and pulled 

into the series lead. The junior men’s contest remained heated between hotshots 

Jones (BC, Pendrel Racing) and Woods (BC, Dodge City Cycles/RMB/Cycling 

BC), with the latter getting the upper hand in this round to assume the 

Canada Cup lead. 

With bolstered confidence, Rochette (QC, Clif Pro Team) and Burke (QC, 

Rocky Mountain) continued where they left off at round three in Mont-Tremblant, 

Que., taking repeat wins in Elite women’s and men’s races respectively. 

In this round, Sophianne Samson (QC, CVM Sigma Assurance) earned top U-23 

status in fifth. 

Tereza Saskova (CZE, Ceska Sporitelna Specialized Junior) dominated the 

junior women’s contest, besting second-place Theberge (QC, Equipe du Quebec/Mathieu 

Performance). 

The fun moved to Ontario in June for the fourth and fifth rounds. Fresh 

off World Cups in Europe, Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team) continued her 

2018 campaign with wins at both Barrie Ont.’s Horseshoe Resort and the 


following weekend at Oro Station, Ont.’s Hardwood Ski and Bike. Laurie Arseneault 

(QC, Acquisio-ACQ) was the fastest U-23 on both days with a couple 

of fourths. 

Olympian Raphael Gagné (QC, Silverback OMX Pro Team) asserted dominance 

in the Elite men’s race at Horseshoe. Quinton Disera (ON, Norco Factory 

Team) earned top U-23 on the day, finishing third overall on his home track. 

Quinton Disera backed up his strong result the next weekend on a long, flowy 

“old-school” course at Hardwood with an overall Elite victory, followed by fellow 

U-23 Fincham (BC, Forward Racing-Norco). 

Canadian junior women’s champion Roxanne Vermette (QC, CC Mont-Ste- 

Anne) won both Ontario rounds, while Charles-Antoine St-Onge (QC, Équipe 

du Québec/Dalbix Siboire) earned a couple of wins in the junior men’s ranks. 

Whistler, B.C. hosted the penultimate round of the series at the end of June. 

Sandra Walter (BC, Liv Cycling Canada) won the Elite women’s race decisively 

over Nieuwold (ON, Pendrel Racing). Fellow B.C. rider Evan Guthrie (BC, Race 

Face/Fox/OTE) was the fastest Elite man of the day, besting second-place top 

U-23 rider Cole Paton (USA, Giant Factory Off-Road Team). 

Laurence Levesque (QC, Equipe du Quebec) earned the win in the junior 

women’s competition, with Woods (BC, Dodge City Cycles/RMB/Cycling BC) 

finishing 30 seconds in front of archrival Jones (BC, Pendrel Racing) to win the 

junior men’s race. 

New-venue Kentville, N.S. wrapped up the 2018 series, treating riders to a 

muddy, slick and rooty course that received great reviews. Smith (ON, Norco 

Factory Team) continued her streak, winning the Elite women’s race ahead of 

Jackson (ON, AWI Racing), who sewed up her overall series victory after a consistent 

season. Local Nova Scotia rider Mackenzie Myatt (NS, Cyclesmith CC) 

finished third, securing the top U-23 result. 

In the Elite men’s race, Fincham (BC, Forward Racing-Norco) earned his first 

Elite Canada Cup victory, escaping from local favourite L’Esperance (NS, Forward 

Racing-Norco). Burke (QC, Rocky Mountain) sat out the final round, but 

held on to take the series title. 

Krystel Gagnon (QC, Centre du Vélo Mascouche) won the final round in the 

junior women’s category, while Theberge (QC, Equipe du Quebec/Mathieu Performance) 

earned the series overall victory. In the junior men’s competition, 

William Côté (QC, Équipe du Québec) absolutely crushed it to win by nearly 

five minutes, while an absent Woods (BC, Dodge City Cycles/RMB/Cycling BC) 

secured the series title. 

Emilly Johnston (BC, Trek BC Devo) captured the U-17 women’s Canada 

Cup title, with Jakob Yells (BC, River City Cycle Club) taking the U-17 men’s 

overall victory. 

Downhill 

Classic-venue Mont-Tremblant, Que. opened the DH series, as Kristen Courtney 

(BC, Liv Cycling Canada) and Hugo Langevin (QC, Devinci Development) 

topped the Elite women’s and men’s fields respectively. Courtney won by 8.5 

seconds over second-place Audrée Vaillancourt (QC, Independent). Langevin’s 

cushion wasn’t quite so big, as he stopped the clock a mere second ahead of 

second-place Jonathan Lefrancois (QC, Devinci). 

Riders skipped across the country to B.C.’s Silver Star Mountain Resort for 

round two in mid-July, where Piper Allman (BC, Kovarik Racing) took first place 

ahead of Ainhoa Ijurco (ESP, Commencal) in the Elite women’s competition, and 

Langevin (QC, Devinci Development) made it two-for-two in the Elite men’s 

category, barely squeaking out a win over Chris Kovarik (BC, Kovarik Racing). 

