07.31.06 - Canada Wins Gold in ITT at the Paralympic Cycling European Cup 2006
July 31, 2006 (Munich, Germany) – Canada’s Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) won the Individual Time Trial event and took third in the Criterium, while team mates Éric Bourgault (Orford, QC), Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC) and Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) made it for top ten among fierce world-class competition at the final European Cup event this weekend.
The two races held on July 29 & 30 in Germany were the final of a series of six European Cup races organized this summer in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. A few thousand people took to the streets of Munich to watch the weekend events.
Day 1 – July 29, 2006 - Criterium
Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) and Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) started the Criterium race in the evening Saturday with a total of 22 riders. The 70-lap race was a combination of Paralympic categories including CP 3, LC 3 and LC 4 Men and Women. The course was just 600m long so it made for an exciting event with lots of action. McDougall, who made his way to the front for the first 20 laps, eventually lost contact with the lead group, but did a good job chasing and was the last person lapped by the lead group that included Quévillion with only 12 laps to go.
Quévillion rode a tactical race, keeping pace with his main competition. Only a few laps to go, he launched his attack, which worked perfectly, until just more than one lap to go he crashed out of the lead group. Otherwise, he would have made it to the podium, as Stephen Burke, Head Coach of CCA Paralympic programs, reported.
Quévillion was disappointed with the end result, which placed him in 8th, but he was happy with his overall performance in this circuit race. McDougall held on for 10th place.
Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC) and Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) rode the second race of the evening in a 24-rider field. The race was a combination of CP 4, LC 1 & LC 2 Male and Female athletes. Early on, Bourgault crashed and got back into the race, but never managed to do much with the group he was with.
Early on there was a key attack by two European LC 1 and LC 2 athletes who set a very fast pace and managed to lap the main pack. "The two European riders did a phenomenal job, as Head Coach Stephen Burke commented, and Mark had to be much more aggressive." However, Mark played a very active role among the main chase group and finished in 8th place.
Day 2 – July 30, 2006 – Individual time trial
The time trial competition took place Sunday July 30, 2006 on a track of a 3,5 km distance in the countryside south of Holzkrichen. Riders completed 5 laps or 17.5 K on the slightly hilly route. Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) enjoyed a great day, as he won the 17.5 K ITT.
As Stephen Burke, CCA Paralympic Program Head Coach described: "His performance in the combined CP 3 and LC 3 race was quite impressive."
Quévillion's time in the race was 25:57.93, and second place rider from the LC 3 division had a time of 27:38.72.
Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) completed the course in a time of 28:19.27, placing him in 5th place in the same combined LC 3-CP 3 event.
Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) set a 27:19.50 time on the same course, which was good for 5th place in the LC 2-CP 4. "Eric was happy with his ride today. He has improved a lot this year and is hoping to improve upon his performance at Worlds in five weeks," said Stephen Burke.
For LC1 rider Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC), the story was not as positive, as he only completed 4 laps when the race distance required that each rider complete 5 laps of the course. "Mark was quite disappointed and I am sure that he will be better prepared at the World Championships in September," said Stephen Burke.
Results summary
Day 1 - Criterium
8th - Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) - CP 3 & LC 3
10th - Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) - CP 3 & LC 3
8th - Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC) - CP 4, LC 1 & LC 2, Men & Women
DN - Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) - CP 4, LC 1 & LC 2, Men & Women
Day 2 - ITT
1st - Jean Quévillion (Ste-Adèle, QC) - CP 3 & LC 3
5th - Brayden McDougall (Calgary, AB) - CP 3 & LC 3
5th - Eric Bourgault (Orford, QC) - LC 2 & CP 4
DNF - Mark Breton (Charlesbourg, QC)
Canada’s Paralympic Cycling Team completed the summer racing successfully, and have still some work ahead in the next five weeks to prepare for the IPC-UCI World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, 9 to 18 September, 2006.
Official results will be available here
For further information, contact:
Florence Bourg
Communications Manager
Canadian Cycling Association
Cell.: 418-558-4559
florence.bourg@canadian-cycling.com
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