May 27/06 10:14 am - Cardinal Law Sooke Classic Road Race

Posted by Editoress on 05/27/06
 

Cardinal Law Sooke Classic Road Race
Courtesy Sharon White

Vancouver's Symmetrics team proved the old adage that if you can't beat 'em, sign them up.

Last year's Cardinal Law Sooke Cycling Road Race Classic winner, Leah Goldstein from Vernon, signed on to the strong Symmetrics team last week and she didn't waste any time winning today's race, finishing the 110-km course in 3 hours, 20 minutes and 51 seconds - five minutes and almost three kilometers ahead of her closest competitor.

In the men's 140-kilometre men's race, Symmetrics' Christian Meier from Langley finished first in 3:33:44, just 10 seconds ahead of Victoria's Derek McMaster (a PacificSport athlete racing for Italian Pasta) and Symmetric's Eric Wohlberg from Sunnyvale. Symmetrics took four of the top five placings with Marsh Cooper, 20, of Aldergrove and last year's Sooke Classic winner Andrew Pinfold, 27, of Victoria finishing fifth (both in 3:38:19).

The top trio broke away from the pack early in the race at the 40 kilometre mark. The pack closed the gap up a bit at the turnaround, but Meier, McMaster and Wohlberg opened up almost a five minute lead on the return trip.

Goldstein, an Israeli Olympic team member, who last year racing for Trek won the Sooke Classic, is making a spectacular comeback after crashing in the first stage of the Cascade Classic in Oregon where she suffered serious injuries including a broken pelvis. Former Trek teammate Stacey Spencer of Fort Langley finished second in 3:25:41 while Claire Cameron of Ladner was third in 3:26:06. Symmetrics' Mandy Poitras of Langley and Maria Lee of Vancouver were fourth and five respectively in 3:26:09 and 3:26:13.

In the other races, Victoria's Bob Cameron sprinted for the win in the 81-kilometre Cat 4-5 race, finishing in 2:11:03, while Vancouver's Gill Walker won the 64-kilometre Cat 4-5 women's race in 2:00:13 and West Vancouver's Graeme Bant won the 110-km Junior Men's race in 3:13:43..

A record field of about 250 riders participated in the Cardinal Law Sooke Classic which was also the third race in the FloraGLO BC Cup Series.

1/2 Men
1. Christian Meier (Symmetrics), 3:33:44,
2. Derek McMaster (Italian Pasta), at 0:10
3.Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics)
4. Marsh Cooper (Symmetrics)
5. Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics)

1/2 Women
1. Leah Goldstein (Symmetrics), 3:20:51
2. Stacey Spencer, at 4:49
3. Claire Cameron
4. Mandy Poitras (Symmetrics)
5. Maria Lee (Symmetrics)