Next up was B.C.’s Fernie Alpine Resort for round three, where Claire Buchar 

(BC, Kovarik Racing) sped to victory in the Elite women’s contest, finishing 

more than three seconds faster than Ijurco (ESP, Commencal). Kirk McDowall 

(BC, Dunbar Cycles Devinci) crushed his run, going more than five seconds 

faster than second-place Forrest Riesco (BC, Race Face, Kali, Ryders). 

The Canada Cup DH finals hit Whistler, B.C. during the hopping Crankworx 

MTB Festival, which made it an absolutely stacked race. Australia’s Tracey 

Hannah (AUS, Polygon UR), who is no stranger to the World Cup podium, beat 

second-place and top Canuck Casey Brown (BC, Trek Factory Racing) by 4.62 

seconds, while Canadian champion Vaea Verbeek (BC, Rocky Mountain) took 

third. In the end, after four events, it was Ijurco (ESP, Commencal) who earned 

the Canada Cup series overall. 

Aussies also dominated the Elite men’s competition, with World Cuppers 

Troy Brosnan (AUS, Canyon Factory Team) and Connor Fearon (AUS, Kona) 

scoring the first two spots. Top Canadian Magnus Manson (BC, Canyon/Fox 

Racing) had a stellar run, landing on the podium in third. After four events, 

Langevin (QC, Devinci Development) took home the Elite men’s series title, 

while Justin Clements (AB, Drift Racing) logged the top series ranking for junior-aged 

racers, in eighth overall. 

Final Overall Standings 

XCO 

Elite Men 1. Felix Burke (QC, Rocky Mountain) 850 points; 2. Andrew 

L’Esperance (NS, Forward Racing-Norco) 705; 3. Sean Fincham (BC, Forward 

Racing-Norco) 655; 4. Quinton Disera (ON, Norco Factory Team) 630; 5. Evan 

Guthrie (BC, Race Face/Fox/OTE) 575; Elite Women 1. Jenn Jackson (ON, 

AWI Racing) 945 points; 2. Haley Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team) 775; 3. 

Elyse Nieuwold (ON, Pendrel Racing) 580; 4. Maghalie Rochette (QC, Clif 

Pro Team) 530; 5. Cindy Montambault (QC, Trek-GPL) 485; Junior Men 1. 

Carter Woods (BC, Dodge City Cycles/RMB/Cycling BC) 370 points; 2. Holden 

Jones (BC, Pendrel Racing) 370; 3. William Côté (QC, Équipe du Québec) 

305; Junior Women 1. Marianne Theberge (QC, Equipe du Quebec/Mathieu 

Performance) 355 points; 2. Mireille Larose-Gingras (QC, Equipe du Quebec/ 

Sigma Assurances) 290; 3. Roxanne Vermette (QC, CC Mont-Ste-Anne) 285; 

U-17 Men 1. Jakob Yells (BC, River City Cycle Club) 355 points; 2. Owen Clark 

(ON, Homestead Racing) 355; 3. Jeremie La Grenade (QC, Skinouk-VDM) 327; 

U-17 Women 1. Emilly Johnston (BC, Trek BC Devo) 400 points; 2. Juliette 

Larose-Gingras (QC, Velo Cartel/BL Coaching) 355; 3. Nicole Bradbury (ON, 

NCCH p/b Franklin Templeton Investments) 325. 

DH 

Hugo Langevin claimed the 

Elite men’s overall Downhill title. 

Elite Men 1. Hugo Langevin (QC, Devinci Development) 640 points; 2. Jonathan 

Lefrancois (QC, Devinci) 440; 3. Antony Evans (BC, Sovereign Cycles) 421; 4. 

Kirk McDowall (BC, Dunbar Devinci Cycles) 315; 5. Chris Kovarik (BC, Kovarik 

Racing) 305; Elite Women 1. Ainhoa Ijurco (ESP, Commencal) 460 points; 2. 

Piper Allman (BC, Kovarik Racing) 455; 3. Laurie Citynski (BC, Intense/Graviti 

Driven) 295; 4. Kyleigh Stewart (BC) 270; 5. Bailey Goldstone (BC) 240. 

PETER KRAIKER 



UCI MTB World Cup Recap 

Canada’s Batty 3rd Overall 


ARMIN KÜSTENBRÜCK 

CROSS-COUNTRY 

Elite Women 

Things heated up quickly and early on the World Cup MTB circuit with the 

opening XCO round playing out under a late-summer South African sun in 

Stellenbosch on March 10, where Annika Langvad (DEN, Specialized 

Racing) came out swinging on a brand-new track to take the Elite 

women’s victory. As the hotly contested season continued, several 

different faces graced the podium until the last round, when the World Cup 

trophy finally belonged to speedster Jolanda Neff (SUI, Kross Racing). 

