March 26/04 7:11 am - Ed Schum Named as Abitibi Project Leader for BC, Blizzard Bike Club News, Birthday

Posted by Editoress on 03/26/04
 

Cycling BC Welcomes Ed Schum as Abitibi Project Leader
Courtesy Cycling BC

Long time Cycling BC member and Coach, Ed Schum, returns to lead the Tour de l'Abitibi Junior Men's High Performance Project in 2004. With a long history in sport, including involvement at the Provincial and National levels, Ed brings with him a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm, coupled with the vast amount of experience gained from leading the Abitibi project on three different occasions!

The 2004 Project aims to build on the success of previous BC Team projects competing in the Eastern Canadian Stage Race, where in 2002, two BC Team members were selected to represent Canada at the World Championships.

Located in and around the township of Val-d'Or, Quebec, the Tour de L'Abitibi is perhaps the largest and most prestigious Junior Men's stage race in North America, and the only stop on the continent in the World Junior Challenge Series. Attracting teams from as far away as Holland and Japan, last year's roster boasted teams from seven countries, five provinces and two states. The eight-stage event covers a prologue, several road races, criterium and even a team time trail!

Over the next two months, several riders will be identified as long listed team members. The selection of these riders does not have any bearing on the final 6 that will represent the BC Team at the stage race. The long listed athletes will enable several of the eventual team riders to race as a unit before the actual event. All riders will have to qualify through the identified selection process.

Interested Junior-aged riders should watch the Cycling BC website for Project updates including Selection events. Men, with a racing age of 17 and 18, are requested to submit a brief race resume in the form of an email or letter expressing interest to Allan Prazsky, < a href=Mailto:road@cycling.bc.ca>road@cycling.bc.ca to be considered and receive Project updates.

Cycling BC will be able to provide partial funding for this project. The exact amount is yet to be determined. All selected athletes will be informed as budgeting is finalized.


Blizzard Bike Club Fort St. John, BC - March 25th
Courtesy Blizzard Bike Club

This Sunday's final Blizzard Roubaix Cup race is going to be the tiebreaker. 1998 winner Pat Ferris and Mike Heintzman are tied for points going into this Sunday's final Beatton Park Roubaix. Each rider has won a stage. Ferris won the Baldonnel Roubaix and Heintzman won last weekends' Frozen John Roubaix.

Overall, 2003 co-winner Stephen Ferris is in second spot with 6 points and Gary Hilderman third with 2 points. The Beatton Park Roubaix has more pavement than the other two but has a lot more hills. The warm weather will dry the gravel circuit, somewhat, but it will be rough and tough.

It all comes down to Sunday. Race time is 2:00 pm starting at Beatton Park, near Charlie Lake.



Happy Birthday to..... Jean-François Laroche, today.