June 23/03 11:49 am - Symmetrics for Abitibi, Atlantic Roads Nats Team, Redden Report

Posted by Editor on 06/23/03
 

Symmetrics Cycling Sponsors Abitibi Team
Courtesy Symmetrics Cycling

Symmetrics Cycling will sponsor the BC Junior Team for the Tour de l'Abitibi, an eight stage race that takes place in Val-d'Or, Quebec between July 22-27. Tour de l'Abitibi is the most prestigious Junior Men's (17-18 yrs old) race in North America, and attracts teams from Holland, South Africa, France, Mexico, and Japan.

The team is as follows:

Marsh Cooper: National Team member, 2002 National Criterium Champion, Silver medal in 2002 National Road Race, 5th Stage 4 L'Abitibi 2002, winner of more than 10 races in 2002.

Shaun Crump: Team BC member Tour de L'Abitibi 2002, 3rd Nooksack Road Race (Cat 3) 2003, 5th Enumclaw Road Race (Cat 3) 2003.

J.P. Dunlop: Third Place (Cadet) B.C Provincial Road Race Championships, B.C. Provincial Track Champion (various 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes), B.C. Provincial Criterium Champion (3rd place junior men), Bastion Square Criterium (top junior/cadet in Cat 4).

Brad Fairall: Winner Enumclaw Road Race and Overall Cat 3, 2003. In 2002 Brad won the BC Junior Provincial Championships in both the Criterium and Time Trial.

Trevor Mahon: Top ten Junior, 2003 Sea Otter Classic, 1st 2003 BC High School Mountain Bike Championships, 3rd Overall 2002 BC Cup Mountain Bike Championships, 4th (U-17) 2002 National Championships.

Max Plaxton: World Jr. World Relay Champion 2002, Sea Otter Jr XC winner 2003, Canada Cup #1 Jr. XC winner 2003, 2002 National XC Champion.

The Symmetrics Team BC will be managed by Jeremy Storie, with mechanic Bill MacPherson accompanying them.


Atlantic Canada Riders for Road Nationals

The National Cycling Centre- Atlantic Canada is pleased to announce the Dieppe Auto Volkswagen selection that will represent it at the Canadian Road Championships, which are being held in Hamilton, Ontario from June 27-June 30. The majority of the athletes will be competing in the Criterium, Time Trial and the road race, in Pelham Ontario.

The athletes from New-Brunswick are Julie Bélanger , from Edmundston, Christian Meier, from Sussex, Kirk Emery, from Millbrook, Ryan Belliveau and Phil Cortes, from Campbellton, and André Charlebois from Moncton. Nova Scotia will be represented by Craig de Gier, from Lower Sackville, Dustin MacBurnie, from Truro, Nathan St-Onge and Justin St-Onge, from Amherst, Christopher Dunbar, from Hantsport, Jamie Lamb, from Shubenacadie, and Chris Graham, from Truro. Prince-Edward Island will send Andrew Scott and Ryan Taylor from Charlottetown, as well as Max Keeler from Souris.

After the good performances of our athletes in 2002, the objectives for this year are higher than past years. "We are always progressing, our presence is being felt by the other riders in Canada. At the Junior men level, we will be battling for medals. At the Espoir level, the developmental period is longer. As a result, we will be front runners in the race."-Luc Arseneau, Head coach- National Cycling Centre- Atlantic Canada.


Chrissy Report

Chrissy Redden reports from Mt Snow.

We came, we raced, we're getting ready for the World Cup next week in Mt. St. Anne, Quebec!

This weekend was definitely a good weekend with Ryder Hesjedal placing 3rd in the men's cross-country and Chrissy Redden podiuming both days with a 5th and 3rd in the cross-country and short track, respectively. We had much better weather this week with only scattered showers during the day and solid rain at night (compared to rain, rain and more rain in West Virginia). The 7km cross-country course held up quite well, but still had numerous boggy sections. The downhill was typical Mt. Snow style ... technical!! This is normally one of my favourite venues, so I was really excited to start racing. The pace went out fast for the cross-country and I found myself off the back of the lead group of four - Jimena Florit (RLX), Alison Sydor (Trek/VW), Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) and Willow Koerber (RLX). I seemed to be plagued with small mistakes the whole race, each costing only seconds, but adding up! Plus, the others were on! By the final of 3 laps, Alison and Mary were attacking each other, and Jimena was making a final surge.

My team-mates Mary Grigson and Walker Ferguson had unsuccessful days and ended up at the rig early. Mary had a bad crash, but is OK and will be resting up for ... (it's a secret ... )

The short track was looking really good, until it started raining an 1/2 hr before the start of the women's race. I didn't even notice. I had my special IRC tires on. I was there to win. I didn't. Yes, I'm bummed, but excited for Katerina Hanusova (Luna), who did! It was a fast, technical, aggressive race with quite a few crashes. I really wanted to stay at the front and maintain a fast pace, but it seemed only a few would work and I was definitely marked. I tried a few attempts to get away, but the only thing they accomplished was to tire me out. With 2 laps to go, Katerina got a small gap, then attacked HARD! I tried to bring it back, but I had Sue and Alison on my wheel, they came by me at the 1 lap to go mark, and Katerina was actually gaining time! She was motivated and I could see she could hold it! The three of us crested the hill and as Alison stalled a little, Sue got a small gap. By the time I got around Alison, Sue was gone! I rallied the downhill thinking the best I could do was 3rd, but then I saw Alison try a gutsy pass on my outside of a greasy, wet corner. All I could see was a Trek/Canadian team jersey going into the Shimano banner. From there I crested the chairlift climb, but wasn't in the clear. It seemed that McConneloug was catching me! When would this last lap end?? I turned the final corner into the finishing straight, but went wide and lost some time. I heard some huge cheering and knew that McConneloug was on my wheel. I just went for the line and had to throw my bike forward in order to capture 3rd. It was definitely a photo finish! Exciting!

The men's race was equally exciting!! Seamus McGrath (Haro Bike) captured his first NORBA Win!!! The crowd went absolutely WILD!!