April 18/03 12:15 pm - Hamilton Worlds Update, BC News, Ontario

Posted by Editor on 04/18/03
 

Road Worlds to Montreal Almost A Reality

We have discovered that our April 1st fake news item regarding moving the Road Worlds from Hamilton to Montreal wasn't quite that far-fetched after all. A number of sources confirmed that before the new year discussions were held with the City of Montreal and Quebec cycling organizers about potentially moving the Worlds to that city, since the Hamilton group appeared to be in difficulty.

The City of Montreal approved a plan to take on the Worlds (to be run on the Mont Royal circuit used in the 1974 Worlds and 1976 Olympics), and the UCI also said that the circuit would be acceptable. At that time it was seen as a contingency plan, and has now been discarded, since the UCI has confirmed that the Worlds will go forward in Hamilton as planned.

The Hamilton organization is still working to overcome a number of difficulties, however. Chief among those are sponsorship agreements (still no major agreements signed since the initial bike sponsorship with Colnago), merchandising (no clothing company has been signed yet) and negotiations with the City of Hamilton (the two sides are closer, but still have to work out exactly who will cover which costs). It also appears that the organization cannot count on much money being raised from broadcast rights. The UCI holds the European rights (where the biggest market is), and domestic rights are not expected to bring much. On the bright side, ticket sales finally got underway, and 2000 week passes were sold in the first week.

Last week passed the 6 months to go mark...


Greater Victoria Velodrome Thursday Night Track Cycling series

2002 Season Overall Champions
Group A - Andre Steinhausen, team Schwalbe-Epic

Group B - Wayne Walker (Dr. Walker Sports Chiropractor Team), Chris Anstey (Sidney Velos)

April 17th results:

20 Lap Scratch race

Group A:
1st. Chris Reid, Team Schwalbe
2nd. Ryan Clarke
3rd. Chris Anstey, team Schwalbe

Group B:
1st. Jennifer Trew, PacificSport
2nd. Wayne Walker, Dr. Walker Sports Chiropractor team
3rd. Breanna Loster, Pacific Sport
4th. Dan Proulx, pacific Sport

Miss and Out (last rider eliminated each lap)

Group A:
1st. Chris Anstey
2nd. Stephen Schnare
3rd. Chris Reid
4th. Andre Steinhausen

Group B:
1st. Wayne Walker
2nd. Breanna Loster
3rd. Dan Proulx

Olympic Sprints:
1st. Stephen Schnare, Ryan Clarke, Andre Steinhausen, 1:18.37
2nd. Andre Steinhausen, Charles Durrant, Chris Reid, 1:19.99
3rd. Dan Proulx, Gerry Loster, Chris Anstey, 1:27.42


Blizzard Bike Club - Fort St. John, BC
Courtesy Pat Ferris

April 17, 2003

Stephen Ferris was the surprise winner in the opening time trial stage of the Spring Stage Race, Thursday. He won Stage #1, the 16 km. Baldonnel time trial with a time of 25:35 minutes; a mere second ahead of second place Dave Damery. Robert Martens was third at 26:19. Trevor McDonell was 4th at 27:18 and Mike Hientzman was 5th at 27:57.

Tammy Howes won the Women's division with 31:04. Lisa Verbisky was second at 31:55 and Angela Maull 3rd at 35:47. Donna Sipe was 4th at 41:10.

Other finishers in the 16 km distance were Pat Ferris 6th at 28:05, Andrew Kovacs 28:49, Richard Howes 28:56, Rod Lewis 29:01, Roger St. Jean 29:02, Ed Fornelli 29:07, Wim Kok 29:11, Eric Snucins 29:31, Robin Sipe 31:45, Richard Wood 31:51, Gord Harris and Adam Currie 32:01, Ken Nix 32:11, Quinn Ell 32:26, Darren Guliov 33:11 and Art Ramsay 34:14.

Julie Waldron won the 8 km event with 15:23. Susan MacKean was second at 19:44 followed closely by Anathalie Redmond at 19:48. Doreen McDonell was 4th with 20:30 and Lois Harris had 22:16 for 5th.

Thirty riders were in attendance.

The early leaders in the Spring Stage Race after Stage #1 is Dave Damery for the Men's, Tammy Howes for the Women's' and Stephen Ferris for the 'Under 19'.

Stage #2 goes at 2 pm from the top of the Montney Hill. It is a hilly 50 km event.


Steamworks Tour de Gastown to Help Youth

GASTOWN, BC (April 17, 2003) : Thanks to a new partnership between the Burnaby Velodrome Club's FastTrack program and the Steamworks Tour de Gastown bicycle race, aspiring young track cyclists in the Lower Mainland will have greater access to track bikes, national-level coaching and track time at North America's only indoor velodrome.

Under the partnership, a portion of all future race sponsorship monies received will be donated to the program which helps track cyclists 23 and under learn fundamental track riding skills and riding theory.

Co-sponsored by 2010 LegaciesNow, the FastTrack program is based at the Burnaby Velodrome inside the safe, car-free confines of the Harry Jerome Sports Centre near Simon Fraser University. The wooden track is 200 metres long and 6-metres wide with hair-raising 47 degree corners. The Burnaby Velodrome replaced the China Creek Velodrome, which was built for the 1954 Empire Games and was demolished in 1980 to make way for the construction of the Broadway campus of Vancouver Community College.

Cyclists are coached by Jeremy Storie, a nationally certified coach with more than 20 years experience as a racer, race organizer, coach, official, race announcer, professional team director, mechanic and program director.

"We're delighted to help sponsor Canada's next generation of Olympic cyclists," said Leanore Sali, chair of the 2003 Steamworks Tour de Gastown. "One day, we hope to see them racing here in Gastown where, for more than 20 years, we've given local riders a chance to race in front of the biggest crowds in BC."

The 2003 Steamworks Tour de Gastown, to be held on Wednesday, July 23rd, will once again be the centerpiece of BC Super Cycling Week, which includes the Tour de Delta July 18-20 and the Tour de White Rock, July 25-27. For more information, visit www.tourdegastown.com.


Customer Appreciation Day at Kelso - Ontario
Courtesy Skiis and Bikes

Skiis and Bikes is holding a Customer Appreciation/Demo Day, which is being held at Kelso Conservation area in Milton on Sunday June 8/03 between 10 am and 4 pm. Test ride bikes, attend seminars on bike repair clinics and enjoy a barbeque. Space is limited (as last year proved), so pre-register by calling either the Mississauga store at 905-896-1206 or the Toronto store at 416-391-0654.