THE CANADIAN PRESS

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EDMONTON - Olympic mountain biker Geoff Kabush of Victoria and Wendy Simms of Nanaimo, B.C. took the men's and women's titles at the National Cyclo-cross Championships on Saturday. Edmonton's Mike Bidniak won the Under-23 men's title, while Evan Guthrie of Peachland, B.C. took the junior men's title.

The championship was the final race of the Canadian national cycling season.

"This is just the start of my cyclo-cross season, and it's a good way to begin. It means that I will be able to race in Europe through the season as the Canadian champion," said Simms.

Kabush missed the podium in the Olympics, finishing fourth in the overall standings.

"It is the end of what is probably my strongest season ever," he said. "It wasn't until the last couple of laps that I felt confident that I had it won. It is a very good way to finish the season."

Cyclo-cross, a sport that combines running and cycling using road racing bicycles on an off-road circuit, is extremely popular in Europe, and has had tremendous growth in Canada in the past five years.

For Kabush, it is his second cyclo-cross title, while Simms won her fourth title. As national champions, both are eligible to represent Canada at the world championships in Holland next February.