07.10.07 - 2007 Tim Hortons Road Nationals - Gina Grain wins first Canadian road race title


Montreal, July 10, 2007 (Sportcom)- Gina Grain of Vancouver won the women’s elite road race on Tuesday at the Tim Hortons Road Nationals held at St-George de Beauce, Que. It was a first career road title for the track specialist.

Grain won the 127 kilometre race in three hours and 42 minutes and 24 seconds. Marni Hambleton was three seconds back for the silver and Moriah MacGregor third, nine seconds behind the winner.

The Expresscopy.com team member was surprised to win. “I’m very pleased to have won the race. I didn’t expect to win. It was a good day for me.’’

Grain paid tribute to her teammates. ‘’Anyone on my team could have won,’’ she said. ‘’It was a good race for our team. Our climbers did a great job and we made strong attacks.’’

Meier and Roy win the under-23 titles

Christian Meier of B.C., and Émilie Roy of Quebec earned victories in the under-23 races

The 22-year-old Meier took the 137 kilometre race in 3:31:51 edging Ryan Anderson of B.C. Éric Boily of Quebec was third in 3:35:11.

‘’I broke away with a small pack of riders early in the race. We took turns at the front then with 25 kilometres to go Anderson and I made a strong push. We had a very close sprint and it was our intensity that got us on the podium. There were a lot guys in contention.’’

In the women’s race, Roy finished 38 seconds ahead of Alberta’s Julie Beveridge in second. Joelle Numainville was third in the 127 kilometre race. ‘’I thought it would be a harder race and there would be more breakaways,’’ she said. ‘’I was feeling to comfortable after 15 kilometres so I decided to make a break.

‘’I rode and rode an it was only with 20 kilometres to go that three riders (Grain, Hambleton and MacGregor) caught me and we finished the race together,’’ said Roy who rode 100 kilometres on her own before being caught by the three elite racers. ‘’Despite not finishing first in that group of four, I’m still happy to win the under-23 title.’’

The Tim Hortons Road Nationals end Wednesday with the 180 kilometre men’s elite road race.

Tuesday’s medallists

U 23 Men
1 - Christian Meier (B.C.) 3h33m51s
2 - Ryan Anderson (B.C.) 3h33m51s
3 - Éric Boily (Qc) 3h35m11s

U 23 Women
1 – Émilie Roy (Qc) 3h42m41s
2 – Julie Beveridge (Alb) 3h43m19s
3 – Joëlle Numainville (Qc) 3h43m26s

Élite Women
1- Gina Grain (B.C.) 3h42m24s
2- Marni Hambleton (B.C.) 3h42m27s
3- Moriah MacGregor (B.C.) 3h42m33s

Full results
http://www.tourdebeauce.com/en/site.asp?page=element&nIDElement=1002