Round two in Albstadt, Germany almost felt like the season was 

starting again with the debut of new World Cup discipline XC Short 

Track (XCC) – an off-road Criterium 20 to 30 minutes in length on a 

compact course. If riders wished to compete for the overall World Cup 

title, earning points in the Short Track was essential. Langvad 

capitalized on her infamous horsepower and accelerated to the front 

of the women’s field to take the historic first win on the Friday evening. 

Sunday’s Albstadt XCO threw everyone for a muddy loop on a course 

that became nearly unrideable for all but Neff. Clearly back on form 

after a winter injury, she thrived in the conditions while the rest of her 

rivals struggled. She dominated the day, finishing more than two 

Haley Smith had a 

breakthrough season with 

two top-10 results. 

minutes ahead of second-place 

Yana Belomoina 

(UKR, CST Sandd American 

Eagle MTB Racing Team). 

Neff charged off the front 

again in round three in Nove 

Mesto Na Morava, Czech 

Republic, but couldn’t keep 

away from back-to-back 

Short Track winner Langvad, 

and the Great Dane took it in 

a sprint. Emily Batty (CAN, 

Trek Factory Racing) finally 

returned to her competitive 

self to finish fourth after a 

couple of disappointing 

performances in the first two 

rounds. This trend continued 

for the rest of the season and saw the Ontario native on the podium at 

every following XCO round, which she wrapped up with a stellar third 

in the overall standings. 

The XCO in Val di Sole, Italy went swimmingly for Maja Wloszczowska 

(POL, Kross Racing Team), who bagged her first World Cup win since 

2012, while Batty took second. Langvad, who maintained her perfect 

record in the XCC discipline by winning the event two days earlier, did 

not finish the XCO after a start crash cut her race short. 

The following weekend in Vallnord, Andorra saw another legendary 

racer regain the top step after a few years of chasing – 45-year-old 

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR, Team Merida-Gunn Rita) logged her 

30th World Cup victory and her first since 2015. Batty was third. The 

XCC saw a first-time winner in youngster Alessandra Keller (SUI, 

Thömus-RN Racing Team). 

Emily Batty took home five consecutive 

XCO podiums to claim third overall. 

The final two XCO rounds belonged to Neff. She landed a decisive 

win in Mont-Ste-Anne, Que., with Batty third in front of a home crowd 

and Haley Smith (CAN, Norco Factory Team) hurtling to her first-ever 

top-10 result with an eighth place in a breakout season. Neff’s win in La 

Bresse, France did not come easily, as she was forced to battle back 

from two separate flat tires. But fight she did in a most unyielding style, 

while Batty, who could almost taste the win, had to settle for second. 

While the last two XCO’s were Neff’s, the XCC’s were Langvad’s. 

Of the season’s six events, the powerhouse only missed one win. 

Catharine Pendrel’s (CAN, Clif Pro Team) season seemed off to a 

decent start when she logged the top Canadian result – a solid 

seventh – after chasing the podium for most of the day in Stellenbosch, 

but she would head back to Canada with underwhelming 

results in the first two European rounds in May. Disaster struck in June 

on her first weekend home when she crashed hard during training 

and broke her humerus – a large weight-bearing bone in her arm that 

would take months to heal. She returned to competition in August just 

in time for the final two World Cups. 

Elite Men 

After reigning Olympic and world champion Nino Schurter’s (SUI, 

Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) perfect 2017 season, the question was 

whether he could go undefeated again in 2018. The answer came in 

the toughest way for the Swiss rider at the end of the first World Cup 

in Stellenbosch, where he was outsprinted by powerful youngster Sam 

Gaze (NZL, Specialized Racing) at the line. Gaze bested a frustrated 

Schurter, who blew out of his pedal with metres to go. 

Round two in Albstadt saw Schurter take another hard hit in the 

debut Short-Track event. Suffering a mechanical, he was out of the 

running and relegated to a third-row start in the XCO race, while 

cyclocross star Mathieu Van der Poel (NED, Corendon-Circus) 

snatched the win and the pole position for Sunday’s event. Gaze 

finished second. Things didn’t go Gaze’s way in the XCO, however. 

Unable to hold the pace at the front, he then fell victim to a flat tire, as 

Schurter reasserted his place at the top. 

ARMIN KÜSTENBRÜCK 


Schurter was forced into a sprint again at the end of round three in 

Nove Mesto Na Morava, but this time he came out the winner in a 

photo finish over Anton Cooper (NZL, Trek Factory Team). After 

winning the Short Track, Gaze did not finish Sunday’s XCO when a 

hard fall took him out. 

