Cyclocross racers battle rain and mud
Kathy Eggenberger second in the masters women’s 35-44 category
Peterborough has thrown challenging conditions at riders as host of the Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships on consecutive years.
In 2018 it was snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures and this year it was rain, mud and a slippery course at Nicholls Oval. More than 600 cyclists from across Canada braved the conditions for nationals on Saturday and an International Cycling Union points race on Sunday.
Chilliwack, B.C.’s Michael van den Ham overcame an early fall to reel in Marc Andre Fortier to win his third consecutive elite men’s championship. With it comes the honour of wearing a Canadian maple leaf jersey for the next year.
“The first one is always going to be one of my most special days on a bike ever,” said van den Ham, 29, “but I like being able to wear the jersey and be able to represent Canada when I race in the U.S. and Europe. I don’t really have any intention of giving it up. Marc rode a great race but I was happy to hold him off.”
He passed Fortier in the thirdlast lap and opened a comfortable lead he held.
“He had about a 15-second lead and I had to slowly claw it back. There was a little while where I thought maybe it wasn’t going to happen,” he said. “I was able to stay riding strong and in a positive mindset and three seconds per lap I was able to take it back.”
Weather is always a variable in fall racing.
“Compared to last year this is like a spring day,” said van den Ham. “Still, the course was very slick. This is an excellent venue and an excellent course. If you are going to win here you have to have a good day and be a complete bike rider.”
Alex Lefebvre, 28, was the top Peterborough rider in elite men’s placing 13th and improving on 24th place last year.
“It was a different course than last year,” said Lefebvre. “Last year we had snow and a lot of mud. This year it was a little more balanced and less mud but it was still very fast. I felt like I improved from last year. I worked on some weaknesses and came back to give it another solid go.”
Gunnar Holmgren of Orillia and his father Robert pulled off a father-son gold medal performance. Gunnar, 20, whose mother Lisa is a Peterborough native, successfully defended his men’s U23 title while Robert won gold in the masters men’s 45-50 age group, improving on a 2018 silver medal.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Gunnar. “He’s also my coach. I guess it’s proof what we’re doing is working.”
Gunnar is a three-time national champion, having also won at junior.
“It’s always an honour being a national champion,” he said. “The maple leaf is a special thing to have for the year.”
Kathy Eggenberger had the top result among Peterborough riders, placing second in the masters women’s 35-44 age group. The 2019 Ontario champion improved upon a fourthplace finish at last year’s nationals.
A first-lap crash in 2018 put her behind the eight ball and staying upright all race helped this year, she said.
“One of the things I was working on in my training was better, faster cornering so as not to crash,” said Eggenberger, 42. “There was a bit of a home course advantage.”
She finished second to Edmonton’s Sarah Gilchrist, who also won last year.
“I tried to stay with her for a while but she was just stronger,” said Eggenberger. “That’s racing.”
For results visit www.cyclingmagazine.ca.