Houle crowned Canadian time trial champion

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The Canadian National Road Championships opened on Thursday in Saint-Georges, Quebec, with the Individual Time Trial competition. Hugo Houle (AG2R la Mondiale) took advantage of the absence of nine-time champion Svein Tuft (Orica GreenEdge) to score his first Elite title, holding off Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Racing) by 26 seconds to win. Tuft's team mate, Christian Meier, was third one minute and six seconds off the pace.

The 42 kilometre course featured multiple long rolling climbs, plus tough, gusting winds that pushed the riders around. Held on a new, unopened highway, riders had a perfect surface to race on.

Houle came into the race as the favourite, after a series of strong time trial rides earlier in the season in Europe, plus racing the Giro. However, Roth, who finished second on a shortened version of the course less than two weeks earlier at the Tour de Beauce, kept the race close.

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Houle established a 15 second lead quickly with a fast start, but then could not back off as Roth kept the pressure on.

"I opened very fast, but Roth was quicker than me on the downhills, I think," explained Houle. "I think I was a little stronger on the uphills, but it was hard, very hard out there all race. The fact that Svein was not here was a great opportunity. I had a target on my back today, and I wanted to rise to the challenge. I self-imposed on myself a great deal of expectations today, and I am happy to have delivered."

Houle also revealed that Tuft had sent him an e-mail before the racing urging him to keep the national jersey on a WorldTour team so that it would be seen in Europe, adding to the pressure.

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