March 31/09 8:42 am - Escape Velocity dEVo Spring Series #5: Bradner

Posted by Editoress on 03/31/09
 

After a rain-filled Saturday race on the River Road course, Escape Velocity dEVo Spring Series organizers promised better weather and a great course for Sunday, and they did not disappoint.  Early morning fog soon gave way to sunshine and balmy temperatures for over 150 racers for the difficult Bradner course.  The 9km race course is unforgiving with constant rolling roads and a long uphill drag to the finish line.
 
Both the B and C groups were races of attrition with the main peloton constantly ejecting riders off the back.  The C group saw Scott Inman (Team Coastal) winning a hotly contested sprint over Escape Velocity's Steven Guenther and David Stephens.  In the B group, grimpeur extraordinaire Mike Berkenpas (Local Ride Racing) attacked with just over 2km to go and holding off the charging field for the win.  Adam Smith (John Henry) took the bunch sprint for second over Nick Berry (Mighty Riders), Veteran Andy George (Team Coastal), and Jake Wasiela (Escape Velocity).
 
The A race was a thriller, with the early break desperately trying to hold off the remnants of the main group after 125km of racing.  The main break of the day was animated by Marsh Cooper and Kevin Noiles (both Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes).  Both riders spent the day off the front, but never more than 2:30 ahead of the main group.  An impressive last lap bridging effort by Evan Flater (Garneau Evolution), Craig Ritchey (Blue Competition Bikes) and Sven Sturm (Trak Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes) breathed new life into the break.  Cooper showed why he's called "The Badger," taking a gutsy win followed by Ritchey, Noiles, Flater, and Sturm.  Cooper, a dEVo graduate, donated his race winnings back to the dEVo Spring Series, which acts as the main fundraiser for the youth development team.
 
Results can be found at www.escapevelocity.bc.ca.  Spring Series racing will resume on April 4th and 5th with a preview of the BC Provincial race course on Saturday, and the tough Aldergrove Lake course on Sunday.
 
Thanks to our sponsors: Louis Garneau, Powerbar, Wentings Cycle and Mountain Shop, La Bicicletta Pro Shop Vancouver, Back2Health Chiropractic and Peak Performance Centre.

Courtesy Jeff Ain, Team Escape Velocity