November 12, 2006 (Nanaimo, B.C.) – The 2006 edition of the Cyclocross National Championships in Nanaimo on B.C.’s Vancouver Island lived up to true ‘cross standards. There was cold, there was slick mud, there was rain and there was an exciting series of races, with Greg Reain (ON, Stevens) taking his first ever national title in the Elite Men’s category.
"It feels pretty good," said Reain after winning the title. On November 29 he’s heading back to Europe to continue his 'cross season with the Stevens Racing Team in Germany.
The chase was on, however, with 2004 National Cyclocross Champ and defending National XC MTB title holder Geoff Kabush (BC, Maxxis) reeling the storming Reain back in to 10 seconds after letting the gap get as large as 16 seconds. Mathieu Toulouse (QC, Maxxis) also played the role of chaser, riding in a third-place limbo for most of the race.
As expected, the Elite Women’s race came down to a game of cat and mouse between defending champ Lyne Bessette (QC, Cyclocrossworld.com) and two-time National Champion Wendy Simms (BC, Velo Bella-Kona). Simms marked Bessette for the first three laps of the four-lap race, hoping for an opportunity to make a move on the Quebec rider. Bessette simply proved herself the stronger of the two, attacking off the front on the final lap and building a gap of 10 seconds by the finish.
Three-time Canada Cup XC Series Champion Mical Dyck (AB, Team Alberta) won a nail-biter of a battle for third place, after pulling away from Ontario’s Tara Ross (ON, Cheerwine) and B.C. Cyclocross Champion Kelly Jones (BC, Sugoi) on the second lap. Dyck had a solid gap until she flatted half-way through the final lap, and was forced to run to the finish, while Ross steadily reeled her in. Dyck was relieved the line came when it did, as she only had five seconds to spare on Ross in fourth.
Race favourite Kyle Douglas (ON, 3 Rox Racing) rode to a decisive victory in the U23 Men’s race, taking control from the start. Aaron Schooler (AB, ERTC) won an exciting sprint for second place against fellow Albertan Shaun Adamson (AB, Juventus), after they rode together for the entire race.
Spencer Smitheman (AB, Juventus) won the Junior Men’s title, showing he’s in strong form as he nearly caught the leaders in the Elite Women’s race, despite starting two minutes behind them. Garrett McLeod (NS, Team Atlantic) finished second, 40 seconds behind the leader. David Larson (AB, Juventus) capped off a successful Alberta siege when he took the bronze medal.
Susan Copeland (AB, Juventus) had a golden ride in the Master 30+ Women’s race, beating favourite Nicola Mann (WA, TiCycles-Avanti) by 15 seconds. Martha Handford (AB, Different Bikes) placed third.
The National Championships race organizer and defending National Champion in the Master 30-39 Men category, Norm Thibault (BC, Frontrunners), pulled a repeat performance in an exciting battle. Thibault had established an early gap, but began to fade in the final laps. He managed to hold off the hounds, however, taking the title, the jersey and the glory and, at the same time, put on a successful event. Andre Sutton (AB, Hardcore Cycling Club) and Craig Hawkes (ON, The Cyclery) took second and third spots, respectively.
Local Peter Stevenson’s (BC, Cowichan Cycling Club) idea to purchase a cycling license the week before the National Championships paid off when he took home the title in the Masters 40-49 Men’s race. David Holden (BC, Aviawest-Vega) finished second, followed by Derek Shiers (WA, TiCycles-Avanti) in third.
Ed Campbell (ON, St. Catherines Cycling Club) was the first to the finish in the Masters 50+ Men’s category. Nels Guloien (BC, Sugoi-Giant) took the silver medal and Don Fox (AB, Juventus) was third.
Racers, spectators and officials agreed the event was a success, with Technical Delegate, New Brunswick’s Luc Arsenau, applauding the course, commenting on how well it stood up to the rain and hundreds of tires that navigated it. “The course was good,” he said. “It had a little bit of everything.” The loop was laid out in such a way, that spectators could see much of the course from a single vantage point.
