XCO NATIONAL TITLES AWARDED AT MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oro Station, ON (July 24, 2022) – On day two of racing at Hardwood Ski and Bike, 13 more national titles were given to men and women’s Masters, Junior, Cadet, U23 and Elite categories. Athletes battled the hot temperatures to fight for the top spot on the technical loops spanning from two to five laps in their respective categories.
Masters athletes opened up racing with Ryan Atkins (35-44) taking home the first title of the day as the rest of the categories followed. As the crowd grew, they cheered on Junior, Cadet and U23 riders with Jacob Roy (U17), Zorak Paille (U19), Rafaelle Carrier (U17), Marin Lowe (U19) and Carter Woods (U23) all took home the XCO national title and their second gold after winning their respective categories in XCC on Thursday; with Marianne Théberge taking home her first gold and national title in the U23 Women’s category.
“My short track was spicy earlier in the week, and I just wanted to keep the edge, while firing on all cylinders,” said Woods after his double title win. “It was so beautiful for XCO today, I just wanted to keep the engine going. Heading into the Championship weekend, I wanted to make sure to keep it safe, and have some great racing.”
Meanwhile, eyes were on the stacked Elite field which featured Olympians Emily Batty, Peter Disera, Haley Smith and Léandre Bouchard. On the men’s Elite side, it was a battle between the Disera brothers and Tyler Orschel who all had a lead throughout their five laps, with Peter Disera ultimately taking the national title, Orschel taking second and Quinton Disera taking bronze.
In the women’s Elite category, it was yet another sweep from the Canyon MTB Racing team with Batty having nearly a 40-second lead after all four laps of the course over second place finisher, Laurie Arseneault, who took home the women’s XCC title earlier in the week; while Jennifer Jackson, coming off a broken elbow, landed her second podium of the Championships to take bronze.
“To be on the podium and do the [medal] sweeps with the team is kind of how we dreamed it would be,” said Jackson. “I think in the time that I was injured and off, I had a timeline and that was to be back and race at nationals. I think I had some assurance that I would be back in okay shape, but then to be back in the short track and test the legs was great. I’m just happy to be back and be at Hardwood. It just feels like the best way to come home and into racing.”
On Sunday, teams will take on Team Relays for another shot to get on the podium. Full results from all racing can be found here.
U17 Women: 1- Rafaëlle Carrier 2- Ayana Gagné 3- Lily-Rose Marois
U17 Men: 1- Jacob Roy 2- Félix-Antoine Leclair 3- Nicolas Gauthier
Junior Women: 1- Marin Lowe 2- Ava Holmgren 3- Isabella Holmgren
Junior Men: 1- Zorak Paille 2- Maxime St-Onge 3- Cam McCallum
U23 Women: 1- Marianne Théberge 2- Jocelyn Stel 3- Roxane Vermette
U23 Men: 1- Carter Woods 2- Cole Punchard 3- Owen Clark
Elite Women: 1- Emily Batty 2- Laurie Arsenault 3- Jenn Jackson
Elite Men: 1- Peter Disera 2- Tyler Orschel 3- Quinton Disera
Women master Expert (35-44): 1- Sue Haviland 2- Roxy Slotegraaf
Men master Expert (35-44): 1- Ryan Atikins 2- Peter Glassford 3- Matthew Martindill
Women master Expert (45-54): 1- Lisa Holmgren 2- Lisa Hutson
Men master Expert (45-54): 1- Jon Barnes 2- Paul Cobham 3- Leigh Quilliams
Men master Expert (55+): 1- John Westdal 2- Kevin Simms 3- Greg Clark
Women senior Expert (19-29): 1- Tessa Brinklow
Men senior Expert (19-29): 1- Jamie Wagler 2- Pierre-Marie Perchoc 3- Mason Costa
