February 9/08 12:54 pm - Forest City Velodrome Winter Nationals

Posted by Editor on 02/9/08
 

Forest City Velodrome Winter Nationals - Day 1
Courtesy Bob Schelstraete

Photo courtesy of Bob Steer

The Forest City Velodrome in London, Ontario is hosting the 2008 Winter Nationals indoor track bicycle races. Day one featured the toughest race in cycling, the Kilometer Time Trail & Point Race endurance Events.

The FCV is a 138m indoor Velodrome operated by volunteers, in the old "Ice House" in south London.

Junior Men

How The Events Unfolded

54 riders entered the 6 divisions of racing for the 2008 Winter Nationals. Riders came from as away as British Columbia, Manitoba, New Jersey, Quebec and Ontario. Many of the young riders are using this competition as a tune up to check fitness for the fast approaching race season.

In the Junior division, the FCV was introduced to 3 riders that flew in for the weekend from B.C. All 3 finished in the top 6 in the kilo, which was the first event of the 5 event Omnimum competition. Logan Cornell (Kingston) came out on top to lead the competition going into the endurance race which was the first endurance race of the weekend. Jacob Schwingbath, riding for Devo Team, Burnaby, won the Points Race. Local 15 year old John Carden (Paris) had an impressive ride to finish second in a very tough and fast 60 Lap Race.

London Junior Women were in the mix all night with Stephanie Bester, Emily Mackenzie-Picot and her sister Sarah along with Krista Ruby and Ashley Barson. They were the 5 young ladies that attacked one another during the 50 lap endurance race. Bester won 4 of 5 sprints to accumulate the most points and move into the lead in the Omnimum results.

The Senior women had a very exciting endurance race with the lead changing 3 times in the final 30 laps. Heather Logan is tied with Amy Biskaborn in the overall points. The local London women Amy Armstrong, Lisa Perlmutter. Joanna Wiersma and Quebec's Karine Cote very closely matched and are only separated by 1 point for the Omnium results.

In the youngest division, the Cadets put on some of the best racing of the night. The 8 riders are very evenly matched with Jason King (Oakville) winning the Time Trial and Alex Cataford (Ottawa) out lasting the field to win the Points Race. London racer, 13 year old Daniel Mackenzie-Picot, hung in the endurance race to finish a very respectable third in the overall cadet division.

Vince De Jong (Brantford) lapped the field in the Senior Points race to earn the victory and pocket $50 prize for lapping the field. Buffalo racer Ryan Nye, had a very good night with a second in the endurance race and third place in the kilo. 16 year old Ryan Aitcheson (Kitchener) riding up a category, set fast time in the time trial and finished third in the Points race to lead the overall senior competition.

The Master division and the biggest turn around during the first 2 events with Lorne Falkenstein (London) and Mike Renneboog (Delhi) and Chris Vlemmix (London) trading the lead all night to lead the division going into the second day of competition.

Racing continues with 3KM Time Trial beginning at noon on Saturday. The evening session starts at 7 p.m. with the Sprint Tournament and 100 lap endurance race.

Admission $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and as always kids are free.

For more information www.ForestCityVelodrome.ca

 

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