NYHAUG UNBEATABLE AT CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, WALSH COMPLETES PERFECT WEEKEND
Both Nyhaug and Walsh repeat victories at Canadian BMX Championships
(Drummondville, QC – October 04, 2014) Tory Nyhaug of Coquitlam, BC (Cycling BC) won his eighth Canadian title since turning Elite, while Amelia Walsh of Ayr, ON (Yess BMX TroyLee Designs) successfully defended her elite women’s Canadian BMX title. Both BMXers completed a perfect weekend after winning the time trial titles Friday on the brand new 400-meter BMX track in Drummondville.
Nyhaug rode a clean race in the main event, staying outside of trouble from the start to finish. With the victory, the international BMX star now shows a perfect record of eight Canadian titles in as many races since joining the elite rank four years ago.
“The level of BMX is always rising in Canada. With Ken [Cools, Head Coach of Canadian BMX team] coming in the last couple of years, the guys have improved a lot. The state of BMX is fantastic, and to see the other guys having success at the World Cup level only motivates them and myself even more. It creates a good atmosphere amongst the team. It’s turning into a real high performance culture, which is great for the future of BMX in this country,” said Nyhaug, who finished a remarkable second place at the 2014 UCI BMX World Championships proudly displaying the W2 plate in Canada.
James Palmer of North Vancouver, BC (Cycling BC) crossed the line in second place of the action-packed final, while James Brown of Airdrie, AB (Airdrie BMX) took the third spot in the race.
Both Nyhaug and Palmer won all three qualifying motos to qualify for the finals, setting the stage for a showdown between the two riders. Ultimately, Nyhaug was the fastest of the two, winning all of his races on the day.
On Friday, Nyhaug won the time trial races, winning the race on the long track by a mere 0.3 second over Palmer. Brandon Reid of Victoria, BC (Cycling BC) took the third place of the time trial.
AMELIA WALSH BOUNCES BACK AND WIN WOMEN’S TITLE
In the women’s race, Amelia Walsh rode away with her second consecutive BMX title in a nail-biting women’s division. Drew Mechielsen of Cycling BC, a junior rider, came very close of dislodging the returning champion, winning the first moto and taking second place of the second moto.
With Walsh finishing second and third in the first two motos, she needed a win and see Mechielsen take third place in the ultimate race of the day in order to defend the title. And that’s exactly what happened. Both Walsh and Mechielsen finished tied in the first place after the three motos with a 1-2-3 record, but Walsh won the tie-breaker having won the last moto of the day.
“This new track is great and fast and has some good technical elements,” said Walsh. “There is always a little bit more pressure at the Canadian races, because everyone expects you to win. It’s still the same as a World Cup Supercross race; you’re still there to represent your country with the pressure that it comes with.”
The junior men BMX Championships final was won in dominating fashion by Tanner Vandenhoven of Didsbury, AB (Team Alberta) with a perfect day on the track (1-1-1). Vandenhoven edged Christopher White (BMX La Tuque) and local sensation Gaby Malenfant (Independent) at the finish line of the Final.
On Friday in the time trial, results were much different with Malenfant winning the time trial, with the crowd erupting in cheers as he crossed the finish line. Malenfant squeezed in the victory by less than 0.2 second over Jared Ennis of Cycling BC and 0.4 second over Vandenhoven. Malenfant has been training on the new track since it was officially unveiled on August 2, 2014, taking advantage of racing on his own track.
Alex Tougas of Pitts Meadows, BC (Cycling BC), the two-time challenge World Champion, ended his challenge career in style, easily taking the title in his age category. Tougas will be racing in the junior men category next season, and will be an immediate force to reckon with in the category.
Sunday will feature the BMX Canada Cup Series Final, as well as some regional races.
RESULTS – BMX CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – DRUMMONDVILLE, QC
Women
1. Amelia WALSH (Team Ontario) (2-3-1)
2. Drew MECHIELSEN (Cycling BC) (1-2-3)
3. Eliane MCADAM (Calgary BMX) (4-1-2)
Elite Men
1. Tory NYHAUG Cycling BC (1-1-1)
2. James PALMER Cycling BC (1-1-1)
3. James BROWN (Airdrie BMX) (2-2-2)
Junior Men
1. Tanner VANDENHOVEN (Alberta Bicycle) (1-1-1)
2. Christopher WHITE (BMX La Tuque) (1-2-4)
3. Gaby MALENFANT (Indépendant-BMX QC) (3-4-1)
RESULTS – TIME TRIALS – BMX CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – DRUMMONDVILLE, QC
Elite Women
1. WALSH, Amelia (Yess BMX Troylee Design) 40.821
2. MCADAM, Eliane (Calgary BMX) 41.559 +0.738
3. KINGSTON, Chelsea (Medicine Hat BMX) 42.065 +1.244
Elite Men
1. NYHAUG, Tory (Cycling BC) 33.723
2. PALMER James (Cycling BC) 34.091 +0.368
3. REID Brandon (Cycling BC) 35.316 +1.593
Junior Women
1. MECHIELSEN, Drew (Cycling BC) 40.919
2. KINNIE, Erin (Cycling BC) 44.783 +3.864
Junior Men
1. MALENFANT, Gaby (Indépendant-BMX) 35.679
2. ENNIS, Jared (Cycling BC) 35.910 +0.231
3. VANDENHOVEN, Tanner (Alberta Bicycle) 36.148 +0.469
