06.15.09 -2009 Tour de Beauce - Team Canada

The 816 kilometre Tour de Beauce concluded on Sunday with a 130 kilometre circuit race, won by Australia's Bernard Sulzberger, with a time of three hours, 11 minutes and 42 seconds. Bjorn Selanler of the United States finished two seconds back, with Swiss rider Danilo Wyss taking third at 11 seconds. Charles Dionne of St-Redempteur, Quebec (riding for the Fly V Australia team) was the top Canadian in fourth place, with the same time as Wyss. Cam Evans of Vancouver was the top finisher for Team Canada in 24th place, 1:27 behind Sulzberger.

American Scott Zwizanski successfully defended the Yellow Jersey of overall race leader through the last stage, despite numerous attacks by Colombians Sergio Henao and Darwin Atapuma, who were second and third in the overall classification and finished 51 seconds and one minute and 14 seconds behind Zwizanski respectively.

Derrick St-Jean of Ottawa (riding for Garneau-Club Chaussure) was the top Canadian in the overall standings, finishing tenth, three minutes and 30 seconds behind Zwizanski. Ryan Roth (Planet Energy) of Bright, Ontario was 14th at five minutes and 53 seconds, Team Canada's Cam Evans moved up five spots to finish 15th at six minutes and 57 seconds, and Charles Dionne finished 20th overall, at ten minutes and 35 seconds. Matthew Bell was the only other member of Team Canada to finish all stages, in 29th place at 38 minutes and 12 seconds.

Team Canada director Dominique Perras felt that the national team had a successful project, with a mixture of young and more experienced riders on the squad.

"I think the team did really well," said Perras. "We had five riders who are development riders, and I think they were fortunate to have a chance to race with a rider of the level of Cam Evans, who was a great example. Cam was coming back from an injury in a crash about six weeks ago, and he was feeling better every day. Overall, I think it was a really good project for these guys to learn in such a big field at such a high level."

An interview with Team Canada Directeur Sportif Dominique Perras.