Schurter went on to win round four in Val di Sole, but did not go 

unchallenged, as XCC winner Van der Poel took the early lead and 

climbing-machine Gerhard Kerschbaumer (ITA, Torpado Gabogas) 

closed the gap to Schurter. It looked like they would have to sprint it 

out, but Schurter attacked on the final descent to ensure it wouldn’t 

come to that. 

Kerschbaumer’s strong ride in Italy was a sign of things to come, 

as he went on to crush the competition in the thin air of Vallnord the 

following weekend, riding away from Schurter. Henrique Avancini 

(BRA, Cannondale Factory Racing), who won the XCC two days 

before, finished a strong fourth in the XCO. 

Next up was ruthless Mont-Ste-Anne, who took her share of victims. 

After Gaze won Friday’s XCC, he crashed in training and broke his 

wrist, ending his season early. In the XCO, favourite Schurter, who 

suffered a broken chain to wind up seventh, yet still managed to secure 

the overall title with one round to go. With Schurter out of the running, 

fellow countryman Mathias Flueckiger (SUI, Thömus-RN Racing Team) 

picked up the slack to capture his first World Cup victory. 

Van der Poel threw down the watts in the La Bresse XCC to grab 

his third win in the new discipline. The XCO belonged to Schurter, 

however, as he found redemption on a very slick track to take his 30th 

career World Cup win over a charging Kerschbaumer. 

It was a tough season for the Canadian men, with Raphael Gagné 

(CAN, Silverback OMX Pro Team) earning the country’s best result on 

home soil with a 25th place in Mont-Ste-Anne. Peter Disera (CAN, 

Norco Factory Team) powered to Canada’s strongest European result 

in Albstadt with a 28th-place finish. 

U-23 Men 

Sean Fincham (CAN, Forward Racing-Norco) was consistently 

Canada’s top U-23 men’s performer on the circuit. After sitting out the 

first round, where Quinton Disera (CAN, Norco Factory Team) earned 

the top Canuck honours with a 24th, Fincham went on to finish best 

Canadian in all of the subsequent rounds, highlighted by a 17th in 

Nove Mesto Na Morava and a 10th in Mont-Ste-Anne to wind up 26th 

in the overall standings. With three wins, the series title went to Petter 

Fagerhaug (NOR, Norwegian National Team). 

U-23 Women 

The Ghost Factory XC Team dominated the U23 women’s series, with 

Malene Degn (DEN, Ghost Factory Racing) grabbing her first World 

Cup win in the Stellenbosch. After that, teammate Sina Frei (SUI, Ghost 

Factory Racing) took over to win all of the remaining rounds in dominant 

fashion. In the end, Frei and Degn finished first and second in the 

series, respectively. Top Canadian overall was Sophianne Samson 

(CAN, CVM Sigma Assurance) in 31st after an impressive 11th-place 

ride on home turf in Mont-Ste-Anne, with Mackenzie Myatt (CAN, Team 

Canada) earning Canada’s best European result with a 19th in Andorra. 

DOWNHILL 

Elite Women 

The Downhill World Cup kicked off with a new Short Track on the 

rocky island of Losinj, Croatia. The 2017 Elite women’s series 

champion Myriam Nicole (FRA, Commencal/Vallnord) rose to the 

occasion, winning decisively by 3.5 seconds over Rachel Atherton 


Raphael Gagné: best result 

on home soil in 25th at Mont-Ste-Anne 

Miranda Miller 

finished 14th overall. 



(GBR, Trek Factory Racing), who struggled last year with injuries. 

Atherton wasn’t far off, however, and found her way to the top of the 

podium in four of seven rounds to capture the title with her consistency. 

Tahnee Seagrave (GBR, Transition Bikes/Muc-Off Factory Racing) 

quickly became Atherton’s closest rival, snapping up two wins and 

three top-three’s, but disqualification at the third round in Leogang, 

Austria haunted her when the final points were tallied, and she had to 

settle for second overall. 

The 2017 world champion Miranda Miller (CAN, Specialized) 

was the best-ranked Canadian, but she struggled to find her mojo 

all season, scoring only two top-10’s in the final two rounds – eighth 

in Mont-Ste-Anne and 10th in La Bresse – to finish the series in 

14th overall. 

Elite Men 

The Elite men’s battle for the Cup was one of the most exciting of all 

time, with legend Aaron Gwin (USA, The YT Mob) charging out of the 

gate to take the season’s first victory in Losinj. After that, it was all 

about Amaury Pierron (FRA, Commencal Vallnord), who took the 

inaugural World Cup win of his career at round two in Fort William, 

Scotland and followed it up with two more in Leogang and Val di Sole. 

