June Update - So much to Talk About!! 2024 Beauce & Nationals
June was an incredible month for us and thank you, thank you for your support for the TaG Cycling Race Team
The u23 mens team headed out to the biggest UCI race on the continent, The Tour de Beauce in Quebec.
A 5 Day monster of road and circuit races and hilly criterium.
The young team finished with a podium in the final crushing circuit stage. We had both Nathan Pruner in the final 7 man break…AND Sasha Renaud Tremblay.
Sasha absolutely lit it up and finished with a flashy sprint for 3rd place. Sasha is only 19 and this was his second major podium finish for the team.
Sadly, Nathan, who was our top placed athlete all week, had a really bad crash with 2km to go. He sustained quite a few injuries and was off to emergency. He is recovering really well and hopes to be riding by the end of the summer.
In spite of losing our top rider result from Nathan to score for the overall team classification, TaG finished 7th overall for the week in the star studded list of professional teams!
A few days quick turn around and the entire team met for National Championships in Quebec.
The first race is the time trial for which we had hopes of at least 1 podium.
First race was the Junior women and 17 year old Sidney Swierenga topped the field of incredible u19 talent in the country. TaG’s first podium was a National Title for Sidney! Sidney is now on her way to World Championships for the road race as well as the time trial.
Soon after in the men’s races, Campbell Parrish pulled off an awesome u23 Bronze Medal.
Such a great performance for both of them.
Onto the road races. Sidney fought a rough battle as she was very marked from her obvious TT ability. She rode really aggressively but couldn’t quite shake them all. Still a very good showing in 6th place.
A highlight of the week was the Men’s Pro Road Race.
Expert DS Gord Fraser told the men that a serious breakaway would go very early and not to be scared of being in it. True to his word a 12 man break formed only 15 km in to 199km. There were various drops and adds but everyone knew when Tour de France stage winner Mike Woods came up , that some of them in the break would go to the finish.
TaG’s 20 year old Manu Moore was there from the beginning. He stuck it out for 184km and finished 5th u23 and 8th Pro man. After the race he said he was happy with his performance,but the highlight for him was riding with his Tour hero for the majority of the race!
Finishing off the weekend. The National Championship Criterium was another goal for us. In the last laps Reid Kinniburgh made a brave solo move to get across to the 2 man break and almost made it. His 3rd place Pro man and podium was another of the best performances of our week.
Onto France and Belgium for our last block of racing.
Lesley T