July 17/04 6:49 am - MTB Nationals: Story and Full Results for Elites, Juniors and Cadets

Posted by Editoress on 07/17/04
 

Mountain Bike National Championships

Olympic-bound Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) of nearby Chateau Richer took her second consecutive title at Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships on Saturday in Mont Ste Anne, while Ricky Federau (GearsRacing.com) won his first title in the elite men's category. A total of 64 men and 34 women rode through wet and muddy conditions for the chance to win the maple leaf jersey of the national champion.

Premont took charge immediately in the women's 25 kilometre, five lap race, attacking on the first climb and establishing a 10 second gap on Karen Dewolfe (Cannondale), Chrissy Redden (Subaru-Gary Fisher) and fellow Olympian Kiara Bisaro (GearsRacing.com). Her gap grew to nearly three minutes by the fourth lap, despite heavy rain, which turned the descents into muddy and slippery chutes. The mud clogged Premont's gears in the fourth lap, forcing her to stop and do repairs, and allowing Redden and Dewolfe to pass. However, Premont was able to catch the other two by the start of the final lap, and coast in one minute and 53 seconds ahead of Redden, with Dewolfe a further three minutes and 44 seconds down.

"I had a good start, and I wanted to push hard to open up a gap. But in the rain I started falling, and losing time on the slippery descents, so I slowed down a bit, to be more careful - the Olympics were on my mind. It was at the end of the fourth lap when my chain got jammed and I had to stop, but I wasn't worried about the other two catching me, because I knew that I could have a bit of a rest while I was fixing my bike, and that I would be able to catch them again on the long climb."

Federau did not start as fast as Premont, preferring to let the front of the men's 30 kilometre race sort itself out before making his move. Chris Sheppard (Haro-Adidas) made the first move, attacking on the main climb in the opening lap. He established a 20 second gap on a chase group containing Federau, Guido Visser (Bromont-Pepsi-Momo), Peter Wedge (Kona) and Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects). Sheppard's efforts were thwarted by flat tires on the second and third laps, and late in the fourth lap Federau moved into the lead, followed by Wedge. A surge in the last lap assured Federau the victory, and a spot on the world championship squad for Les Gets, France in September.

"Coming into the race I knew that I had good form; I have been doing some really good training at home for the last couple of weeks. I just started super mellow, and as the race progressed, others guys started dropping back or having mechanical problems. The last lap I stepped it up as hard as I could, to make sure that Peter (Wedge) didn't have a chance to get up to me."

Martin Lazarski (Ontario) won the Espoir men's title after favourite Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) suffered a broken rear derailleur in the second lap.

Race Note: Federau has now won a national championship in Junior Expert, Espoir and Elite Men's categories.