May 8/00 10:40 am - BC Cup, Mazur, Kitchener Rides, Armstrong Crash & More!

Posted by Editor on 05/8/00
 

BC Cup Road Racing Series
(courtesy Allan Prazsky, Cycle BC)

In it's second full year, the BC Cup Road Racing Series is off and running, and with it, a whole new race of champions has begun. The grueling seven event road series should see action aplenty, and new faces climbing the podium.

With last year's rather wicked combination of wet weather and cold temperatures, training for many was set back, reserved only for those racers that either had adequate amounts of clothing or were blessed with a dry window in which to complete their training rides. In fact, on more than two occasions, BC Cup Series events saw rain, snow, sleet or an abysmal combination of all three elements thrown at the riders in one bone-chilling shot. Already, the early season has shown that the warm(er) and dry(er) weather has allowed many BC racers to gain a level of fitness that just didn't exist with last year's monsoon like weather patterns.

Having said that, the first BC Cup of the year, the Atomic Road Race, greeted racers with...surprise, more rain, gale force winds and even a few hail stones thrown in for good measure. A huge field of riders started the event, and one by one, the weather gods peeled riders off the back. In the end, less than 25 riders persevered the weather to cross the finish line (69 starters), with Trek-VW sensation Sven Tuft taking the inaugural BC Cup win, with Peninsula Cycles team mates Rod Hendersen and Matt Barth chasing hard to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The women were treated to the same conditions as the men (brutal), with attrition playing a big role in the event. Again, a big field of riders rolled out to start the race, but as the hammer came down, less than half of the starters sprinted across the finish at the end. In what was a very exciting finish, Trek-VW's Sara Neil attacked at the crest of the last hill to hold off chasing Giant-Powerbar team mates Kirsten Kotval (2nd) and Marni Hambleton (3rd).

The success of the BC Cup Road Series incorporates a combination of both the thrill of competition brought on by the adrenaline-charged racers themselves, in combination with what many seasoned racers dub as some of the pacific northwest's toughest road racing circuits. To finish many of the series events is an accomplishment in itself, as series competitors are treated to ferocious climbs followed by harrowing descents, only to bring the rider back to another tough climb. Surely the ingredients for a fun day in the saddle, and the stuff future champions are made of.

Back for another year of support is Campione Bicycles, who last year contributed thousands of dollars in products to the top finishers of the series. Thanks for the support and vision that you have lent road racing in BC! Also new for the 2000 season is Roach Clothing. Already established as a reputable name in off-road cycling, Roach Clothing is delving into the road world by showing their support of the BC Cup Road Series by providing Championship jerseys.

Don't be fooled into thinking the BC Cup Road Racing Series is just another flash in the pan. Producing some of BC's strongest cyclists, the BC Cup Road Series has spawned many successful cyclists in it's first year alone.

Results from the April 23rd BC Cup #1, the Atomic Road Race.

Cat 1/2 Men
1st Sven Tuft - Trek/VW
2nd Rod Hendersen - Peninsula Cycle
3rd Matt Barth - Peninsula Cycle
4th Andreas Hestler - Ford/Devinci
5th Jesse Keefer - Nutrafig
6th Shane Savage - Giant/Powerbar
7th Peter Reid
8th Mathew Decore
9th Scott Simon
10th Tom Stewart - Soliton
11th Richard Minichello
12th Jaimie Douglas - Rocky Mountain
13th Matt Brown - Trek/VW
14th Dan Reilly - Giant/Powerbar
15th Mike Koski - Giant/Powerbar
16th Tony Zarsadias - Trek/VW
17th Trevor Wurtele - Three Point Motors
18th Cory Lange -
19th Jay Murray - Atomic
20th Bryce McCallum - Trek/VW

Open Women
1st Sara Neil - Trek/VW
2nd Kirsten Kotval - Giant/Powerbar
3rd Marni Hambleton - Giant/Powerbar
4th Karen Timewell - Escape Velocity
5th Shannon Baerg - Physical Culture
6th Barb Belcher - Soliton
7th Lisa Sweeney - Physical Culture
8th Amber Chorney - Ford/Devinci


La Coupe du President de la Ville Grudziadz - Poland
Junior stage race in Poland that ran April 29th - May 2

