Mathis Beaulieu and Maira Carreau take Quebec Grand Prix in Montreal

On a busy Saturday in Old Montreal, Quebec’s Mathis Beaulieu and Maira Carreau took the Quebec Grand Prix today, with Beaulieu, 18, also taking the national junior championship. Vancouver’s Sidney Clement took the junior national championship thanks to her third-place finish in today’s race.

Beaulieu has been on a roll over the last few years, taking seven straight wins last year including the Canadian National Championship. He finished today’s race in 54:29.0.

“It was pretty slippery on the bike course with many crashes,” Beaulieu said. “I didn’t have a strategy today. I may have done things different if there weren’t so many crashes, but it was good to break away on the bike. With lots of turn arounds, it was easy to sit back in the three or four (position in the pack). I love this course. It is awesome.”

Alexandra Leblanc (Mont-Royal, Que.) took second in the Grand Prix event in 55:10.0. Quebec City’s William Nolet hung on for the bronze medal with a time of 55:34.0.

Léandre Binnette (Saint-Christophe D’Arthabaska, Que.) was second in the junior men’s standings at 55:49.0. Blake Harris, of Sanford, Man. clocked-in at 56:01.0 for the third best junior men’s time of the day.

Carreau runs to the win

“I’m pretty happy. I know the form was there but I think it has been like four weeks that I’m racing back-to-back so I was just hoping for the best, hoping the winter training would pay off,” said Carreau. “I knew I had a great swim and I just wanted to see who was pulling on the bike.”

“On the run, I did what I always do. Start on my pace, and push through,” Carreau continued. “I’m pretty happy overall. Hopefully this will pay off for rest of season.”

Fellow national development team member, Kamille Larocque, to second in the Grand Prix in a time of 1:00:59.0.

Clement rounded out the podium of the Grand Prix and also took the national junior title, finishing in 1:01:24.0.

“It was such a strong group of girls, so I‘m really happy and hope this will help me get ready for World Championships coming up,” said the 18-year-old Clement. “The goal was to have a fast swim, hold onto the older girls on the bike and try not to get dropped, then run hard. I’m really happy with it.”

Regina’s Molly Lakustiak was second in the junior race in 1:02:31.0. Béatrice Normand, of Coteau-du-Lac, Que., placed third in junior race in 1:02:53.0.