Stage three won by Jean-François Laroche

(Lachine, QC) Tuesday, June 24, 2014 – Jean-François Laroche (Fantino) won the third stage of the 37th season of The Mardis Cyclistes presented by Jean Coutu with a time of 1:03:05 on the 50 km bicycle race. He finished just ahead Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Quebecor) while Benjamin Perry (MIBA Poorten) finished third.

Photo: Pierrick Naud (2^nd), Jean-François Laroche (1^st) and Benjamin Perry (3rd) on the podium. In background are Daniel Racicot (Lachine borough councillor), Claude Dauphin (Mayor of Lachine), & JF Cloutier (Lachine city councillor) ©Marie Ledoux

« We played it well, » said Laroche, a 34-year-old lawyer. « I was part of the breakaway group and stayed on the wheel of Pierrick. At the end, I just sprinted faster than him; sprinting is my specialty. This is my first stage victory in three years, even though I was champion two years ago. My team wanted to win and we have delivered! »

« I’m happy anyway, » retorted Naud, an athlete 23 years. « I was the only one of my team in the break … » He spoke of a breakaway group of a dozen cyclists who built up a 23 second lead over the pack. Naud will be competing at the Canadian Road Championships in Lac Megantic from June 26–29.

Perry, 20 years old and from the city of St. Catharines, Ontario, finished third. He achieved the same feat in the first stage on June 10. Even though he was wearing the colors of Team NCCH, he is part of the Belgian MIBA team. Perry said he will not return to the Mardis this season because will fly soon to Belgium to join his team there. In the meantime, he will also be competing at the Canadian Championships.

However, it is Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Quebecor) who leads the overall standings with 291 cumulative points after three stages, followed by Stephen Keeping (Transport Lacombe) with 218 points and Laroche has 215.

Marie-Soleil Blais (REALDEAL Gears) won this evening among women, followed by Adrianne Provost (SAS-Mazda) and Rosalie Cardin (SAS-Mazda). Provost leads the overall standings with 172 points followed by Cardin with 120 points while Blais follows in third with 86.

Griffin Schwartz (Independent) won among the cadet; Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa (NCCH) finished second followed by Francis Barriault (CCB). Schwartz also leads the overall standings with 174 total points while Kirouac-Marcassa has 128 points and Gabriel Drapeau Zgorarlaksi (CCB) follows with 96 points.

The winner among the minime boys was Antoine Dalterio (Espoirs Laval) with a time of 25:19 over the 16 km, followed by Robin Plamondon (Espoirs Laval) in second and Thomas Louis Deshaies (Amos) third. Dalterio also leads the overall standings with 168 points against 158 for Plamondon.

The winner among the minime girls was Emma Delisle (CCB), followed by her teammates Sandrine Heroux in second and Barriault Laurence in third. Delisle leads the overall standings with 156 points followed by Heroux with 148 and Barriault with 137.

The series of ten (10) stages will continue every Tuesday until August 12. The circuit is located around the Lasalle Park in the borough of Lachine. The race for the minimes starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by junior race cut (6:00 p.m.) and culminates with the race for Pro-Elite Cup at 6:50 p.m. Pro-Elite riders can reach speeds up to 70 km / h during sprints and maintain an average speed of 50 km/h for one hour. The races are free for spectators and will take place rain or shine.

Emma Delisle (CCB) won among the minime girls followed by her teammate Sandrine Heroux in second and Laurence Barriault en third. Delisle also leads in the general classification with 156 points followed by Heroux with 148 and Barriault with 137.

The Mardis series of ten (10) stage races continues every Tuesday evening through Aug. 12. The circuit is situated around Lasalle Park in the Montreal borough of Lachine. The minime race starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the cadets, women, and masters at 6 p.m. The men`s Pro-Élite race starts at 6:50.p.m. where the cyclists average close to 50 km/h and reach speeds of up to 70 km/h during sprints. The races are free for spectators.

Brief Results (Pro-Elite Men):