April 7/04 4:28 am - Gent, Pais Vasco, Sarthe, Comox, Feldmann Report, Blizzard Race

Posted by Editor on 04/7/04
 

Gent-Wevelgem - Belgium

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon 4:58:47
2 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Alessio-Bianchi
3 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) AG2r Prevoyance
4 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
5 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit par Telephone
6 Roger Hammond (GBr) MrBookmaker.com-Palmans
7 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Esp) Fassa Bortolo
8 Vladimir Goussev (Rus) Team CSC
9 Sebastien Rosseler (Bel) Relax-Bodysol
10 Andreas Klier (Ger) T-Mobile Team all s.t.

20 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon at 0:09
DNF Ryder Hesjedal (Can) US Postal Service-Berry Floor


Vuelta al Pais Vasco - Spain

Stage 3 - Zalla to Vitoria 169 km

1 Carlos Zarate (Esp) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 4:30:52
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme at 0:21
3 Pedro Horrillo (Esp) Quick.Step-Davitamon
4 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile Team
5 Beat Zberg (Sui) Gerolsteiner

9 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
17 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
20 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team
22 David Etxebarria (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
23 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
24 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
33 Manuel Beltran (Esp) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
43 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank
44 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC
55 Iban Mayo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
60 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
61 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
62 Jose Azevedo (Por) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
65 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick.Step-Davitamon
70 Roberto Heras (Esp) Liberty Seguros all s.t.
105 Cadel Evans (Aus) T-Mobile Team 4:08
109 Alex Zuelle (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems
110 Benjamin Noval (Esp) US Postal Service-Berry Floor both s.t.

GC

1 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme 12:43:50
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco
3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
4 Jorge Ferrio Luque (Esp) Costa De Almeria-Paternina
5 Samuel Sanchez (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi

12 Manuel Beltran (Esp) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank
14 Jose Azevedo (Por) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
15 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC
16 Iban Mayo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
17 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service-Berry Floor
18 Roberto Heras (Esp) Liberty Seguros all s.t.
21 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems at 0:08
22 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team
25 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC both s.t.
52 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal Service-Berry Floor 2:40
65 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick.Step-Davitamon 3:51
68 Cadel Evans (Aus) T-Mobile Team 5:24
74 Benjamin Noval (Esp) US Postal Service-Berry Floor 7:08
75 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) US Postal Service-Berry Floor 7:11
92 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) US Postal Service-Berry Floor 14:23
94 Alex Zuelle (Sui) Phonak Hearing Systems 14:45

Team GC

1 Liberty Seguros 38:11:30
2 Euskaltel - Euskadi
3 US Postal Service-Berry Floor both s.t.
4 Gerolsteiner at 0:08
5 Saeco s.t.


Circuit de la Sarthe - France

Stage 2 - Vallet to Montreuil-Juigne 199 km

1 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 4:46:35
2 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Lotto Domo
3 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros
4 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo
5 Marcus Zberg (Sui) Gerolsteiner

12 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team
59 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto Domo
75 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team all s.t.

GC

1 Franck Bouyer (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 8:44:57
2 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner at 0:04
3 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 0:21
4 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros 0:22
5 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 0:23

14 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0:31
60 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team s.t.
72 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto Domo 2:30


Comox Cup Road Race - B.C.
Courtesy Ed Schum

The second Comox Cup Road Race of the season will be held Easter Sunday, 10:00 AM in the historic and picturesque Village of Cumberland.

Categories: A, B, C plus riders under the age of 15.

Entry fees $ 10.00; $ 5:00 for under 19. Includes after race snacks. No licence required as long as you are an insured member of a CBC affiliated club. Registration starts 9:00 A.M.

Directions for out of towners: From the new Island Highway take exit 117. Follow the road to Cumberland. When you hit Dunsmuir Avenue turn left and follow it until you see the Village Park sign on your right.

For more info email Ed Schum - edschum@shaw.ca
Our new and improved website should be up and running shortly at: www.cvcc.ca


Race Report

Martina Feldmann just passed on an update from her racing in Europe.

I was in a large field of both Pro Elite women and junior women along with a few male categories for my MTB race on Sunday March 21 in beautiful Banyoles, Spain. I was pretty relaxed waiting for the start because I really have no idea what's going on anyway, it's all "Spanish" to me. The horn blew and everyone took off like bat outta hell. We all began to climb a nice consistent asphalt hill, the group still very compact. Two-thirds up the first climb I managed to take the lead with M. Catedra (Top 5 Spanish Elite) close behind me. The first descent was over an old vineyard hill. It was basically a steep down hill pitch, 2 meters flat followed by another steep down hill pitch, etc. Then, once we were at the bottom of the vineyard hill, the zigzag ascend began. There was a steep pitch up hill, then you rode along horizontally for approximately 15 meters, then we hit another steep upward pitch and once again we rode horizontally in the opposite direction for another 15 meters. This pattern repeated itself a few times and then you finally reached the top. We had two laps of a fairly short course with continuous rhythm changes. After approximately 50 minutes, I was racing back to the finish line and discovered that I was in the lead all by myself. I was quite motivated and kept on "truckin"! Then 5 minutes later I entered the finish area as the announcer babbled in Spanish. I definitely have to work on my Spanish vocabulary. So, I was quite satisfied with my first place finish since the racer who was second frequently beat me last year. I happily accepted my trophy and with my prize money enjoyed a delicious ice cream.

Kris Sneddon was third overall in the Pro Elite race and was first in the U23.

Caixa Girona #1
1st Pro Elite Female

Copa Catalana #1
DNF - Due to some muscle cramping I was unable to finish the race.

Caixa Girona #2
1st Pro Elite Female


Blizzard Bike Club - Fort St. John, BC

April 7, 2004

The Blizzard Bike Club's Spring Stage Race kicks off for its 19th edition, Thursday. Local riders will be doing a Stage #1 Baldonnel time trial to see who the initial leaders are going to be in each of the three categories.

The spring Stage race was first done back in 1986 to get a local team ready for the tough "Ras Tealteann" international stage race in Eire (Ireland). The 'Ras' was going to be covering 900 miles over twelve stages in nine days. The local race was also made for nine races in nine days.

Bill Scott outdueled Pat Ferris for that first win. All riders would agree that the first Spring Stage Race was a tough event.

The Blizzard Team of Jeff Wright, Bill Scott, Pat and Tim Ferris along with team manager Derek Carroll went on to come in the Ras Tealteann and came in 6th international team doing that distance at an average speed of 40 km/hr.

The Spring Stage race has continued, as it was a popular event. It was changed to seven stages over seven days from nine races with shorter stages. There has been an Under 19 category and Women's category added.

There are a few riders left from that original year. Pat Ferris won the event three times. Wim Kok has also survived numerous editions.

This years' Men's event will be a wide-open affair with the absence of the two past winners, Robert Martens and Dave Damery. That leaves the early season dominator, Mike Hientzman to fight it out with Stephen Ferris and Richard Howes for the win. Rumours have it strongman Joe Radench and company will be coming from Grande Prairie to ride as will an unnamed rider from Prince George.

Tammy Howes is the Women's defending champ with four-time winner Lisa Verbisky challenging to get the trophy back.

The Under 19 will be wide open as last years winner Stephen Ferris is now a senior man.

Events include two time trials, a Hillclimb, a 'Rocky Road Race' and three road races. Race time in Baldonnel is 6:30 pm with sign on at 6:15 pm. Last event is the April 15th Baldonnel time trial.