July 8/08 1:41 am - Bikeshevik Grand Prix of Track Racing

Posted by Editoress on 07/8/08
 

Bikeshevik Grand Prix Track Race July 5-6, Calgary AB
Courtesy Jim Smith

Hot summer conditions brought out the best in Alberta track riders for the Bikeshevik Grand Prix on July 5 and 6. Riders competed in three groups: Category 1, 2 and 3 men (Group A for this report), category 4 and 5 men with elite women (Group B) and Under 17s. All groups saw spirited racing and a number of personal best times.

In Group A, Jeff Bakal (Juventus) won the omnium by winning all three of the power events (sprint, kilo and Keirin) convincingly. Ryan Mckenzie (H&R Block) picked up second in the omnium, winning the scratch race, finishing second in the points race and scrounging a few points from the sprint and Keirin to finish ahead of the ageless Peter Toth. Nicholas Jendzjowsky (Pedalhead Roadworks) won the points race with a canny strategy of picking up a few points in the early sprints, then setting up a long attack with Jesse Collins (bicisport) to win the last three sprints and secure the victory.

Trevor Gunderson (H&R Block) did the fastest pursuit we've seen here since nationals in 2005 with a 4:52:616 while Jeff Bakal's 1.07.893 kilo was also the fastest since 2005.

Group B saw some great racing with the two elite women, Tara Whitten (Velocity) and Monique Sullivan (PCL), both of whom competed on the world cup circuit this year, winning most of the events but having to work hard to do it. Master C John Plant of the host Synergy Racing club took time off from his chief timer duties to surprise Monique to Sullivan and take the Keirin while junior Brad Knapik took the 500. Tara Whitten took the points race, winning all the sprints but always had to work hard against either Derek Lynn (bicisport) or junior Graham Courtney (Synergy Racing).

The under 17 group was a battle between Adam Todd (Juventus) and Alison Beveridge (bicisport). Alison showed that she had the speed by winning the pursuit by over six seconds with a 2.54.093, but she was unable to defeat Adam's power in the other events. Younger riders Samuel Beaudoin (Juventus) and Dan Rosichuk (Velocity) showed that we have riders waiting to step up over the next few years.

Thanks to Colin Walsh for returning to race director duties after a vacation for the last couple of years. Colin has been the cornerstone of Calgary track racing for many years and it was good to see him back at the helm.

Event Winners