11.18.07 - Paracycling – Pan American Open championships - Canada on pace for strong performances at Paralympic Games


November 18, 2007 – Quebec riders Daniel Chalifour of Mont-Laurier and his pilot Alexandre Cloutier of Quebec City as well as Éric Bourgault of Orford and Jean Quévillon of Ste-Adèle were the top Canadian riders at the Pan American Open paracycling championships held in Cali, Colombia.

Chalifour and Cloutier showed they are major players in the tandem races at the international level. They were undefeated on the track at the championships posting victories in the individual pursuit, the kilo race and the sprint.

They bettered the Canadian record by nine seconds in the individual pursuit clocking four minutes and 25.928 seconds in qualifying. ‘’We took off like a rocket,’’ said Chalifour. ‘’These championships are my most memorable moment in sport.’’

Bourgault (LC2 disability class) collected five medals and five Pan Am titles. On the road, he won gold in the time trial and took silver in the road race. On the track, he was second in the team sprint and the individual pursuit and added a bronze in the kilo race.

‘’I like being the Pan American champion,’’ he said. ‘’I wasn’t expecting that kind of result especially after my subpar performance at the world championships. I’m very satisfied.’’

On Sunday, Bourgault took silver in the road race battling his way through a 40-rider field competing for three disability category titles. ‘’It was a good performance and I like the way I rode,’’ he said.

Quévillon (cerebral palsy) earned silver in the individual pursuit, team sprint, and the time trial as well as a bronze in the kilo race. He collected three Pan Am titles but broke his right collar bone in Sunday’s road race.

‘’Jean faced the time trial world champion Darren Kenny of Britain,’’ said Canadian national team coach Eric Van Den Eynde. ‘’On the first lap, Kenny built a 28-second lead over Jean which is normal. But on the second lap he gained only a half-second more. Jean continues to improve at age 44.’’

Van Den Eynde was upbeat with his troops’ performances this past week. ‘’Progression is what’s most important and all our athletes bettered their personal bests on the track. Several Canadian records were also lowered.’’

‘’In addition Chalifour and Cloutier posted a time that shows they could win a medal at the world championships.’’

Van Den Eynde is also confident that the Canadian team reached its goal to qualify seven spots for the Paralympic Games.

‘’We are confident for seven spots and possibly an eighth.’’ The number of spots for Canada at the Beijing Paralympics will be announced in mid-December.



Canadian results in Cali :

Sunday 11 November , track :
Gold individual pursuit Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier (B&VI)
Silver individual pursuit Jean Quévillon (CP3)
Silver individual pursuit Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
7th kilometre Geneviève Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)

Monday 12 November, track events :
Gold kilometre Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier (B&VI)
Silver individual pursuit Éric Bourgault (LC2)
Silver kilometre Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
9th individual pursuit Mark Brandon (LC1)

Tuesday 13 November, track events :
Bronze kilometre Jean Quévillon (CP3)
Bronze kilometre Éric Bourgault (LC2)
8th individual pursuit Geneviève Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)
11th kilometre Mark Brandon (LC1)

Wednesday 14 November, track events :
Gold sprint Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier (B&VI)
Silver team sprint Jean Quévillon (CP3), Éric Bourgault (LC2) and Mark Brandon (LC1)
6th sprint Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)

Friday 16 November, road events :
Gold time trial Éric Bourgault (LC2)
Gold time trial Mark Beggs (HCB)
Silver time trial Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
Silver time trial Jean Quévillon (CP3)
9th time trial Stéphane Côté and Pierre-Olivier Boily (B&VI)
9th time trial Geneviève Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)
14th time trial Mark Brandon (LC1)

Saturday 17 November, road events :
Silver road race Mark Beggs (HCB)

Sunday 18 November, road events :
Silver road race Éric Bourgault (LC2)
5th road race Geneviève Ouelland and Mathilde Hupin (B&VI)
7th* road race Stéphane Côté and Pierre-Olivier Boily (B&VI)
11th* road race Brian Cowie and Devon Smibert (B&VI)
15th* road race Mark Brandon (LC1)
DNF road race Jean Quévillon (CP3)

* Approximate finish, official results not available