May 17/04 10:29 am - Shep Report, Norba #2, Swisspower Cup, Ontario Track, B.C., Masters Track

Posted by Editor on 05/17/04
 

Shep Report

Hey y'all. Round two of the NORBA National series took place this weekend in Sonoma, California. Sounds exotic but really it was just a dusty, grass field with a speedway and some really nice washrooms (I'm serious, you could eat off those things). Day one consisted of an ammmmmazing cross-country course. Prepare for some sarcasm here. Looks like they pulled out the bulldozer the other day and cut us a extremely technical all double track course. What can you do? The race must go on. I guess Mother Nature was the one to blame because I swear the constant 30-mile an hour wind was only hitting me. Most racers voiced that same opinion so God wasn't out to get me. Managed to stay out of trouble for the first time this year. A bunch of the top Canucks were out of action this weekend including Seamus, Ryder, Rollie, Kabush and Toulouse....

JHK and Wells pinned it from the start with a few guys I don't know, then Swenson and I bridged to make it a group of five for a good few minutes before the original two took off again. With JHK a teammate, Swenson wasn't up for the chase so I took it upon myself for a lap before Rowney took charge as Brown and Trebron hooked onto us. The two guys I didn't know faded back as did Swenson when Trebron hit it. Surprise, surprise Wells was taken out by a broken chain while JHK managed to continue gapping and then taking victory in round about two hours. My untrained ass hit the wall hard with just over a lap to go and I fell off the Treb, Brown, Rown - train. Had a hard time with personal demons who kept saying, "Chris you are going so slow in the wind. Chris the wind is only on you. Chris why don't you slow down and take it easy. Chris it's been a rough bunch of months. Rest. Rest. Rest.". "STOP THAT", I yelled! Managed to hang on for dear life until the last few minutes when Carl Decker passed me for fifth. Brown attacked Mr. Solo-Rowney who had spent a great deal of time by himself as Trebron had his best ride ever for a fourth place spot.

Next day STXC. Once again the wind fiercely hammered the pro men but that wasn't much of an issue. The issue was the fact that people were using road bike on the 99% pavement course. That is not right due to the fact that this is a mtn bike race! Round and round we went with not much to talk about other than the fact that a group got away with Rowney, Wells, Me, Jacques-Maine, and Hestler doing the brunt of the work. A few crashes made us all realize that being in the front was the best gig...one to go and Mapel attacked from the back with me, Decker, Rowney, JM, Plaxton and Hestler in tow. Down to the last straight...four up sprint and four tenths separating Decker on a road bike in first, Mapel, Rowney, and me with Plaxton edging out Hestler for fifth. I was the only guy on the pode with a mtn bike tire on! Not very smart I guess. Off to Big Bear hopefully have an eventful road trip to make more of a story!

Out, Shep


Norba #2 Sonoma - Sonoma CA

Short Track

Men
1. Carl Decker (USA) Giant-Pearl Izumi, 25:11
2. Frank Mapel (USA) Specialized, at 0:00.3
3. Paul Rowney (USA) Yeti, 0:00.6
4. Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro-Adidas, 0:00.8
5. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 0:01.19
6. Andreas Hestler (Can) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 0:01.41
7. Derek Wilkerson (USA) Specialized-Hillenbrand, 0:03.88
8. Todd Wells (USA) GT-Hyundai, 0:05.29
9. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona-Clarks Factory, 0:06.29
10. Brent Bookwalter (USA) Balance Bar-Devo, 0:27.66

27. Peter Wedge (Can) Kona Clarks, 1:15

Women
1. Alison Dunlap (USA) Luna, 23:11
2. Kerry Barnholt (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 0:01.11
3. Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Ralph Lauren, 0:01.36
4. Katerina Hanusova (Cze) Luna, 0:01.63
5. Melanie McQuaid (Can) Ford Cycling, 0:01.90
6. Dara Marks-Marino (USA) Ford Racing, 0:04.12
7. Gretchen Reeves (USA) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 0:04.34
8. Willow Koerber (USA) RLX Ralph Lauren, 0:04.50
9. Kathy Sherwin (USA) Cannondale, 0:04.80
10. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) Luna, 0:05.14

Dual Slalom
Men
1. Rich Houseman (USA) Sponsorhouse.com
2. Mike King (USA) Haro-Adidas
3. Eric Carter (USA) Mongoose-Hyundai
4. Mick Hannah (Aus) Haro-Adidas

