April 14/04 4:46 am - Blizzard Bike Club News, Comox Valley Cycling Club News

Posted by Editoress on 04/14/04
 

Blizzard Bike Club Fort St. John, BC

April 10th

Stage 4 - SSR

Robert Martens won stage #4 of the Spring Stage Race in convincing fashion, Saturday. He rode away from the trio of Mike Heintzman, Pat Ferris and Stephen Ferris for the lone breakaway win with 1:17:50 hours for the 45 km race. Mike Heintzman came 2nd in at 1:18:10 and the SSR leader Pat Ferris 3rd at 1:18:25.

Fourteen riders stated the Swanson Loop road race under sunny and warm conditions. The foursome of Martens/Heintzman/Ferris and Ferris pulled ahead of the pack and rode away.

Robert Martens attacked and kept leads during the race, forcing the trio of Stephen ferris, Mike Heintzman and Pat Ferris to chase. Martens finally pulled away on the last lap taking Stephen Ferris with him. Mike Heintzman and Pat Ferris chased but managed to catch Stephen Ferris with Martens long gone.

Mike Heintzman pulled away for the second place spot. Pat Ferris edged out Stephen Ferris for the third spot.

Roger St. Jean came in 5th at 1:26:38, almost eight minutes later. Wim Kok edged out Sam Keats at 1:28:54. Eric Lowry had 1:29:08, Richard Wood 1:34:02, Gord Harris 1:34:02, Bruce Jamieson 1:34:04 and Barb Polehoykie 1:36:53.

The 'Adventure Bound' Yellow Jersey leader for the Women's has changed with Barb Polehoykie tied with Lisa Verbisky at 13 points. Eric Lowry continues with the Under 19 lead at 20. Pat Ferris continues to lead the Men's division at 15 points, 1 ahead of second place Robert Martens and third place Mike Heintzman at 9.

Tomorrow is Stage #5, the "Rocky Road Race Classic" This Paris-Roubaix style race is run on 30 km's of gravel over a 40 km course, in Montney. Start time is 2:00 pm.


April 11th

Robert Martens won the Rocky Road Classic for a fifth straight time, Sunday. He edged out Stephen ferris by half a bike length to win the 40 km event in 1:11:18 hours. 1998 Rocky Road winner Pat Ferris was third at 1:12:13.

Mike Hientzman was 4th at 1:15:58, Roger St. Jean was 5th at 1:17:40, Rod Lewis 1:23:46, Matt Jarnagin 1:33:01 and Adam Currie 1:35:49. 1997 Rocky Road winner Doug Framst had 1:50:49 after a few flat tires.

This event serves as Stage 5 of the Spring Stage race, which means Robert Martens is now the 'Adventure Bound' yellow jersey points leader by one point, over Pat Ferris. Robert Martens has 19, Pat Ferris has 18, with Joe Radench and Mike Hientzman tied at 11. Stephen Ferris has 10, Richard Howes 4 and Roger St. Jean 2.

Barb Polehoykie and Lisa Verbisky are tied for the Women's leaders jersey and Eric Lowry is leading the Under 19.

Stage 6 is happening, Tuesday, and goes from the corner of 103 road, to the Montney Store and returns. Race time is 6:00 pm.


2nd Race Successful for CVCC!
By Todd Phillips

The Comox Valley Cycling Club held the second race in the Comox Cup Road Series on Easter Sunday. The weather was perfect and the racing was fast!

In the cadet category 13 year old Simon Garstin, a mountain biker in his very first road race, performed like a real veteran roadie. He let others do most of the 'pulling' throughout the race and saved himself for the final sprint where he narrowly beat Grant O'Neill (also 13) for the win. The C category had 2 racers, the B category had 7 and the A category had 22 starters which were thinned out to just 7 for the final group at the finish. Garth White broke away on the hill during the last lap to take an exciting victory in the A group.

For young Garth this was a great win. He tried a similar move in last month's Comox Cup road race but did not succeed. This time he was strong enough to take home the win. White will be trying for the B.C. team racing in the Tour de l'Abitibi, one of the biggest stage race for juniors in the World, held in Quebec in July. While the competition for spots on this team is extremely tough, with the form he showed on Sunday, his chances are fairly good.

In the B category only Donny Brenson and Leah Wheeldon were left on the final hill to battle it out where Donny took honours for the B category. The club would like to thank all of those who spent their Easter Sunday helping to organize and marshal the course, as well as Tim Hortin‚s for the goodies and Nathalie, of Tarbell's Café, for supplying a nice lunch after the race!


Road Race #2, Cumberland-Minto course, 11 April 2004:

Open A - 7 laps, 79.8 km, no time
Garth White
Zacharie l'Abbe
Kiara Bisaro (Mike's Bikes/Gears Racing)
Ken Wade (Pedal Your World)
Michael Harvey (Simon's Cycles)
David Frisch
Travis Field
Ian Kerr
Iain Hay, Jr (Schwalbe)
Melissa Dekker
Mort Allingham
Jeff Beeston
remainder not placed:
Rudy Daun
Iain Hay, Sr. (Schwalbe)
Chris Daradics
Ryan Brown
Travis Petersen
Matt Powsey (Dodge City/Oryx/Mt. Washington)
Mike Mearns (Mike's Bikes)
Al Cannon DNF
Hillary Anctil DNF


Open B - 5 laps, 57.0 km, 1:43:10
Donny Brenson
Leah Wheeldon
Todd Phillips
Chuck Sinclair
Mike Gruber
Ernie Klassen (Spokes)
Doug Godden


Open C - 3 laps, 34.2 km, 1:08:11
Karen Hoover
Jill Grant


Cadet - 2 laps, 22.8 km, 43:24
Simon Garstin
Grant O'Neill