Raid Velo Mag battle with friends

Friday Morining (June 24th) Kunstadt, (Imad,Ryan,James and I). Headed to MSA,(Mont Saint Anne), for a 3 day stage race.

Stage 1:

Friday 4pm-- 17km

7km Hill Climb to the top of MSA extremely steep, summiting up a ski run. Then a 10km downhill singletrack of the awesomist twisty tight stuff littered with rocks and roots!

I Finished 5th on the day about 2 min down on Ryan who had a flat which he rode out on the final km of fireroad.

Stage 2:

Saturday 9:30am in Quebec city--77km

Mass start with a police entourage through the streets of Quebec city for about 10km Until finally getting to the trails and the race began! Was fast from the start with Ryan and the Garneau boys pushing the pace, within the first 10km we had created a selection of only 7 of us.

Included in the group was the GC winner of the last 3 yrs Marc Plante, 2 Garneau pros Marc Andre Daigle and Leni Trudel, a Scott rider, Ryan, myself and Matt Surch. We lost Matt first after he crashed into the woods in some slick stuff. Then Ryan really started to really drive it. Marc Adre-Daigle and I fell off the pace a little, but caught back up about 5km later. I'll cut it a little short on details and tell you that Ryan got another flat(tore his sidewall). So then it was the 2 Garneau boys who pulled away from us. Marc Plante pulled away from the Scott rider and me.

The 2 of us worked together for a while but I dropped him once we hit the steepest,longest climb in the woods.
I came out of there alone and rode conservatively thinking about the next day.
With about 800 meters to go Ryan caught me. I said hello, no response. He was winded for sure. So I just gaver' and beat him to the line.

Stage 3:

Sunday 9:30am Mont Saint Anne---60km

Going into the final stage I was 3rd in the GC(about 12min down). And Ryan in 2nd (about 10min down). After discussing on the start line, we decided itwas up to us to attack the leader repeatedly until someone got away. The other would stick to the leaders wheel all day.

Well Ryan attacked first and it worked. So I sat on the leaders jersey all day. We eventually caught Ryan anyway with about 20km to go. He attacked again and this time I just couldn't hold the pace --they finished together Ryan won the day and I came in about 4min behind in 3rd. We did all we could do, but the leader was strong and the deficit caused by Ryan's flat on day 2 was too much to make up.

Overall -it was an awesome event. Tons of fun and I will definitely be back next year. Thanks to James, Matt,Ryan,Dave,Imad and of course my wife Anna,(who finished 3rd in the women's GC by the way!).

Riding this event and hanging with friends reminded me of why I started mountain biking in the first place.