At round five in Andorra, another Frenchman earned his debut World 

Cup win, Loris Vergier (FRA, Santa Cruz Syndicate). Then in Mont- 

Ste-Anne, world champion Loic Bruni (FRA, Specialized) finally found 

his way back to the top. After such a tumultuous season, it was no 

surprise when Enduro specialist Martin Maes (BEL, GT Factory 

Racing) turned everything on its ear to win the finale in La Bresse. The 

final points tally awarded Pierron the crystal trophy for his amazing 

season. Meanwhile, Finn Iles (CAN, Specialized) had a breakout 

season, punctuated by his first-ever Elite podium with a fifth place in 

Andorra. He also captured eighth in Val di Sole, behind fellow Canuck 

Mark Wallace (CAN, Canyon) in sixth. 

Sean Fincham was 26th overall 

in the U-23 men’s series. 

Finnley Iles earned his first 

Elite men’s podium in Andorra. 




FRASER BRITTON

Para-cycling Road 

Worlds Championships 

Team Canada Brings Home Seven Medals Including Four Gold 


Team Canada won seven medals 

and finished fifth overall in 

the team standings. 

JEAN-BAPTISTE BENAVENT 

Team Canada took home seven medals from the 2018 UCI Para-cycling 

Road World Championships that took place in Maniago, Italy on Aug. 

2-5, including four golds, two silvers and one bronze, to finish fifth overall 

in the team standings. 

The competition began with the time trial, and Canada was on the scoreboard 

early, courtesy of Alex Hyndman of Morpeth, Ont., who solidified a 

bronze medal in the men’s H3 Category Individual time trial. Hyndman finished 

the 13.6km race in 21:20.57, at 12.95 seconds behind winner Italy’s Fredrico 

Mestroni. Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que. finished 11th despite a 

crash, and Joey Desjardins of Hawksbury, Ont. followed in 12th. 

On Day Two, Canada was on fire as the team added another four medals by 

nightfall. Toronto, Ont.’s Shelley Gautier and Calgary, Alta.’s Michael Sametz 

defended their respective Individual time-trial titles and began another year of 

wearing their respective rainbow jerseys. 

Gautier’s victory in the 13.6km women’s T1 was her 13th gold medal and 

her eighth title in a row since 2010. For Sametz, it was his second career title in 

the 27.2km men’s C3 event, while Germany’s Matthias Schindler took second 

and Great Britain’s Benjamin Watson was third. 

Also moving into a podium position was defending world champion Tristen 

Chernove, settling for silver in the men’s C2 TT. Rounding out the banner day 

for Canada, Edmonton, Alta.’s Ross Wilson took home silver in the 13.6km 

men’s C1 competition. 

Day Three was the first day of the road races, and Gautier continued her 

unbroken victory streak, earning her 14th World Championship title by winning 

the 27.2km, two-lap women’s T1 event with a time of 1:05:36, a whopping 

8:13 ahead of Russia’s Yulia Sibagatova, with teammate Olga Tsybulskaia 

winning bronze. 

Moreau finished sixth in the 68km men’s H3 road race, only six seconds 

off the podium. Hyndman was 13th and Desjardins finished 15th. 

After three days of competition, Canada was sitting fifth in the overall 

team standings. 

On the final day of the Championships, Chernove successfully defended 

his men’s C2 road-race World Championship title over 12 other riders in a 

field sprint at the end of the 68km race. Alejandro Perea Arango of Colombia 

claimed the silver medal and Darren Hicks of Australia the bronze. 

Other Canadian results included Marie-Claude Molnar of St-Hubert, 

Que. finishing seventh and Keely Shaw of Saskatoon, Sask. in eighth for the 

women’s C4 category. Nicole Clermont of St-Denis de Brompton, Que. was 

10th in women’s C5 race, Wilson placed 14th in the men’s C1 category, 

while Sametz was also 14th in the men’s C3 competition. Canada’s lone 

entry in the men’s Tandem, Daniel Chalifour of Mont-Laurier, Que. and his 

pilot Jean-Michel Lachance of Quebec City, Que. finished seventh overall. 

“The international level in para-cycling is constantly rising,” said Sebastien 

Travers, head Para coach at Cycling Canada. “I’m glad to see we can keep up. 

Our athletes have achieved key performances, which have led to high results 

both in terms of medals and qualification points. It’s above expectations for 

the level we are currently at. We come out of this World Championships very 

satisfied with where we are two years from the [Tokyo 2020] Games. Besides the 

medals, we’re having top-five and top-eight performances from our newcomers, 

which shows that our NextGen coaches are doing a great job,” commented 

Travers after the event. 

Canada finished fifth in overall team standings with four golds, two silvers 

and one bronze. With Tokyo 2020 on the horizon, the Canadian National team 

looks for similar success in the coming two years. 


Continued from page 83 

Junior Women 

Valentina Holl (AUT, SRAM RockShox Factory Racing) completely 

dominated the junior women’s field, winning every single race by 

massive margins and posting times competitive with the Elites. Piper 

Allman (CAN, Kovarik Racing Magura Rider Development) was the 

only Canadian to race a single World Cup, finishing fourth in Mont-Ste- 

Anne and earning enough points for 10th in the series. 

