It was a muddy day at the Canadian mountain bike nationals at the Gorge in Kentville, NS, the weekend continuing with the Olympic cross-country races. The heavy rains of the previous day made the course slick and sketchy in parts, as well as washing out the main road from Halifax to Kentville, preventing several athletes from competing.
The racing was fast, despite the slippery conditions. Jenn Jackson for Liv Factory Racing went off the front within the first lap and maintained her lead over all five laps, almost six minutes ahead of second place. She takes home the XCO National Champion jersey ahead of Haley Smith and Sandra Walter.
“It was extremely slippery. We knew it was going to be a full hour and a half race and with the flat rooty conditions you just can’t rush.” Jackson said. “I had a clean race. It was a super challenging course and I’m so happy to get the national champs jersey back.”
National short track champion Carter Woods also went off the front early in the men’s elite category, with the race coming down once again to a battle between Woods and Léandre Bouchard. Woods would be first over the line and takes home his second maple leaf jersey this weekend.
It was a day for the early breakaways in the U23 category as well, with Emilly Johnston following Jackson’s lead to break early. She finished almost four minutes ahead of Ella Myers and Ella MacPhee.
In the men’s category, Cole Punchard claimed the national champion’s jersey ahead of Owen Clark and Noah Ramsay.
Two for two in the junior races
In the junior men’s races, Ian Ackert, Thursday’s short track champion went off the front of the pack early to take home his second National champion jersey of the weekend.
“You had to get a gap at the start, just to be able to ride smooth and not get caught in any traffic so first lap I just went on the road climb and just didnt look back from there.” Ackert said.
Felix Antoine LeClaire and Jacob Roy made up top three for the junior men’s race.
Another repeat champion in the junior women’s category, with Marin Lowe leading a solo breakaway early for her second National champion jersey of the weekend.
“It’s one of my favourite courses I’ve ever done.” Lowe said. “It reminds me of home and I live in BC where it’s always muddy like this so I was just stoked to ride it.”
Anabelle Drouin and Ayana Gagne made up the top three for the Junior women’s race.
Under-17s and masters
In the U17 men’s race,…
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