Results
Challenge Categories
Open Men - 3 Laps
1. Bob Chew (BC) Escape Velocity 30:32
2. Andrew Olive (BC) Dr. Walker/GVVA 0:33
3. Mark Weiler (BC) Arrowsmith Bike 0:47
4. Jay Latiff (BC) Arrowsmith Mountai 0:56
5. Jak New (BC) Escape Velocity 2:13
6. Ryan Cousineau (BC) Escape Velocity 2:13
7. Derek Steel (BC) Nanaimo Mt. Bike C 2:44
8. Jay Ruzicka (BC) Wheelers 4:09
9. Meshkat Javid (BC) Mighty Riders 5:02
Open Women - 3 Laps
1. Brandy Svenson (BC) Arrowsmith 32:44
U20 Men - 3 Laps
1. Matt Dawes (BC) Arrowsmith Bike 30:19
2. Sebastian Sleep (BC) On The Edge Race C 0:19
3. Conor Obrien (QC) ride with rendall 3:51
4. Kiernan Orange (QC) Ride With Rendall 6:26
5. Curran Jongsma (BC) vic wheelers 1 lap
U20 Women - 3 Laps
1. Katherine Short (BC) Giant Bikes 32:31
2. Kjersten Lone (BC) DIRTY GIRLZ 5:14
National Categories
Masters 50+ Men - 3 Laps
1. Ed Campbell (ON) St. Catharines Cycle 27:57
2. Nels Guloien (BC) Sugoi / Giant Bicy 1:27
3. Don Fox (AB) Juventus Cycling C 2:20
4. Derek Tripp (BC) Nanaimo Bicycle Cl 2:41
5. Claude Breau (AB) BICISPORT 3:28
6. Patrick Ferris (BC) Blizzard Bike Club 5:02
Masters 30+ Women - 3 Laps
1. Susan Copeland (AB) Juventus Cycling C 31:13
2. Nicola Mann (WA) TiCycles/Avanti Ra 0:25
3. Martha Handford (AB) IF/Different Bi 1:56
4. Vicki Thomas (ON) Ride with Rendall 2:29
5. Barbara Zimich (BC) Team Coastal 3:09
6. Brenda Reid (SK) cycledelia 3:26
7. Lesley Trivett (BC) Wedgewood Cycling 5:12
8. Joanne Breau (AB) BICISPORT 5:32
9. Barbara Polehoykie (BC) Blizzard Cycling C 6:54
10. Lesley Chown (ON) St. Catharines CC 8:21
DNF Alison Keple (BC) Frontrunners
Masters 40+ Men – 4 Laps
1. Peter Stevenson (BC) Cowichan Cycling C 37:00
2. David Holden (BC) aviawest-vega 0:14
3. Derek Shiers (WA) Ti Cycles/ Avanti 0:40
4. Steven Murray (BC) sorca 0:40
5. Robert Orange (QC) Ride With Rendall 0:55
6. Peter Toth (BC) ERTC 1:08
7. Chris Sayers (BC) Kelowna Cycles 1:47
8. Dale Ewanchook (BC) Floraglo 2:24
9. Brian Griffin (BC) maple ridge cycle/ 2:39
10. Paul O'Blenes (ON) The Cyclery 2:49
11. Tracy Shearer (AB) Juventus Cycling C 3:02
12. Michael Judge (BC) Steed Cycles 3:17
13. Stephen Cork (BC) Escape Velocity 4:32
14. Jeff Spence (BC) wedgewood 4:37
15. Lance Adamson (AB) Juventus 5:04
16. Greg McKee (SK) cycledelia 5:27
17. Peter Wellsman (BC) Rider's Cycles 5:48
18. Rick Thiessen (BC) gigabike/Lazy Boy 6:23
19. Kevin Sutton (SK) Saskatoon Triathlo 7:25
20. Paul Brend (BC) IRC 7:40
21. Jay Loder (BC) 11:04
Masters 30-39 Men – 5 Laps
1. Normon Thibault (BC) Frontrunners 44:27
2. Andre Sutton (AB) Hardcore Cycling 0:05
3. Craig Hawkes (ON) THE CYCLERY 1:23
4. Rob Gosselin (BC) Atomic 1:47
5. Chris McNeil (NL) Canary Cycles 2:02
6. Aart Van Kooy (BC) Bike Barn 2:31
7. Keith Bayly (AB) Deadgoat Racing 2:40
8. Robin Dutton (BC) Arrowsmith Bike 2:54
9. Andrew Brown (BC) Dalvay/Taylors 2:55
10. Trevor Hopkins (BC) Team Whistler / Na 3:00
11. Stephen Proulx (ON) The Cyclery 3:14
12. Jason Fluckiger (BC) Bayside 3:26
13. Scott McGregor (BC) Steed Cycles 3:30
14. David Perrin (BC) n/a 3:36
15. Clayton Sansbury (BC) bayside cycling 3:38
16. Rick Rodland (BC) Norco/ Flora-Glo/ 3:47
17. Marc Boudreau (ON) Ride with Rendall 4:14
18. Jay Murray (BC) Trek / Red Truck A 4:22
19. Dave Nowak (BC) Frontrunners/CVCC 4:52
20. Menno Jongsma (BC) frontrunners 5:04
21. Andrew Hilton (AB) Pedalhead Roadwork 5:41
22. Brent Hambleton (BC) na 5:44
23. Brad Collins (BC) Bicycle Sports 5:46
24. Gordon Ross (BC) Escape Velocity 5:46
25. Jason Sandquist (BC) Frontrunners 5:49
26. Patrick Beckstead (BC) Scott Bikes - Ambl 5:59
27. Jeff Hanninen (BC) Bayside 7:22