Junior Men 

The junior men’s competition saw Thibaut Daprela (FRA, Commencal 

Vallnord) win five of seven races, with Kye A’Hern (AUS, Canyon) 

taking two victories. Daprela earned the series title, while Canada’s 

Lucas Cruz (CAN, Santa Cruz Syndicate) took the top Canuck spot in 

seventh overall. He landed four top-10’s during his stellar season, 

highlighted by a fourth place in round one. Fellow Canucks Ben 

Wallace (CAN, Kovarik Racing Magura Rider Development), Elliot 

Jamieson (CAN, Norco) and Kendall McLean (CAN, Kovarik Racing 

Magura Rider Development) also cracked the top-10 at points during 

the season, showing strong potential in the development ranks. 

Final Overall Standings 

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Overall XCO Standings after Seven Events 

Elite Men 1. Nino Schurter (SUI, Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) 1,861 points; 2. 

Mathieu Van der Poel (NED, Corendon-Circus) 1,355; 3. Maxime Marotte (FRA, 

Cannondale Factory Racing) 1,242; 4. Henrique Avancini (BRA, Cannondale 

Factory Racing) 1,213; 5. Gerhard Kerschbaumer (ITA, Torpado Gabogas) 

1,154; Canadians 48. Léandre Bouchard (CAN, KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour) 191; 

49. Peter Disera (CAN, Norco Factory Racing) 177; 66. Raphael Gagné (CAN, 

Silverback OMX Pro Team) 88; 78. Andrew L’Esperance (CAN, Forward Racing- 

Norco) 51; 91. Alexandre Vialle (CAN, Specialized Canada) 17; U-23 Men 1. 

Petter Fagerhaug (NOR, Norwegian National Team) 390 points; 2. Joshua Dubau 

(FRA) 360; 3. Filippo Colombo (SUI, BMC MTB Racing Team) 280; Canadians 

26. Sean Fincham (CAN, Forward Racing-Norco) 52; 31. Marc-André Fortier 

(CAN, Pivot-OTE) 20; 32. Quinton Disera (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 16; 59. 

Felix Longpre (CAN, Pivot-OTE) 3; Elite Women 1. Jolanda Neff (SUI, Kross 

Racing Team) 1,930 points; 2. Annika Langvad (DEN, Specialized) 1,743; 

3. Emily Batty (CAN, Trek Factory Racing) 1,305; 4. Alessandra Keller (SUI, 

Thömus-RN Racing Team) 1,275; 5. Anne Tauber (NED, CST Sandd American 

Eagle MTB Racing Team) 1,240; Other Canadians 16. Haley Smith (CAN, Norco 

Factory Team) 640; 21. Catharine Pendrel (CAN, Clif Pro Team) 492; 23. Sandra 

Walter (CAN, Liv Cycling Canada/Team Canada) 409; 36. Cindy Montambault 

(CAN, Trek-GPL) 261; 59. Rebecca Beaumont (CAN, Marin/Peppermint) 119; 61. 

Elyse Nieuwold (CAN, Pendrel Racing) 98; 68. Catherine Fleury (CAN, Cyclone 

d’Alma/Specialized Canada) 72; 81. Maghalie Rochette (CAN, Clif Pro Team) 

46; 82. Sarah-Claudie Dostie-Ménard (CAN) 45; 112. Jenn Jackson (CAN, AWI 

Racing) 11; U-23 Women 1. Sina Frei (SUI, Ghost Factory Racing) 610 points; 

2. Malene Degn (DEN, Ghost Factory Racing) 435; 3. Evie Richards (GBR, Trek 

Factory Racing) 410; Canadians 31. Sophianne Samson (CAN, CVM Sigma 

Assurance) 20; 35. Laurie Arseneault (CAN, ACQ) 14; 40. Mackenzie Myatt 

(CAN, Cyclesmith/Team Canada) 12; 41. Emily Unterberger (CAN, Pendrel 

Racing) 10; 42. Anne-Julie Tremblay (CAN, Cyclone d’Alma/Liv Cycling Canada) 

9; 49. Amelie Simard (CAN) 4; 51. Sidney McGill (CAN, Focus CX) 3; 54. Juliette 

Tetreault (CAN) 3; 58. Siobhan Kelly (CAN, Black Dog Racing) 1. 

