It may still be February and very wintery here in Canada, but international racing is already underway. Canadian cross country and downhill racers are scattered around the globe chasing sun, singletrack, UCI points and, in Jackson Goldstone’s case, racking up other country’s national championships.
Canadians were in action in two downhill and two cross country races this weekend. Here’s how they fared.
Goldstone steals New Zealand DH national championships
Goldstone racks up his second consecutive successful poaching of a national championship, winning the New Zealand national champs ahead of teammate Laurie Greenland. Both are officially registered as “ghost riders,” as non-New Zealand citizens, so it is Toby Meek that gets the title and the sleeve just ahead of Sam Blenkinsop. But it is yet another a good sign for Goldstone, winning his second elite race this year and, like in Australia, against an elite field.
Puerto Rico Tropical Mountain Bike Challenge XCO (UCI HC)
Over in Puerto Rico, Canadians crowded into the top-10 positions in Sunday’s HC-ranked XCO at the Tropical Mountain Bike Challenge. As she did in Saturday’s Short Track (XCC), Haley Smith (Maxxis Factory Racing) led Canada’s results. Smith finished fourth in the elite women’s XCO behind race winner Gwen Gibson (Trek Factory Racing). Cindy Montambault (Project Dialed-In) joined Smith on the extended podium.
Juliette Larose-Gingras placed 16th in the elite women’s XCO, Emily Batty 21st and Julianne Sarrazin 22nd.
On the men’s side, Andrew L’Esperance earned another podium for the Maxxis squad, finishing fifth in Sunday’s elite men’s XCO. Jose Gerardo Ulloa bested Chilean phenom Martin Vidaurre Kossmann to take the XCO win with the U.S.A.’s Riley Amos in third.
Léandre Bouchard, Cole Punchard, Noah Ramsay and Victor Verreault joined L’Esperance in the top-10, finishing 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th, respectively, a strong showing for the Canucks in Sunday’s elite men’s XCO. Owen Clark followed in 12th, Quinton Disera 15th, Tyler Clark 18th, Raphael Auclair 20th, Tyler Orschel 23rd, William Cote 32nd, Zachary Brunelle 34th, Malcolm Barton 37th, and Simon Ruelland 40th.
Quebec’s Jacob Roy added another top 10, finishing seventh in the junior men’s XCO in Puerto Rico. Nathan Hauber followed in 12th, Ulric Doyon 15th and Alix Brunelle 17th in the 46-rider junior men’s field.
Portugal Cup DH – Downhill de Tarouca (UCI C1)
Over in Europe,…
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