June 15/10 22:39 pm - BNS Provicial Road Championships

Posted by Editoress on 06/15/10
 

Riverport to host Bicycle Nova Scotia Provincial Championships on Sunday, June 20th

The oldest cycling race in Nova Scotia will be extra special this year when it hosts the Bicycle Nova Scotia provincial championships, Sunday, June 20.

Top seeded cyclists from Cape Breton to Yarmouth will converge at the start line when the annual Riverport Road Race kicks off its 20th year under the wings of host club Lunenburg Bike Barn.

Onlookers will get the chance to see men, women and youth – clocking speeds over 40 kilometers per hour – along the mostly flat, serpentine seaside roads that hug this part of Nova Scotia's beautiful south shore. Exciting finishes are guaranteed as riders compete not only to win their overall divisions, but for top prizes for sprinting one loop in the top three classes.

Race time is noon sharp from the Riverport Elementary School, located on Highway 332, in Rose Bay.

The race route for the provincials this year involves a 28-kilometer loop which must be completed up to five times by the Nova Scotia's most elite riders in Class A, while five other divisions will travel slightly smaller distances of 112 km, 84 km or 56 km, depending on a competitor's age, sex or skill.

Changes this year to Bicycle Nova Scotia rules allows elite female racers to compete in fields normally dominated by men, rather than complete the shorter 84 km race reserved for the female division.

Children under 15 will compete over the shortest distance of the day, completing just one 28 km loop.

Event organizers can't wait to see the provincial champs from last year's race back at the gate to defend their titles.

“The race draws from 60 to 100 people every year usually so we're expecting a good turnout,” said Merrill Heubach of the Lunenburg Bike Barn. “It's a great race. It's mostly a flat route but there are a couple of hills, doozies, where it's not steep climbs but long climbs.”

Jamie Lamb riding for Cyclesmith in Halifax, won last year's provincial Elite Senior Men, now Class A, under the new abilities-based system. Lamb already has a win this season from the Port Williams Classic. Brothers Nicholas and Corey Jay came in second and third behind Lamb and are expected to take him on again in Riverport.

All three racers missed the Halifax Criterium in late May, a race dominated by American Daniel Harm in a solo breakaway that lasted almost the entire one hour race.

Ambrose Delaney, representing FrameWork Racing of Sydney won Masters B at last year's provincials in the 41 to 50 age category while Jose Martins of Bicycles Plus in Bedford , won Masters C+ (over 50) division. The new categories have Delaney and Martins both racing in Class B, battling each other for the title in Riverport. They face very strong competition from several riders including Chris Hawkins who has been on the podium twice already this year, including his win at the popular Halifax Criterium.

Class C does not have a returning champion from last year, but Clint Snell of Pictou County Cycle in New Glasgow who won the Halifax Criterium is expected to compete along with teammate Craig Lorge. Watch for Wayne Titus of Valley Stove & Cycle in Wolfville who was a very close third in Halifax, and independent rider Tom Soehl who took the top honors in Port Williams.

Dominance in Class D is up for grabs for all novice riders in the province, as there was no novice championship last year. Randy Van Zeumeren of Bicycles Plus, Bedford, won the first race of the 2010 season in Port Williams while Stacey Taylor won the Halifax Criterium as an independent. Last minute entries could make this class one of the toughest to win.

All cyclists must have a Bicycle Nova Scotia license in order to compete which can be purchased before the race begins. Registration will be held from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., on race day.

The historic town of Lunenburg will serve as a beautiful backdrop for race participants. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1995 which protects much of the area's unique architecture and civic designs as one of the first British colonial settlements in North America. The area also has a long history of fishing and ship building, including its most famous ship the Bluenose which adorns Canadian 10 cent coins. Two thirds of the race will hug the coastline.

Other races to watch this season include:

*June 27 - Breakaway Cycling 2-Up Time Trial, Centreville, (host Breakaway Cycling (902) 792-1026 (902) 792-1026

*July 11 - Cape Breton Classic Road Race and Time Trial, Cape Breton, (host FrameWork Racing (902) 561-0451

*August 15 - Breakaway Cycling Race Day, Windsor (host Breakaway Cycling (902) 792-1026

*August 22 - Provincial Time Trial Championships, Brooklyn (host Breakaway Cycling (902) 792-1026

Press release