Overall DH Standings after Seven Events 

Elite Men 1. Amaury Pierron (FRA, Commencal Vallnord) 1,178 points; 2. Danny 

Hart (GBR, Madison Saracen) 884; 3. Troy Brosnan (AUS, Canyon) 860; 4. Loris 

Vergier (FRA, Santa Cruz Syndicate) 835; 5. Laurie Greenland (GBR, Mondraker) 

696; Canadians 14. Mark Wallace (CAN, Canyon) 437; 15. Finn Iles (CAN, Specialized) 

436; 55. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN, Norco Factory Team) 96; 62. Magnus 

Manson (CAN, Kona) 69; 90. Hugo Langevin (CAN, Devinci Development Racing) 

16; 94. Kirk McDowall (CAN, Devinci Development Racing) 13; Junior Men 1. Thibaut 

Daprela (FRA, Commencal Vallnord) 380 points; 2. Henry Kerr (GBR, Propain 

Dirt Sixpack) 192; 3. Kade Edwards (GBR, Trek Factory Team) 191; Canadians 

7. Lucas Cruz (CAN, Santa Cruz Syndicate) 73; 14. Ben Wallace (CAN, Kovarik 

Racing Magura Rider Development) 40; 21. Elliot Jamieson (CAN, Norco) 18; 26. 

Kendall McLean (CAN, Kovarik Racing Magura Rider Development) 14; 37. Justin 

Clements (CAN, Drift Racing/Calgary Cycle) 1; Elite Women 1. Rachel Atherton 

(GBR, Trek Factory Racing) 1,476 points; 2. Tahnee Seagrave (GBR, Transition/ 

Muc-Off) 1,316; 3. Tracey Hannah (AUS, Polygon UR Team) 1,055; 4. Myriam 

Nicole (FRA, Commencal Vallnord) 810; 5. Monika Hrastnik (SLO) 771; Canadians 

14. Miranda Miller (CAN, Specialized) 235; Junior Women 1. Valentina Holl 

(AUT, SRAM RockShox Factory Racing) 420 points; 2. Anna Newkirk (USA, Team 

Project) 115; 3. Paula Zibasa (LAT, SRAM Young Guns Racing) 110; Canadians 

10. Piper Allman (CAN, Kovarik Racing Magura Rider Development) 10. 

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Spring 2018 

Backpedaling 

Canada’s Bicycling Innovator, 

Part Two 

BY WILLIAM HUMBER 

Andrew Martin’s finished model of a 

velocipede, which he saw pictured in 

Scientific American magazine in 1871, 

weighed nearly 100 lbs. Its two wheels were 

propelled by a pedal crank attached to the 

front one. It had a seat and a solid frame, but 

the ride would have been bumpy, with 

bruises aplenty. He must have wondered if 

he’d built it correctly, as pictures in a 

magazine can be deceiving. 

Living in the relatively small city of 

Rockford, Ill., just west of Chicago, he was 

not ready to accept the slings and arrows of 

his jeering fellow citizens. As a result, he kept 

its existence a secret. 

Fortuitously, a man from the American 

East came to town displaying his “Frenchmade” 

velocipede. He gave demonstrations 

of its character in a local hall, and large 

audiences were captivated by the ability of 

a man to stay upright on such a machine 

despite its only having two wheels. Until 

then, some had speculated that such a feat 

was impossible, for surely it would tip over 

given the laws of physics. He left town with 

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multiple orders for this 

amazing product. 

That was all that 

Martin needed to 

summon enough 

nerve to venture 

out on those same 

roads with his 

novel creation. In 

the words of the 

day, he was 

greeted not with 

negative cat calls, 

but instead “. . . 

Rockford people 

were surprised to 

learn that they were 

as far advanced as 

Paris in the science of 

wheel building.” 

For young men boarding at the city’s 

Holland House, the machine was a revelation. 

Five of them, two of whom were notable 

local baseball players, formed a syndicate in 

which each contributed $5 to take the 

velocipede off Martin’s hands. 

One of them was the irrepressible Bob 

Addy. Not content with multiple baseball 

firsts, this athlete who was native to Port 

Hope, Ont. would become one of the first 

Canadians to experiment with bike riding. 

Already the first Canadian to not only to play 

in an official league in the United States, he 

was also the first to umpire a game and the 

first to manage a team, if only briefly. 

Outdoor riding characterized his early 

adventures as well as those of his four other 

partners, but winter soon sent them indoors. 

The enthusiasm did not end here. Bizarrely, 

the rather large dining room in which they 

were fed in rotating shifts now became the 

site of what was effectively an indoor track for 

their riding. 

Might we then credit Addy with another 

first of experimenting in primitive form with 

something pre-dating the more formal 

indoor road track? Unfortunately, there were 

no banked boards to ease their circuits, 

and the polished floor of the room was not 

John Kerr, 18, of Perth, Ont. on 

one of the earliest velocipedes 

in Canada in 1869. 

the best for such a clunky machine. Addy 

and his friends would often end up 

cascading along it, banging into the doors 

of sleeping residents and arousing their ire 

to the point that the indoor experiment had 

to be terminated, but not before a race 

between one of the cyclists and another on 

foot resulted in a crash. Try as he might, 

Addy’s tinsmithing talent was not enough to 

fix the bike, and so it was sent back to 

Martin for repairs. 

