Adam Roberge (centre) celebrates on podium as elite men’s winner 2024 Canadian Gravel National Championships(Image credit: Cycling Canada / Cody Shimizu @Shimizuimg)
Katja Verkerk celebrates elite women’s victory on top step of podium at 2024 Canadian Gravel Championships at Ghost of the Gravel(Image credit: Cody Shimizu – @Shimizuimg)
The 118km course featured a clockwise loop in western Alberta with 6,800 feet of climbing, the highest point of the route hitting at the half-way point and climbing to 5,400 feet above sea level. Rolling hills prevailed throughout a cold, wet and rainy day.
“It was hard from the beginning and with the weather, it was hard to draft,” said Roberge in a Cycling Canada media release. “I figured being patient would be better with that type of course.”
Verkerk came into the gravel championships after a spring of road racing, where she had stage wins at Valley of the Sun Stage Race and Tucson Bicycle Classic in Arizona in category 4 and 3 divisions, respectively. The Victoria, British Colombia rider took the solo victory in 4:37:45, 2:54 in front of Smith. Anna Gabrielle Traxler was third, another one minute back.
“I’m new to racing, so I don’t know anyone,” Vervek said in the media release. “I tried to follow the first five to ten wheels and I followed an attack from a rider I followed for a while, until she had a mechanical, where I could pass her. I wasn’t expecting to put a Canadian jersey on today, so it’s kind of crazy.”Â
This year’s nationals were part of Ghost of the Gravel weekend, an hour from Calgary in Water Valley. The same 118km course, called the Scary route, was used for other start waves for recreational fondo riders. Last year the gravel nationals were held in Ontario.
Results – elite women top 5
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Pos.
Rider
Time
1
Katja Verkerk (Physical Culture Straight Up Cycles)
