07.04.08 - Tuft and Samplonius win time trials at Tim Hortons Road Nationals cycling championships

ST-GEORGES-DE-BEAUCE, Que. – Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., and Anne Samplonius of Montreal won the men’s and women’s time trials respectively on Friday at the Tim Hortons Road Nationals cycling championships.

In the women’s elite 20 kilometre time trial, Samplonius successfully defended her title clocking 29 minutes and 59.02 seconds. Julie Beveridge of Calgary was second in 30:03.29 and Alex Wrubleski of Regina third in 30:03.33.

‘’In this race you can’t lose your focus and you can never let up,’’ said Samplonius. ‘’It’s constant suffering and every part of your body is screaming for you to ease up. You have to hold that fine line the whole way. But I was in that zone today where I was pushing hard and I felt smooth. When it was over I knew I had given it everything I had.’’

Wrubleski, an Olympic nominee for the women’s road team, was also pleased with her race.

‘’This was the most comfortable I’ve felt racing in awhile,’’ said Wrubleski, who has posted two fourth place finishes on the World Cup this season. ‘’I was focusing on not over extending myself too much. I was looking for consistent smooth pedaling and keeping a good line.’’

In the women’s under-23 time trial Beveridge took the title with Karol-Ann Canuel of Amos, Que., in second and Véronique Bilodeau of Longueuil, Que., third.

In the men’s elite 40 kilometre time trial, Tuft took the title in 51:23.60 with Ryan Roth of Bright, Ont., second in 53:15.62 and Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon third in 54:15.66.

The victory continued a superb season for Tuft. He won the Tour de Beauce here a few weeks ago and was a triple gold medalist at the Pan Am Championships earlier this season. He was nominated to the Olympic road team two weeks ago and is scheduled to race both the time trial and road race in Beijing.

‘’Going into the Olympics, it wasn’t so much winning that was important for me today,’’ said Tuft. ‘’I just really wanted to feel good about my race and still have a lot left in the tank at the end. And I achieved that. So this is a big confidence boost.’’

In the men’s under-23 race, David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que. , Bryson Bowers of Kingston, Ont., and Garrett McLeod of Wolfville, N.S., were respectively 1-2-3.

Competition continues Saturday featuring the women’s road race.