CYCLING FEVER CONTINUES IN BEAUCE WITH CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Canada’s best arrive in Beauce to race for the coveted Red/White Jerseys

(St-Georges, QC – June 19, 2013) After a highly successful Tour de Beauce, the cycling fever continues in the beautiful region of Beauce as the 2013 Canadian Road Championships are to be held this weekend, starting Thursday.

The weekend will start with a grueling 39-kilometre time trial race for the men, while the women will race on a 27-kilometre course.

In the women Elite time trial race, the field is wide open with the retirement of Clara Hughes after the 2012 Olympic Games. Hughes dominated the time trial in the last two years, winning both events with wide margins. Svein Tuft, riding for WorldTour team Orica-GreenEDGE, is the defending Champion, he who established himself as an international threat of the event since his arrival in cycling.

The road races will be Friday and Saturday. The women will hit to roads surrounding St-Georges on Friday with a 110-kilometre race. Denise Ramsden (Optum-Kelly Benefits) is the reigning Canadian Champion. 2010 Canadian Champion Joëlle Numainville (Optum-Kelly Benefits) will be to watch. Numainville is a power sprinter, and has been on a positive streak entering the Canadian championships.

Other strong contenders in the women’s race will be Karol-Ann Canuel (Vienne La Futuroscope), which has shown great form throughout the spring racing. 2012 Olympic medallists Gillian Carleton (Lululemon-Specialized) and Jasmin Glaesser (Tibco-To-The-Top) are also riders who could surprise this year, committing this season to a full road program after focussing on track cycling leading up to the Games.

The men road race, a 187-kilometre ride, will be wide open for the first time in many years, as a result of the dismantelmant of Team SpiderTech. With no powerhouse team on the start line and five riders from different WorldTour teams all riding to bring the title on their respective teams, the race outcome is unpredictable. Many Canadian-based, UCI-registered teams will look to seize the opportunity to grab the jersey, such as Garneau-Quebecor Cycling Team, and Ekoi-DeVinci. These two teams are coming off strong Tour de Beauce races, and are familiar with the hilly surroundings. Team Médique p/b Silbert Investment, Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech and Team H&R Block have also just race the Tour de Beauce and are coming in the weekend with great legs and lots of ambition.

Sunday will be held the criterium races and the Canadian Sprint Challenge. Much is at stakes for this event, including a spot for the sprinters to race at the 2013 Pro Sprint Challenge, part of the week-long cycling festivities surround the Grand Prix cycliste de Québec et Montréal.

The event, sanctioned and governed by Cycling Canada is organized by the Corporation du Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce.

SCHEDULE AND COURSES

Thursday, June 20

Time Trials Men (39 km): http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2365810

Time Trials Women (27km): http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2365244

Friday, June 21

Road Race Elite Women: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1837535

Saturday, June 22

Road Race Elite Men: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1837644

Sunday, June 23

Criterium races: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1831197