Before the elites lined up and before the ground thawed at Layritz Park, the masters men and women kicked off 2023 Canadian cyclocross national championships. Spread across several race starts, the age categories mixed fierce and fast racing with friendly competition and shared celebrations. Every finish line, no matter how hard fought, came with hugs and high fives.
The masters women were up first, facing a frosty course and several frozen corners as the sun worked its way up and over the trees of Layritz Park. While every category would face changing conditions on Saturday, the masters, and especially women, faced a tricky course.
Pepper Harlton was the day’s first national champion, winning the 35-44 master’s women’s race.
“I had really great race, it was really dynamic. Every lap the sun was touching a different part of the course, it was like a sunshine time bomb,” said Harlton. From Devon, Alberta, thenew champion was ready for the frosty course, and revelling in the changing conditions. “I was expecting it to be muddier but, given the time the start was, I wasn’t surprised to see frost on course. But it had a velcro feel, at first, it was great.”
In the 65+ women’s race, Patricia Konantz and Barb Morris were all smiles in the finish area after taking on the frozen early morning conditions.
“The cornering was very slick becuase the ground was still frozen,” Konantz said of her winning ride. “My back wheel skidded out a few times. I got caught in a rut once, but for the most part it was pretty fun. Very cautious though.”
“That’s how the race was won!” Morris chimed in.
“Yeah, it was won by staying upright and not breaking any bones,” Konantz added. “It was a very very fun course. It’s wonderful to be here in Victoria. I love the snow, but this is nice!”
While the two were the only entries in the category, they finished just 32 seconds apart after three laps of the frozen course.
“We need to do some recruiting for this category!” Konantz said with a laugh.
“I think just showing up is the main thing. I’m not a great cyclocrosser, but last year they finally added this category. If we don’t show up, they won’t want to hold it,” Morris chimed in. “There’s lots of men in this category, so why shouldn’t there be lots of women as well!”
The men were up next, with five entries….
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