MAGGIE COLES-LYSTER & PIER-ANDRÉ CÔTÉ WIN ELITE ROAD TITLES AT CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Edmonton, AB (June 27, 2022) – The Canadian Road Championships Road Races came to a conclusion on Sunday with the U23 and Elite races which were held on a 14.4-kilometer loop in the scenic Edmonton River Valley area.
The women’s 116.6-kilometer race kicked off with an attack from Olympic rowing bronze medallist Caileigh Filmer (The Cyclery Racing) who managed to create a gap of up to 1:30 minutes for over 70 kilometers. Filmer was eventually caught in the final two laps by the peloton, which was led by defending champion Alison Jackson (Liv Racing Xstra), and the pack remained together until the final climb. Sprinters moved to the front in the final 500 meters, with 2019 Pan American Games medallist Maggie Coles-Lyster (DNA Pro Cycling) taking the win in front of Jackson and former Junior World Championships medallist Simone Boilard (Saint Michel-Auber93). Boilard also claimed gold in the U23 race, followed by Laury Milette (Emotional.FR Tornatech GSC Blagnac) in second, and national Time Trial champion Ngaire Barraclough in third.
“Being a one rider team here, my job was kind of just to sit and play it smart, follow the right moves and because I have a lot of faith in my sprint, not really initiate anything until the very end and that’s how it played out,” said Coles-Lyster. “It’s a huge win; it’s my first road national title as an Elite so it’s extremely exciting to be able to wear the maple leaf for the next year and to be able to say you’re a national champion. It was such a good course for me and I knew I had it in me.”
If the women’s race was bright and sunny, the men once again had to face harsh winds, rain and hail during the latter part of the 160.6-kilometer race. Several riders attempted to break away from the main pack during the first few laps but were always brought back until Benjamin Perry (WIV SunGod), Guillaume Boivin (Israel Premier-Tech), Pier-André Côté (Human Powered Health), Carson Miles (Premier Tech U23 Cycling Project) and Ethan Sittlington (Toronto Hustle) created a gap midway through the race. Sittlington was eventually dropped, but the four other riders managed to maintain a one-minute lead and finish as a group until the final sprint. The gold played out between sprint experts Côté and Boivin, with Côté edging out the defending champion to take home his first-ever road title, while Perry was third. Miles finished just behind the group to claim the U23 title, followed by Nicolas Rivard (U23 Premier Tech Cycling Project) and Riley Pickrell (Israel Cycling Academy).
“I was glad it started raining because I was overheating a little bit and I know I’m pretty good in the rain and harsh conditions,” said Côté. “It’s so special to be national champion. I’ve been dreaming of this since I started racing bikes and in recent years it became something that could actually happen, and I’ve been working really hard for this so it means a lot. It’s going to be one hell of a special year wearing the jersey in Europe.”
Today, the Championships conclude with the Criterium, which returns to the race program for the first time since 2019. The Junior women and men will be racing in the afternoon for 30 minutes and 45 minutes respectively through Edmonton’s Old Strathcona district, while Elite races will be held in the evening for a total of one hour each. Full results and schedules can be found here.
Results
U23 Women: 1- Simone Boilard 2- Laury Milette 3- Ngaire Barraclough
U23 Men: 1- Carson Miles 2- Nicolas Rivard 3- Riley Pickrell
Elite Women: 1- Maggie Coles-Lyster 2- Alison Jackson 3- Simone Boilard
Elite Men: 1- Pier-André Côté 2- Guillaume Boivin 3- Benjamin Perry
