Wakefield, Quebec hosted the OG Classique on Sunday 21 June, one of only two Canadian UCI Gravel World Series qualifiers for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships. Riders tackled the Gatineau Hills on routes of up to 122 kilometres, crossing the signature Paugan Dam on a course that mixed steep gravel climbs with riverside paved sections.
Adam Roberge, a multiple Canadian national champion, took the overall men’s victory in 03:09:46, holding off Michael Woods and Guillaume Fiset in a tight sprint finish. Woods’ runner-up result came just one week after he crossed the line first at the Canadian Gravel Championships in British Columbia, a result that Cycling Canada later ruled would not stand after the race was neutralized due to extreme heat.
Two-time Canadian MTB Cross-Country champion Haley Smith topped the women’s field in 03:45:45, finishing just 1 second ahead of Dylan Baker, while Laetitia Bilodeau completed the podium in third place.
In the 122-kilometre open age-group race, it was a King family sweep. Former WorldTour professional Ted King, 43, won the men’s title in 03:20:33, while his wife Laura King, also 43, claimed the women’s title in 03:55:29. Ted spent a decade racing in the WorldTour, including stints with Cervélo TestTeam, Liquigas-Cannondale and Cannondale-Garmin, before retiring from road racing in 2015 and transitioning to gravel racing.
On the shorter 85-kilometre route for older age categories, Emilio Cervantes topped the men’s field in 02:23:37, while Nathalie Champagne was the fastest woman in 02:55:12.
Top finishers now look toward automatic qualification for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia, with the top 25 percent of finishers in each age group also earning a starting spot.
Photo Credit: Laura King
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