Canadian National Championships - CNCanada, July 13-16, 2000Race Schedule
Day 4 - July 16: M/W/U23 Road Races, PeterboroughLukaszewicz and Jeanson gain Olympic spotsWomenDouble world junior champion Geneviève Jeanson of Lachine, Que., qualified for the Olympics Sunday at the Tim Hortons Road Nationals cycling competition finishing ahead of the other Games eligible riders. Sandy Espeseth of Vancouver won the 199 kilometre race in three hours and 08.59 minutes. Melanie Nadeau of Ascot Corner, Que., was second and Leigh Hobson of Waterloo, Ont., third. However all eyes were on the five Olympic eligible cyclists. In fact they spent the entire race watching each other as expected in a trial selection race. Most of the action happened in the uphill sprint to the finish over the last 600 metres, Jeanson crossed 19th overall in 3:16.12, Lyne Bessette of Knowlton, Que., 20th, Clara Hughes of Winnipeg 21st, Anne Samplonius of Toronto 22nd and Annie Gariepy of Bromont, Que., 23rd. "This is a very exciting moment for me," said Jeanson, 18, currently ranked 16th in the world. "I was pretty nervous before the race but I was able to control myself. I made a firm decision when I was 15, I would put everything I had into the sport and that I would one day go to the Olympics. The reason was because I just loved it so much." Now with the Olympics on the horizon Jeanson isn't sure what her program is for the next couple of months. She said she definitely won't go to Europe for the World Cup races. Jeanson won a World Cup race this past April in Belgium. A selection committee will decide the other two female cyclists for the Olympic team. Hughes has an advantage because she is the only rider who has met the Olympic criteria in the individual time trial. Bessette, a Tour de l'Aude champion last year and Canada's number-two rider internationally, also appears to have an edge as well for a spot. "That's just the way the race had to be," said Hughes, a double Olympic bronze medallist in 1996. "It was a bit strange. But I'm happy with how it turned out. I think Lynn and I should be considered the favorites the make the team. I feel pretty safe and I also feel confident I can win a medal at the Games. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I had a chance." MenAt 36, Czezlaw Lukaszewicz of Chateauguay, Que., was possibly riding his last hope to compete at an Olympic Games but he surprised even himself to win the men's road race Sunday at the Tim Hortons Road Nationals cycling competition Lukaszewicz automatically earns a berth to Sydney along with Gord Fraser of Nepean, Ont., who placed second but gets an Olympic spot as the top-ranked Canadian internationally. The two other men's spots will be selected by a committee and announced later. Lukaszewicz clocked the 224-kilometre race in five hours and 17 minutes and 33 seconds. Fraser followed at 5:19:15, Brian Walton of Delta, B.C., was third at 5:19.21, Paul Kelly of Calgary fourth at 5:19.29 and Eric Wohlberg of Levack, Ont., fifth at 5:19.51. "I'm very, very tired but I can't believe I won," said Lukaszewicz, a father of two who arrived in Canada from Poland in 1989. "It was a very aggressive race, there were so many attacks it was crazy." ResultsWomen - 119 km 1. Sandy Espeseth (Intersports) 3.08.59 2. Melanie Nadeau (Team QC) 0.02 3. Leigh Hobson (Charles Schwab) 4. Chrissy Redden (Gary Fisher-Saab) 5. Nicole Gingles (800.com) 6. Melanie McQuaid (BC) 7. Chloe Black (Intersports) 0.08 8. Sara Neil (Trek Volkswagen) 4.06 9. Stephanie Hannos (BC) 10. Leigh Goldstein (800.com) ... 19. Geneviève Jeanson (Medico Sportif) 7.13 20. Lynn Bessette (Saturn) 21. Clara Hughes (Saturn) 22. Anne Samplonius (Intersports) 23. Annie Gariepy (Elita) Men - 224 km 1. Czeslaw Lukaszewicz (Wustenrot-ZVVZ) 5.17.33 2. Gord Fraser (Mercury) 1.47 3. Brian Walton (Saturn) 1.48 4. Paul Kelly (Navigators) 1.56 5. Eric Wohlberg (Shaklee) 2.18 U23 Men - 170 km 1. Wannes Maertens (BC) |