06.28.10 -Redemption For Numainville At Canadian Cycling Championships; Routley Ends A 10 Year Quest And Wins Tight Men’s Road Race

Edmonton, Alberta, hosts the Road events of the 2010 Canadian Road Cycling Championships

(Edmonton, AB, - June 27, 2010) Much like the first day of competition, the second day of racing at the 2010 Canadian Road Cycling Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, was exhilarating. Today’s Road race competition, in which Canada’s top cyclists took part in, saw two of the nation’s best road cyclists take the prestigious Canadian champions jersey and title.

In the women’s Elite race, Lex Albrecht (Équipe Cascades-ABC Cycles) tried to ride away with the title by way of a solo break attempt that lasted for six of the nine laps. After reeling in the solo rider, the favorites took control of the race and hunted down any breakaway attempt.

The outcome of the race was an amazing peloton sprint in which Joëlle Numainville (Equipe Webcor Builders) outsprinted local favorite Tara Whitten (Specialized Samson G conseil) and 2009 Canadian Champion Alison Testoete (Cycling BC).

Numainville’s winning time of 3 hours 14 minutes 21 seconds represents a major goal achievement for the young rider, and, furthermore it is redemption for last year’s cleat mishap that saw her lose the title a few meters from the finish line.

“I was really stressed out at the start of the race. However, as the race progressed I studied the finish line, the wind and thought about tactics every time I came around. So I calmed down and at a 100m from the line I knew I had it!“ commented Numainville after her race.

A total of 54 women took the start of the 117 km race. 45 women finished the completed the 9 laps of the urban, downtown course.

TWO MAN SPRINT DICTATES WINNER IN MEN’S RACE

In the Men’s race, Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling Team powered by Kenda) won the sprint to the finish line, in an exciting 182km contest. The race, which saw numerous breakaways, quickly separated the Men from Boys as the top riders bolted out of the start line, with the result being a peloton divided into two distinct groups.

“The race started pretty aggressive right off the bat. Guys were trying a lot of attacks,” said Routley after the race. “It means la lot to win the Red and White jersey. I have been working at this since my mountain bike days as a junior. I have been on the podium in mountain bike and road, but I’ve been chasing this for ten years. It’s hard to believe.”

With just two laps to go, a merge of the break and a chase group created a clear, 26-rider lead group that would fight to the finish line. In the last lap, the duo of Andrew Randell (SpiderTech presented by Planet Energy) and Routley, decided to take the matters into their own hands, breaking away from the leader’s group. In the end, in the final duo sprint, it was Routley who won the dash to the finish line, by a mere bike length.

Completing the podium was SpiderTech’s Bruno Langlois winning bronze.

An impressive 133 men took part in the event, racing 14 laps of the course for a total of 182km race. 83 completed the gruelling race.

Both Numainville and Routley not only won the Canadian Title, but also the bragging rights of wearing the famous Red and White Jersey throughout the next year.

The next Canadian Cycling Championships events will be held July 10-11, with the Para-cycling Championships held in Bromont, QC, as well as the Mountain Bike’s Downhill events held in Panorama, BC. The Mountain Bike Cross Country events will be held the weekend after, July 17-18, in Canmore, AB.

WOMEN ÉLITE

1. Joelle Numainville (Webcor Builders)
2. Tara Whitten (Specialized Samson G Counseil)
3. Alison Testoete (Cycling BC)

WOMEN U23

1. Leah Kirchmann (Trek Red Truck presented by Mosais Homes)
2. Julie Beveridge (Équipe Vienne Futuroscope)
3. Karol-Ann Canuel (Équipe Vienne Futuroscope)
Complete results: http://www.zone4.ca/live.asp?id=3065&cat=4&lap=F&c=1

MEN ÉLITE

1. Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling Team presented by Kenda)
2. Andrew Randell (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy)
3. Bruno Langlois (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy)

MEN U23

1. Arnaud Papillon (Équipe du Québec)
2. Jesse Reams (Cycling BC)
3. David Boily (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy)
Complete results: http://www.zone4.ca/live.asp?id=3066&cat=6&lap=F&c=1