OTTAWA — Bruno Langlois of Matane, Que., finally won the elite men’s title on Sunday at the global relay Canadian road championships.
Ben Perry of St Catharines, Ont., finished second, and was awarded the under-23 national title, with Will Routley of Whistler, B.C., third.
The 180-kilometre race was one of attrition, with only 18 finishers out of 141 starters, due to the heat and intense pace. The 37 year-old Langlois was one of ten riders that broke away from the main field early in the 18-lap race and steadily built up an insurmountable lead over the rest of the field.
With three laps to go, the final selection was made at the front of the race, with four riders vying for the national title — Langlois, Perry, Routley and Ottawa’s Matteo Dal-Cin. The four came into the final corner of the race, with 280 metres to go, with Dal-Cin in the lead. The Ottawa rider took the corner too fast and slid across the road, taking down both Perry and Routley. Langlois, the fourth rider, was able to avoid the crash and coast across the finish line.
Perry quickly remounted and rode across the line to finish second, while Routley had to run to the finish with his bike, which had mechanical problems after the crash.
"I think I’ve done all the top ten places except the win," said Langlois. "Today I raced from the front, because on this course it was one where you had to gamble. I tried to attack at the end because I don’t have a good sprint, but the others guys were too strong. At the end I think the others guys went too fast into the last corner and unfortunately they crashed, so I was able to come around. Nationals is always a game of poker, especially on a course like this. It’s my best result; to be champion of your country. Everybody wants this, and I’ve been chasing it for a long time."
Perry, the under-23 champion, while happy with his title, admitted to being disappointed.
"We came here today without thoughts of the Under-23 title," Perry said. "I was really, really wanting to win the elite title. It’s an opportunity missed due to bad luck."
