Erika Vilunaite
Silvia PariettiDocument Actions
Two canadian champions! Big-time performances from the women in yellow
Anne Samplonius stamps her mark on the Canadian Championships individual time trial.
On the typically hilly, rolling roads that characterize Quebec's Beauce region, Anne Samplonius rode the race she'd been
dreaming of and simply grabbed the Canadian ITT title.
Mastering the rough, technical course, overcoming the rain and wind, she caught her "minutewoman" at kilometer seven and stormed on through, making it fairly clear by mid-course that, barring any possible mechanical problem that might well have occurred given the state of the roads, she was indeed the new ITT champ for the second time in her career. Of the other competitors near the top, Lyne Bessette was fastest with a thirty-five second deficit.
This magnificent display of power and determination brings Anne that much closer to her ultimate goal, the Olympics in Beijing.
Final standings, ITT:
1- Anne
Samplonius - 29.33.86
2- Lyne Bessette - 30.08.57
3- Leigh Hobson - 30.38.79
4- Julie Beveridge - 30.47.45
5- Alex Wrubleski - 30.52.71
2- Lyne Bessette - 30.08.57
3- Leigh Hobson - 30.38.79
4- Julie Beveridge - 30.47.45
5- Alex Wrubleski - 30.52.71
Canadian Nationals road
race: expresscopy.com dominates, Gina Grain wins
On
the hilly roads of Beauce, most observers expected a climber to win the
road race at Nationals this year, but Gina Grain bucked the
conventional wisdom and upset expectations simply by disregarding her
"official status" as a road sprinter-cum-track specialist and vaulting
herself to the top podium step. With a third place finish at the Pan-Am
Games road race, another third place at the Liberty Classic in
Philadelphia and a resounding win at the Yaletown Grand Prix in
Vancouver two weeks ago, Gina pulled out all the stops in Beauce,
showcasing her immense talent and versatility and going on to become
Canadian road race champ.
With thirty kilometers to go, seizing the opportunity during a lull in the race, she jumped hard, gaining fifteen seconds on the bunch and joining Émilie Roy, who had been off the front for some time and had just been joined by Marni Hambleton and Moriah McGregor.
This foursome held the gap all the
way to the line, but come crunch time, Gina's power and experienced
played in her favor as she handily took the sprint.
During
the podium ceremony, Gina was all smiles as she pulled on her red and
white champion's jersey, a smile shared by all the expresscopy.com
riders, and for good reason: expresscopy.com had five riders in the top
16, yet another demonstration of the team's strength and unity. Hats
off!
Final standings, road race:
1- Gina Grain (BC) Team Expresscopy.com: 3.42.242- Marni Hambleton (BC) Symmetrics: 0.03
3- Moriah MacGregor (BC) AE Sport Development: 0.09
4- Émilie Roy (QC) Vinci Specialized Menikini: 0.17
5- Alison Testroete (BC) Team Expresscopy.com: 0.39
6- Alex Wrubleski (SK) Colvaita Sutter Home: 0.47
7- Leigh Hobson (ON) Cheerwine: 0.49
8- Erinne Willock (BC) Team Expresscopy.com: 0.51
9- Felicia Gomez (NS) Aarons/L5Flyers: 0.55
10- Julie Beveridge (AB) Team Alberta
11- Betina Hold (QC) Team cheerwine:1.02
12- Joëlle Numainville (QC) Team Expresscopy.com
13- Johanne Cyr (QC) Équipe Cascades:1.05
14- Leah Guloien (BC) Team Giant: 1.41
15- Jennifer Stephenson (ON) Team Ultralink: 1.47
16- Anne Samplonius (QC) Team Expresscopy.com :2.08