Prologue - Grudziadz, ITT, 3.5 km

1. Peter Mazur (Pol) Team USA 4:38
2. Pustin Rademacher (USA) at 0:06
3. Jens Klier (Ger) s.t.

Stage 2 - Gruta ITT 18.7 km

1. Peter Mazur (Pol) USA) 24:44
2. Lukasz Bodnar (Pol) at 0:03
3. Pawel Brutt (Rus) 0:21

Final GC

1. Blazej Janiaczyk (Pol) 10:42:40
2. Pawel Brutt (Rus) at 0:38
3. Peter Mazur (Pol) Team USA 0:57

Peter Mazur holds a Polish licence so he is listed as Polish - ed


Kitchener Area Training Rides - Ontario
(courtesy Keith Peck)

Ziggy's Cycling Club is hosting weekly Thursday night training rides beginning at 6:30pm on the course to be the site of O-Cup #5 (Sunday, June 18th, 2000.)

The ride is open "FREE" to members of Ziggy's Cycling Club Inc., The Waterloo Flying Dogs, members of other OCA affiliated clubs, and licensed racers. (Club membership or license is being required for liability purposes.)

Format:
-Timed Handicap ~ 6:30pm - Beginner group starts, @3 min. Intermediate group starts, @ 6 min. Fast group starts.

-The Finish/prime line will be located at top of course close to Fairway Road (fence line before transformer substation.)

-There is a 1 point 'prime' for being the first rider to reach the line on either the 3rd (2.75) or 6th (5.75) laps.

-Finish is at 10th (9.75) lap. 1st = 10 pts., 2nd = 9 pts., ... 10th = 1.

-Points are accumulated towards end of year awards of medals and name of winner on trophy.

-Be prepared to ride promptly at 6:30pm.

Please stay to right side of road in unlined sections to avoid possible oncoming traffic. Helmets are mandatory.

More information, including a detailed map of the course showing elevations, will be posted by Wednesday at: host4u.upws.net/internet/ziggyscc/ (The site is presently focussed on our O-Cup MTB race but will be updated.)

For more information call Ziggy's Cycle and Sport: (519) 893-2963, or contact me personally at: kdpeck@library.uwaterloo.ca


Kranked III Premier - Toronto

gearunlimited.com is sponsoring the Toronto premier of a very popular mountain bike video: Kranked III.

The venue is:

The Reverb
651 Queen St. W
Toronto, Ontario

The date:

Tuesday, May 23, 2000
Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Movie starts at 9:00 p.m. sharp

Tickets may be purchased by calling 1(888) 712-7313, ask for Andrea Bertora. Note: this event has sold out at every stop of the North American tour.


Armstrong Recovering From Crash
(courtesy US Postal)

The United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team's Lance Armstrong is recovering from a serious crash he suffered while training in the Pyrenees mountains last Friday.

Armstrong suffered a slight concussion when he crashed heavily during a descent after his front tire exploded upon hitting a sharp stone in the road. After Armstrong's tire blew, he was unable to maneuver an oncoming turn. The team's support staff with Armstrong at the time of the crash then telephoned for an ambulance and he was taken to a local hospital where he spent the night for observation. The following morning, Armstrong returned home to Nice to rest and recover from the sudden fall where he will remain for an extended period of rest.

"The fall could impact his preparation for the Tour de France but considering the circumstances, it could have been a lot worse," said Johan Bruyneel, the USPS team's director sportif. "I am happy he is back in Nice resting and recovering."

The crash will keep Armstrong from competing in his next scheduled event, the Midi Libre stage race in France, scheduled for May 16-21.

"It's too early to evaluate his condition at the moment," Bruyneel added. "Lance's recovery is our top priority now and only when he is completely recovered will we begin to deal with his training and racing schedule."


More Canadian U.S. Results
(courtesy Julian Hine)

Just to update the chelsea-Ottawa training camp in the South-East - Cane Creek Cup #3 in Sanford N.C.

Short track: 1st Bill Hurley, 2nd Julian Hine, 3rd Paul Bell. Mike Hirst (switch to xc for the 2000) 6th.
Cross country: 1st Bill Hurley, 2nd Paul Bell, 3rd Dave Fry, 4th Julian Hine, 9th Mike Hirst.

Overall: 1st Bill Hurley, 2nd Paul Bell, 3rd Julian Hine. The series is being led by Bill after 3 races (he has 3 wins). But he will not defend the 10 race series as we are returning to Canada to contest the Canada Cup series, see you at Hardwood.

Peace Be The Journey!


Happy Birthday To...

Road/track racer Andrea Hannos (today)


Coming Tomororow

St Jerome, Quebec results