July 20/02 9:02 am - MTB Nationals: Team Relay Story & Official Results

Posted by Editoress on 07/20/02
 

Mountain Bike Nationals - Team Relay

This report made possible by Snowcovers and Rocky Mountain.

Ricky Federau has a unique record - he is the only rider to have been on the winning Team Relay squad at the national championships since the inception of the event. He did it twice with Rocky Mountain, once with the B.C. provincial squad, and now in 2002 with Gears Racing.

Federau was the lead-out rider for Gears Racing 1. He and Shawn Bunnin (Saskatchewan) battled for the first 4 laps, and then handed off to the next rider. While Gears 1 gradually extended their lead during each switch, the race behind began to get interesting. Alberta moved from third to second with the next rider, and maintained that position for the rest of the race.

Nova Scotia started slow, in fifth place after the first rider, but steadily worked their way up through the field, moving past Gears Racing 2 on the third rider, and into the bronze medal position early in the final rider's run.