July 15/16 10:08 am - BC Superweek: Giro di Burnaby

Posted by Editoress on 07/15/16
 

Third Generation Cyclist Scott Law Wins 2016 Giro Di Burnaby
Two-time Australian National Criterium Champion Kimberley Wells takes women’s race

His dad was a competitive cyclist, his grandfather too, but Scott Law wasn’t keen on following in his family’s footsteps at first, and now after more than a decade in both road and track cycling, he is glad his father pushed him to get on a bike.

It’s paid off so far at BC Superweek this year as well, with the Wollongong, Australia native winning the Giro di Burnaby p/b Appia Development for his second victory of the series after he claimed the Brenco Criterium last Saturday. Law noted some marked differences between the course in downtown Ladner and the Giro di Burnaby course.

Dahl, Law, Huff

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“The course in Delta is a tough little circuit, kind of like a track race, where bike skills play a lot more of a key role in the race, rather than sheer power. This race suited me really well with such a long sprint and coming into the last corner about fourth wheel was perfect for me, I just bided my time and launched and came away with the win,” said the Subaru NSWIS & MS sprinter. “This is our first time overseas and we’re just a little team from New South Wales in Australia. We just wanted to come over here and race with the big boys and it seems to be going pretty well I guess!”

With an average age of just under 21-years-old, Law is the elder statesman of the Subaru NSWIS & MS team, but according to the 25-year-old, what his teammates may lack in experience, they make up with youthful exuberance and effort..

“I couldn’t have done it without the boys, they’re all just a bunch of young boys and I’m the old fart of the group!” chuckled Law before turning serious and giving credit where he felt it was due. “To come away with the win here is not a win for me, it’s a win for them, they’re the ones putting in the hard yards for me, I get to be the one to put my hands in the air, but they’re the ones who deserve the credit, not me.”

The crowd’s attention on the last lap actually turned away from the bunch sprint for the finish as a crash on one of the final corners on Albert Street claimed a handful of riders in the field. Law was aware of the big pile up, but stayed focused, knowing he was so close to the $2400 first place prize purse. He finished the 45 lap, 58.5 kilometre race in one hour, 18 minutes, and 15 seconds.

“You don’t like hearing the screech of brakes and the cracking of carbon, but that’s bike racing and hopefully the boys are alright and come back fighting and ready to race for tomorrow,” he said.

With it being his team’s first experience with races in North America, and there being a number of riders on the men’s and women’s side from Australia taking in BC Superweek this year, Law and his fellow Aussies notice the subtle differences in riding here and riding back home.

“Criterium racing in Australia is a lot like the one in Ladner, a lot of tight corners and a lot of short rides, and a lot of bike riders. A course like the one here in Burnaby is a lot more suited to someone like myself where I can open up a big sprint and get it going,” he explained.

For the second straight year, Calgary’s Kris Dahl (Silber Pro Cycling) was second in Burnaby, finishing just under a second behind Law. It’s the 23-year-old’s fourth top ten finish of the year and best result since coming third in Stage 4 of the Tour de Gila in Silver City, New Mexico in May. He was also fifth in Wednesday’s Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix.

Rally Cycling’s Brad Huff of St. Louis, Missouri was third and found himself on the podium for the second straight day after coming second in Gastown. The 37-year-old is reigning U.S. National Criterium Champion and was also fourth in last Friday’s MK Delta Lands Criterium to kick off BC Superweek.

Women's Race
After a second place finish at the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix the night before, Kimberley Wells (Colavita | Bianchi) was able to just get ahead of two Canadian National Team members to win the Giro di Burnaby p/b Appia Development on Thursday.

Kimberley Wells wins

Roorda, Wells, Jackson

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It looked like the women would ride in the rain at the beginning of the race, but a quick storm passed just as they took the start line and the roads were dry by the time Wells crossed the finish with a time of one hour, 39.22 seconds. Wells and the rest of the field had to strategize if the rain did stick around for the start of the race and they all had to adjust on the fly when it stopped.

“Rain makes a breakaway more likely to stick on a course like this, but the road was drying out so that played into our hands for a bunch sprint,” she said post-race, quickly deflecting any praise to her team. “With the Colavia Bianchi squad that’s here today, we’ve got a lot of really strong, dedicated women, so even though I love a sprint and I love a win, I would have been perfectly happy with my teammates going for themselves and really showing the crowd what they can do.”

The performance of the Colavita team during the 30 lap, 39 kilometre race was a textbook showcase in how cycling truly is a team sport.

“This is my first time racing BC Superweek and Canada’s attracted a lot of Aussies up here. It’s really unfortunate that 99 Aussie cents only makes one Canadian dollar so Canada’s got something up on us, but I’ll happily take some Canadian dollars home at this stage!” Wells laughed.

Despite the fact that Stephanie Roorda’s specialty and favourite event is track cycling, the Canadian Women’s Team Pursuit Record holder is doing quite well in the criterium races at BC Superweek this year, including a second place finish behind Wells in Burnaby.

A Vancouver native, the second placing is Roorda’s third appearance on the podium in four races. Wearing the Canadian National Team jersey, the 29-year-old was third in Saturday’s Brenco Criterium and second in Friday’s MK Delta Lands Criterium as part of the Tour de Delta.

Fellow Canadian National Team rider and 2015 Canadian National Criterium Champion Alison Jackson posted her second third place finish of BC Superweek. The former triathlete from Vermillion, Alberta, was also third in Sunday’s White Spot | Delta Road Race.

BC Superweek continues Friday night with the inaugural PoCo Grand Prix p/b Dominion Lending Centres. The youth race starts at 4:45 pm, the pro women at 6 pm, and the pro men at 7:20 pm.
Report courtesy Media Relations, Giro di Burnaby p/b Appia Development & BC Superweek

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