August 29/99 2:16 am - Whistler Classic Day 2 Story

Posted by Editor on 08/29/99
 

Today the riders faced two stages - a 7.65 kilometre time trial in the morning, and a timed Dirt Criterium in the late afternoon. Amber Chorney (Fisher-Saab) assured her continued lead by winning both stages in the Elite women's category, while Chad Miles (Fisher-Corsa) obliterated his competition in the time trial to take over the lead from stage 1 Fat Tire Crit winner Lucas Curran (Exidata/Leximart).

"Local knowledge made a difference." said Whistler-based Miles after posting the only sub 20 minute time trial of the day. The course sent riders up a climb, across a ridge and down a loose and shifting technical descent, before they headed 150 feet across a river on a log less than 2 feet wide. Miles took over a minute on Curran, to moved into the overall lead.

The Dirt Crit took the riders up a long climb ( including a singletrack section), traversed the ski slope and then headed back through a winding downhill to the finish line. The men raced for 40 minutes plus a lap. Miles did not rest on his morning laurels, taking the lead immediately from a chasing Curran and Carter Hovey (Rocky Mountain). Miles gradually moved clear of the other two, eventually padding his lead by another minute on Curran. In the race for second, Curran did not drop Hovey until the last lap.

In the women's Drit Crit Amber Chorney had a new foe - her sister Eron (Fisher-Saab). Eron is not a factor in the stage race - she had to work yesterday, so could not participate in the Fat Tire Crit (and thus the stage race). However, she was on hand for this afternoon's race, and pushed her older sister hard. Amber started off slowly, with cramps from the morning forcing her to ride conservatively in the early going. By the end of the first lap of the 30 minute plus a lap race, Amber was in third. One lap later she was in first, with her sister right on her wheel. It took superior descending skills to shake the younger Chorney. Following Amber Chorney in the stage race classification are Sylvie Allen (Giant/Roach) and Kiara Bisaro (Marin/Forbidden Cycle).

In the Junior Expert Men's event, national champion Ricky Federau (Chevy/Rocky Mountain) won the time trial but was narrowly edged in the Dirt Crit by Jaimie Douglas (Fisher/Cyclepath). Federau still leads the overall standings, but is now only 34 seconds ahead of his rival.