XCO NATIONALS CONCLUDES WITH SIX TITLES AWARDED

(Baie-Saint-Paul, QC – July 17, 2016) Six National titles were awarded on the final day of the 2016 Canadian MTB XCO Championships on Sunday, in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec. The new national champions in the Team Relay and Masters categories were awarded the maple leaf jersey for their victories, and will race as the national champion for the following 12 months.

The 5.9 kilometre circuit challenged both the technical skills and endurance of the riders, in hot and humid conditions. Riders had little chance to recover from the climbs before having to focus on the technical descents, covered in roots and rocks.

Fourteen teams participated in the Team Relay, an event that includes four riders each doing a lap of the course. each team consists of an Elite man and Elite woman, Under-23 man and Junior man. Each team member hands off to the next rider after their lap, and leads changes are frequent in this event.

The Norco Factory Team, consisting of the Disera brothers (Peter and Quinton) of Barrie, Ontario, together with Haley Smith of Uxbridge, Ontario, and Andrew L’Esperance of Halifax, NS, took the title. They were only 26 seconds in front of Equipe du Quebec 1 – Turbo Power, which included Marc Andre Fortier of Victoriaville, Quebec, Felix Burke of Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Cindy Montambault of Val-David, Quebec, and Felix Longpre of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Quebec. In third place was Team BC 1, a further 29 seconds back, and consisting of Sean Fincham (Squamish, BC), Quinn Moberg (Squamish, BC), Emily Handford (West Vancouver, BC) and Geoff Kabush (Courtney, BC).

In the Masters categories, national titles were awarded to Caroline Villeneuve (Le Pedalier) for Women 30-39, Chantal Petit (Club de Velo Sigma) for Women 40+, Eric Jeannotte (Ultime Velo) for Men 30-39, Eric Tourville (LAPC) for Men 40-49 and Lorenzo Caterini (Hub Cycle/Spokebenders) in Men 50+.