28. Vaughn Hildebrand (BC) Island Racing Club 7:23
29. Rumon Carter (BC) Frontrunners 7:32
30. David Cressman (BC) Wedgewood Cycling 7:33
31. Jason Leber (BC) Steed Cycles 8:06
32. Robbie Bitz (BC) The local Ride 8:27
DNF Michael Achuff (BC) Pedalhead Racing
Junior Men – 4 Laps
1. Spencer Smitheman (AB) Team Alberta 36:15
2. Garrett McLeod (NS) Annapolis Valley C 0:42
3. David Larson (AB) Juventus 1:06
4. Graeme Bant (BC) Rocky Mountain / D 2:13
5. Kevin Thorpe (BC) dEVo/ Escape Veloc 3:47
6. Cody Campbell (BC) Team dEVo 3:56
7. Stephen Cooley (SK) Team Sask. 4:07
8. Andrew Schietzsch (AB) Juventus 10:56
U23 Men – 5 Laps
1. Kyle Douglas (ON) 3 Rox Racing 45:02
2. Aaron Schooler (AB) E.R.T.C. 0:24
3. Shaun Adamson (AB) Team Alberta 0:36
4. Brian Robinson (AB) Cyclemeisters/Bow 0:58
5. Mike Bidniak (AB) Team Alberta 1:24
6. Andrew Thomas (SK) Team Saskatchewan 1:41
7. Dave Brooks (SK) Team Saskatchewan 2:43
8. Alexander Fulton (ON) Ottawa Bicycle Clu 3:23
9. Kevin Hazzard (ON) McMaster Cycling 4:07
Elite Women – 4 Laps
1. Lyne Bessette (QC) Cyclocrossworld.co 37:31
2. Wendy Simms (BC) Kona 0:08
3. Mical Dyck (AB) Team Alberta 1:45
4. Tara Ross (ON) Cheerwine 1:45
5. Kelly Jones (BC) Sugoi Factory Team 2:12
6. Lisa Ludwig (BC) Oak Bay Bikes 3:07
7. Amanda Shaw (ON) Biovail 3:31
8. Dawn Berg (BC) Oak Bay Bikes 3:35
9. Jenny Trew (AB) Team Giant 4:50
10. Leah Guloien (BC) Team Sugoi/Giant 4:52
11. Sandra Walter (BC) XO-Felt 5:05
12. Patricia Sinclair (BC) Scott 5:19
13. Sarah Stewart (BC) Wedgewood Cycling 5:27
14. Christy Love (BC) Sugoi Factory Team 5:33
15. Karen Watson (ON) McMaster Cycling 6:02
16. Stephanie Roorda (BC) Synergy Racing Cycle 7:34
17. Chelsea Bilsbarrow (BC) giant canada 8:07
18. Melanie Vaughan (BC) 8:47
19. Heather King (BC) Natural Earth Raci 10:05
DNF Jaymie McGowan (BC) Oak Bay Bikes
Elite Men – 5 Laps
1. Greg Reain (ON) Stevens Racing 58:16
2. Geoff Kabush (BC) Maxxis :20
3. Mathieu Toulouse (QC) Team Maxxis Cycloc 1:47
4. Kris Sneddon (BC) Kona Les Gets 2:19
5. Michael Garrigan (ON) HB Cycling Club 2:32
6. Andrew Pinfold (BC) Symmetrics Cycling 3:28
7. Ryan Hopping (AB) Redbike 3:30
8. Mathew Hewitt (BC) oak bay bicycles 3:49
9. Andreas Hestler (BC) Rocky Mountain-Bus 3:53
10. Kevin Noiles (BC) Masi adobie 4:30
11. David Coughlin (ON) Aquila Racing/Race 4:31
12. Osmond Bakker (ON) The Cyclery 4:41
13. Nathan Chown (ON) Cyclissimo/ KONA C 4:48
14. Daniel MacDonald (BC) Bike Barn 4:49
15. Julian Hine (ON) The Cyclery 4:50
16. Drew Mackenzie (BC) sugoi/giant 5:17
17. Nick Friesen (AB) Pedalhead Roadwork 5:20
18. Troy Woodburn (BC) Giga Bike 5:27
19. Craig Richey (BC) Kona Bikes 5:56
20. Tyler Trace (BC) Giga-Bike/ La-Z-Bo 6:45
21. Thomas Skinner (BC) Sugoi/Giant Bicycl 7:26
22. Tristan Galbraith (ON) Dropmachine.com/Co 8:07
23. Robert Britton (BC) Giga-Bike 9:08
29. Phil Cortes (OR) LOUIS GARNEAU 1 Lap
24. Robin Baillie (BC) H&R Block 2 Laps
25. Fred Hodgson (BC) Island Cycle 2 Laps
26. Christopher Molgat-roy (BC) pedalhead 2 Laps
27. Will Pratt (BC) The Bike Barn 2 Laps
28. Scott Kelly (ON) Freewheel Cycle/Op 2 Laps
30. Scott Malone (BC) Steed Cycles 2 Laps
31. Matthew O'Hagan (BC) IRC p/b Cameron La 2 Laps
32. Chris Reid (BC) Midweek Club 3 Laps
33. Joe Wessel (BC) Fresh Air Experien 3 Laps
34. Aaron Amar (BC) Island Racing Club 3 Laps
DNF Jonathan Gormick (BC) Steed Cycles/RBCDS
DNF Andrew Kyle (BC) Sugoi
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Photo: Mark Lazarkski/lazarskiphoto.com file photo
Greg Reain (ON) Stevens Racing - 2006 Canadian Cyclocross champ.
Photo: Mark Lazarkski/lazarskiphoto.com file photo
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