May 29/08 4:41 am - BC XC MTB Cup #1

Posted by Editoress on 05/29/08
 

BC MTB Cup #1 May 25th, Merritt BC

The first BC Cup mountain bike race took place in Merritt last Sunday, May 25th. Also known as the Cow Trail Classic, this race continued to live up to its reputation as a 'classic' with a few free range cattle and the occassional 'cow pie' around to keep things interesting. The course always gets rave reviews and this year was no exception.

Generally described as a fast, exciting course the addition of over 4 kms of new top notch single track increased the lap length to 20 kms. This new tight and tricky section featured some additional climbing, as well as some high speed rips with a few steep up and down sections. Racers unanimously praised the course design and length, saying the long lap concept was way more fun than getting dizzy and bored doing multiple laps of a 5 or 6 km course.

Also, the organizers offered different laps and different lengths, so there was something for riders of every age and ability. You could say it was family friendly.

The mass start format was very popular with racers and spectators alike. With the featured Pro-Elite racers setting a blazing pace at the front, other category riders had 'rabbits' up the trail to chase and finish times to compare their results with. The first riders through after lap #1 were Tom Skinner (Rocky Mountain - Different Bikes) and Troy Swenson from the U.S.of A. Closely behind at 1 minute was another well known Rocky Mountain rider, Kevin Calhoun who 'chased and chased but never caught back on'.

Things stayed that way for the entire second lap with Swenson hanging on to Skinner's wheel at every turn. 'I tried to lose him a couple of times but he just wouldn't go away and there were no super tough technical sections where I could drop him,', Skinner said. The finish set up, after more than two hours of racing, for an unusual two up sprint between Skinner and Swenson with Swenson making a surprise inside move and nipping Skinner at the line. 'I was surprised when he attacked like that but I reacted quickly and almost got him at the line. That's racing though', was how Skinner described it.

Swenson and Skinner finished with the same time of 2:12:31 with Kevin Calhoun coming in for third place at 2:14:54.

It was an exciting finish to a very exciting and entertaining day of racing.

In the Pro-Elite women's race it was Dawn Berg from Victoria coming first in 2:36:13 followed by Melanie Vaughan of Vancouver at 2:48:40; and, Lesley Clements from Whistler at 2:50:18.

Thanks to the organizer, Darren Coates, the many cheerful volunteers from the Merritt Mountain Bike Association; and, the title sponsor, Bike Cafe, the first BC Cup mountain bike race was a solid success.