May 29/08 9:59 am - Westside Classic: Tuft on Startline , Kona-Adobe to Support Alistair Howard

Posted by Editoress on 05/29/08
 

Courtesy Westside Cycling Classic

Svein Tuft to Start Westside Classic on Sunday

Canadian cycling star Svein Tuft has announced he will be starting this Sunday's Westside Classic in Vancouver BC.

Tuft from Langley BC riding for Symmetrics Cycling Team is a strong contender for this years BC Provincial Road Race Championship crown.

Former Canadian National Champion, current UCI Americas Tour Champion and 2007 US Open Championship winner, Tuft is sure to set the race on fire and be the man to beat on Sunday.

"I love racing in my hometown as I don't get the opportunity very often. The Westside Classic is a great race on a spectacular course and I can't wait to compete. The organization has put on a race we all should be proud of, coupled with the chartible work for Cancer I am looking forward to a very special race this Sunday" said Tuft.

Kona-Adobe at Westside Classic

Kona-Adobe returns to the Westside Classic with a team united around last year's runner-up Alistair Howard. Last year's silver medal performance marked the return to form for the 29 year old Howard, who in his late teens and early twenties was one of the shining young lights of Canadian cycling, amassing numerous national titles and representing Canada across Europe - racing such future stars as Tom Boonen, Denis Menchov and David Zabriskie. Howard hung up his wheels for a few years to complete his undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of Victoria followed by his Master's at McGill in Montreal. Now a full time mechanical engineer, Howard got the itch to return to racing a few summers back, and found his old form at last summer's Provincial Championships.

Howard's riding is characterized by keen technical astuteness and a devastatingly long sprint. Backing Howard up at Westside will be the rest of the 7 man Kona-Adobe squad, who have bolstered last year's already strong roster adding some of the top young talent in the province, including 3 time junior national champion Matt Potma and stand out climber Marcel Arden as well as former Alberta Cup winner Shawn Goulet. Returning members include pocket sprinter Dan MacDonald, current BC Track Champion Chris Reid and the big wattage engine of Jonathon Gormick.