By now, everyone knows Canmore’s Sara Poidevin and Banff’s Liah Harvie are two of the nation’s most promising mountain bike racers.
But at the 2013 Canadian Road Championships in Lac Megantic, Que., last weekend, they proved to be a force on skinny tires as well.
Both grew stronger as the weekend went on, and 17-year-old Poidevin landed on the podium with a third-place performance on Sunday in the 33 kilometre criterium. Harvie finished fifth on a dominating Team Alberta squad.
“We tried to keep the pace really high. My job was to stay at the front and go fast,” Poidevin said.
The Canadian Road Championships was only the sixth time Poidevin has entered a road race in her life. She and Harvie both faired well at Banff Bikefest, but were unsure what they would see at nationals.
“I didn’t know what to expect, and I had no expectations going in, so I learned lots,” Poidevin said. “But I have a better idea of where I fit in with the other girls in the country. I haven’t had a chance to figure out exactly what I’m good at with road biking yet.”
Both started out tentatively in the individual time trial, where Harvie finished eighth, 1:24 behind winner Kinley Gibson on the 15-km course, while Poidevin was 11th, 2:03 off the pace.
“In the time trial, there was some climbing. It was an out and back course,” Poidevin said.
In the road race, Harvie and Poidevin both worked to support Gibson in the peloton, setting their teammate up for a run at the podium. Despite being tasked with all of the heavy lifting, Harvie and Poidevin still finished fifth and sixth.
“It had some steep hills on the way back, so there was a fair bit of climbing,” Harvie said.
Their legs feeling stronger, they had great results in the crit, with their third and fifth place result.
“I got more and more tired as the weekend went on, but apparently I was stronger,” Poidevin said.
Both are members of the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club, and will participate in the club’s Canmore race, July 13-14. They’re also off to represent Alberta at the Canada Summer Games in August, which is also in Quebec.
The duo have been training in Calgary, scouted by top national team coaches and, according to their club, represent a bright future for women’s cycling in the Bow Valley.
In the meantime, they’re still spotted riding often on Bow Valley Parkway to Lake Louise, and acing the top mountain bike trails in the region.
“I like both road and mountain biking right now. Mostly I just like riding around,” Poidevin said.
A full list of results is available at www.cyclingcanada.ca
