HOULE FINISHES TOP-30 IN ELITE MEN’S TIME TRIAL

Bergen, September 21, 2017 – The time trial events at the Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway, concluded on Wednesday with the Elite men’s competition.  Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpetue, Quebec, finished 29th against a field containing the best professional riders in the world.

The unique 31 kilometre course finished with a 3.4 kilometre climb; the first mountain top finish in the history of the world championships.

Houle was 38th after the first time check and then improved through the second half of the course, completing the course with a time of 47 minutes and 47.61 seconds, to finish three minutes and 6.61 seconds behind eventual winner Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands.  Canada’s second starter, Rob Britton of Regina, Saskatchewan, finished 48th.

“I think I did a pretty good ride, and I tried to go fast from the start,” said Houle.  “It was a pretty fast course for the two laps [before the climb], and you need to manage your effort to carry your speed.  Then, in the last climb, all you can do is give everything you have.  I’m not there with the fastest guys in the world, but I’m working on it.  The crowds were amazing today; I think it was the biggest crowd I have ever seen.  They screamed so loud that they just pushed you to the line.  I think I delivered a good ride and I enjoyed the experience.”

“I was pretty disappointed,” admitted Britton.  “I think those of us who started early had the wettest conditions, so it was pretty dodgy through the corners.  By the second lap it had dried up quite a bit, but overall pretty disappointed with my ride.  It was a great course and I was pretty excited about it.  The fans were unlike anything I have ever experienced, it was amazing.