By the next spring, velocipede madness 

had somewhat dissipated. One of the five 

investors, not Addy, paid the others off and 

took sole ownership of Martin’s creation before 

selling it to a postman from a nearby village. 

For his part, Addy continued his bicycle 

riding as he moved west across the country, 

first to Wyoming and eventually to Idaho, 

where his tinsmithing background led him to 

operating his own hardware store until his 

death in 1910. His own son, however, 

became a local bicycle road-race champion 

in the 1890s, riding on what were, by then, 

vastly improved models. 

As for Bob Addy, his baseball and 

bicycling firsts have been largely forgotten 

until now, when a campaign to award him 

Canadian Hall of Fame recognition has 

been initiated. 


FREEWHEELING

THANK you ! 

RENDEZ-VOUS in 2019 for the 10th edition! 

September 13 & 15 


GPCQM.CA 

#GPCQM 


Sportif Stieda 

Life Lessons 

BY ALEX STIEDA 

Cycling is like many other sports. It 

teaches us life lessons such as 

teamwork, sacrifice, hard work, 

dedication and goal-setting. Work hard, 

work smart and you can accomplish your 

goals. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy. 

However, there is a deeper, more 

consequential side to how I approach 

my coaching. Cycling can be a 

metaphor for life’s challenges, and how 

you approach and meet those 

challenges can be instrumental in your 

development as a human being. 

As a coach of the U15 development 

program at our local Juventus Cycling 

Club here in Edmonton, Alta., I am 

certainly interested in sharing these 

attributes of sport, and how cycling can 

be used to grow and mature our next 

generation of athletes. After all, I started 

my sporting life as a hockey and 

volleyball player – both sports extremely 

dependent on teammates. Graduating to 

cycling in my late teens, and now with 

more than 40-odd years of riding and 

racing bikes, I’ve experienced the highs, 

the lows and everything in between that this sport has to offer. 

In my mind, cycling is the perfect blend of individual and team 

sports. You’ve got to be technically proficient in your own right to be 

able to ride safely in a group. It’s up to you to eat and drink properly 

during rides in order to stay fuelled to finish strong. Changing your 

own flat tire is critical, sometimes even crucial to arriving home safely. 

Equally important is to dress appropriately for the weather conditions, 

but to also always prepare yourself against fast-changing weather. 

That is all on you. 

The flip side is that cycling depends on others. You are dependent 

on the group to assist with wind resistance, whether in a race or a 

ride. A group can roll much faster and more efficiently than an 

individual. As my U15 riders graduate to U17, they’ve begun to 

understand these benefits and the need to collaborate with others, 

even if they’re not in the same jersey in our “fun” races! 

In racing, team tactics are crucial. Can you imagine a lone rider 

winning the Tour de France? When a cycling team works in harmony, 

there is no more inspirational scene than when a team sacrifices 

completely to chase down a breakaway to set their leader up for the 

final attack or sprint. As our young Juventus riders start to experience 

this amazing feeling, they begin to understand how true teamwork 

can become a powerful advantage for the rest of their lives, in and 

out of sport. 

Teaching our young riders to race in a positive way (i.e., attacking 

style versus sitting in) is also key to learning about life outside of two 

COR VOS 

Cycling teaches young athletes about 

teamwork, sacrifice, hard work, 

dedication and goal-setting that 

help with the adversity life can 

and will throw at them. 

wheels. When you attack, you are taking a chance. To some, it seems 

as if you are wasting energy, while others just follow and “suck wheel,” 

not willing to take a pull. An attacking style of racing, however, can 

create something out of nothing. Just imagine if no one attacked, and 

the group just rolled on to the finish, waiting for a sprint. No fun and, 

probably, the same riders would win. By taking turns attacking in 

coordinated manner, a team can have more control of the outcome 

and create situations in the race that otherwise might not happen. 

What a great way to go through life – taking calculated risks and 

celebrating with your team when you win! 

Cycling can be a lonely endeavour, for sure. There are hours and 

hours spent training alone. Simply has to be done. The hard work 

pays off in many ways, such as the feeling of camaraderie of 

completing a challenging ride or race with a group of your teammates, 

which for me is still one of the best feelings derived from sport. You’ve 

helped each other with flat tires, headwinds, shared food, taken goofy 

photos and maybe even pushed a bonked rider up the last hill to 

home. Finishing together as a group – some who have been at their 

limit, exhausted but exhilarated to be back home – is worth an entire 

winter of training hours. Those precious moments of surviving their first 

100-kilometre ride will remain indelibly imprinted in their memories. 

When our young athletes get into the workplace (highly likely that 

they will NOT become Pros), this group spirit is an intangible 

advantage that they will carry with them into every opportunity and 

adversity that life can and will throw at them. 

JUVENTUS CYCLING CLUB 


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about Intense bikes? 

Getting on one 

Book a demo and gear up at your local MEC 

mec.ca/intensedemo

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