TUFT, WHITTEN WIN
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
ROAD TITLES
S
vein Tuft of Langley, B.C., coming back from a serious concussion, and Tara Whitten of
Edmonton, in her cycling road nationals debut, won the men’s and women’s Canadian
titles in the elite time trials at the 2009 national championships.
In the 40 kilometre men’s elite time trial, Tuft took the gold medal for his fourth title in the
last five years clocking 52 minutes and 08.56 seconds. Christian Meier of Langley, B.C., was
second in 53:07.88 and Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon third in 53:41.95.
Earlier this season at the Tour of California, Tuft suffered a serious concussion in a fright-
ening crash. It has been a battle for Tuft to regain the magic touch that made him such a
sensation in 2008 but he says his victory Friday is a first step.
“I’m on my way back,” said Tuft, a silver medallist in the time trials at the world champi-
onships last year and seventh at the Olympic Games. “A 40 kilometre time trial is never easy.
It’s been a rough start to the season, I’ve never gone through anything like that. But with the
success I had last year, that’s my reference for what to shoot for.”
Whitten won the women’s elite 20 kilometre race held partly in rainy conditions in 29 min-
utes and 29.49 seconds. Anne Samplonius of Montreal was second in 30:15.01 and Laura
Brown of Maple Ridge, B.C., was third in
30:30.46.
This is the first full season on the road for
Whitten. Earlier this year she won a silver
medal in the criterium at the world track cy-
cling championships to cap an exceptional
season on the track. She plans to combine
track and road for the foreseeable future.
“I came into this race with a hope to
reach the podium,” said Whitten, the Tour
“We can put any number of guys on the top of PEI road stage race champion earlier this
step of the podium if we ride the way we’re ca- month that featured teams from 12 coun-
pable of,” Bell said of his team. “It’s really tries. “I’m more of a power rider so my
surprising to find another team that has the same strategy was to hold my own on the climbs
kind of selflessness as the Symmetrics guys.” then really try to make up time coming
Bell is one of several talented local riders back down.”
from the powerful Symmetrics squad who re- In the women’s under-23 time trial race,
turned to race at BC Superweek with new Julie Beveridge of Calgary successfully de-
U.S.-based teams. Among them is Bell’s Kelly fended her title clocking 29:58.01. Denise
Benefits teammate Ryan Anderson, Whistler’s Ramsden of Kingston, Ont., was second in
Will Routley of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling and North 30:49.46 and Joelle Numainville of Laval,
Vancouver’s Andrew Pinfold and Tsawwassen’s Que.third in 31:01.98.
Svein Tuft
Cam Evans of Ouch Pro Cycling. Beveridge is on the comeback trail after injuring her back and neck in a crash at the Tour
Pinfold said it was sad to see Symmetrics fold, de l’Aude last month in France. She raced later on at the World Cup in Montreal and was un-
but “it’s been great being able to land on my feet. able to finish that race because she was in too much pain.
And pretty much everyone was able to find a “I’ve had some very bad luck this season so it’s nice to come here and get the win,” said
home on other teams. Beveridge. “It hasn’t been too much fun. I was feeling still a little sore today and that affected
“It’s exciting being a part of a big American my concentration and I made some mistakes. I was probably a bit too cautious.”
squad because before Symmetrics that was al- David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que., won the men’s under-23 race for the second straight
ways my No. 1 objective.” year in 54:18.06. Ryan Anderson of Vancouver was second in 55:32.99 and Cody Campbell of
Pinfold won the Tour de Delta road race last Surrey, B.C., third in 55:57.41. Veilleux has made a complete recovery from a broken collarbone
year, the overall Tour de White Rock and cri- suffered this spring in training.
teriums at the Tour de Gastown and Giro di “It went really well,” said Veilleux. “My effort was consistent. I can’t complain. The course
Burnaby. Both of the latter two races won’t be here is difficult because you constantly have to change rhythms.”
run this year because of difficulties in securing
sponsorship. WC — Canadian Cycling Association/Canadian Sports News
SUMMER 2009 | WESTERN CYCLIST 1 9
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