The first US Cup of 2023 opened with fast and furious short track cross country racing in Vail Lake, Cali. on Friday. Maghalie Rochette led a very strong list of Canadian results, finishing 1-2 with Jenn Jackson in the women’s STXC race.
On the men’s side, 2021 Canadian short track national champion Quinton Disera finished as runner up to 2021 short track world champion, Cristopher Blevins.
Friday’s intense 20-minute efforts are the warm up for Sunday’s main event, the full-length US Cup XCO of 2023.
Podiums for Canada in junior men and women STXC
Huge start lists for the junior men’s short track cross country saw the field divided into heats. Stimulus Orbea’s Ian Ackert won the first heat with Maxime St. Onge close behind in third. The second head was won be Kade Kreikemeier with Ontario’s Alexander Woodford close behind in third.
In the final, though, it was the Bear National duo of Jack Spranger and Cayden Parker taking the top two spots. Simon Ruelland (Sigma/Equipe du Quebec) put Canada on the podium in third with Ackert following on the same second in fourth.
Bailey Cioppa earned a second win for the Bear National team, finishing first in the junior women’s STXC. Stimulus Orbea’s multi-talented twins, Isabella and Ava Holmgren rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively. The Ontario racers broke up a streak of five Bear National racers finishing in the top seven of the junior women’s short track on Friday.
Jacob Roy added another podium for Canada, finishing second behind David Thompson in the under-17 men’s STCX at Vail Lake.
Rochette leads Canadians in California
Cyclocross racer Maghalie Rochette (Specialized/Feedback Sports) scored Canada’s first win of the Vail Lake US Cup weekend, edging out fellow Canuck Jenn Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) in the elite women’s short track. Rochette wins in an incredibly close sprint, with the top six women all finishing within two seconds after 18 minutes 53 seconds of racing.
Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and recent Trek Factory Racing signing, Gwen Gibson followed the Canadians across the line. Haley Smith (Maxxis Factory Racing) squeezed into the top 10 in ninth.
Quinton Disera (Pivot Cycles-OTE) put Canada on the podium again in the elite men’s short track race. The Ontario racer finished second behind Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing). The U.S. racer is fresh off of a victory at the ABSA Cape Epic in South Africa. He is also the
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