Women
1. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Intense
2. Jill Kintner (USA) Yeti
3. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis
4. Tara Llanes (USA) Giant-Pearl Izumi

Jeep King of the Mountains Standings

Dual Slalom
Men
1. Mike King (USA) Haro-Adidas
2. Wade Bootes (Aus)Trek-Volkswagen
3. Mick Hannah,(Aus) Haro-Adidas
4. Brian Schmith (USA) Mongoose Hyundai

Women
1. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis
2. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Intense
3. Jill Kintner (USA) Yeti
4. Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS

California Outdoor Sports Championships Sonoma CA

Supercuts Criterium

Pro 1/2 Men
1. Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto.Com/Lombardi Sports
2. Glen Mitchell (USA) Sierra Nevada
3. Mike Taylor (USA) Mcguire Pro Cycling Team
4. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada
5. Zachary Walker (USA) Ofoto

Pro Women

1. Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor
2. Felicia Greer (Can) Webcor
3. Karen Brems (USA) Webcor
4. Brenda Lyons (USA)
5. Kristin Drumm (USA) Morgan Stanley/Specialized/24 Hour Fitness


SwissPower Cup #5 Perrefite, Switzerland

Women
1. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer - BMC, 1:43:00
2. Andrea Huser (Sui) Papival-BMC-DSR, at 0:37
3. Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/Volkswagen, 1:03
4. Anna Enocsson (Swe) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 1:58
5. Franziska Rothlin (Sui) Rocky Mountain/Business Object, 2:00
6. Nina Gohl (Sui) Denkhaus/Castellani, 2:24
7. Barbara Blatter (Sui) Specialized, 2:47
8. Daniela Louis (Sui) Thomus Bike Team, 5:30
9. Cecile Rode (Sui) Scott Allianz Michelin, 5:57
10. Elina Sophokleous (Gre) Bikin'Cyprus MTB TT, 7:38

12. Sarah Noble (Can) Rocky Mountain/Business Objects, 8:20

Men
1. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Sui) Lapierre International, 1:41:04
2. Cedric Ravanell (Fra) Orbea, at 0:46
3. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Siemens Mobile Cannondale, 1:51
4. Philip Tavell (Swe) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 2:38
5. Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Bianchi Motorex, 3:45
6. Jochen Kass (Sui) Team T-Mobile, 3:57
7. Reto Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum MTB Team, 4:02
8. Frederic Frech (Sui) Univega Pro Cyling Team, 4:32
9. Yohann Vachette (Sui) Scott Allianz Michelin, 4:46
10. Julien Girard (Sui) X.O - Felt - Gonso, 5:01


May Track Camp Detroit MI
Courtesy Rob Good

The first in a series of track camps took place this past Saturday in Detroit. The camp was to prepare riders for the Ontario Track Championships & Junior Worlds Qualifying on the weekend of June 18-20th.

6 new track racers took to the boards on Saturday morning, each looking to learn as much as possible about the art of track riding & racing. Ontario coaches Steve Karpik & Don Andrews helped out local Detroit instructor Dave Young. After the first 5 laps the riders came off the track with Great Big Smiles, wondering why they had not given this a try before.

The Ontario riders were part of a group of 14 riders who came out to learn how to ride on the 45 degree banked turns. Through the Track 101 training, the riders were given a bike to use for the day, (which included racing in the afternoon). The quickest of the new riders was Taylor Martin out of Ancaster who turned some heads with a very fast 12.7 (sec) flying 200m at the end of the Clinic.

In the afternoon, a total of 9 Canadians battled the locals, in two ability-based divisions. The race events included Tempo, Team Pursuit, Scratch, Bavarian Win & Out ( I lucked into a 4th place finish), & a Points race. Detroit locals Ripp'n Ronnie & Dave Koesel, dominated the afternoon.

The next Track 101 camp will be held on Saturday June 5th. Riders of all ages are welcome, More information will follow.


Blizzard Bike Club Fort St. John BC
Courtesy Pat Ferris

May 16th

Tessa Bilodeau is cycling's new 'Queen of Spring' and Mike Hientzman is the new 'King of Spring' - both in a record time on the Montney-Upper Pine 41 km loop.

Alberta Provincial Champion Tessa Bilodeau's time of 1:12:31 was almost ten minutes faster than last years' record time of 1:21:12 hours, previously held by Tammy Howes. Barb Polehoykie was second with 1:18:57 and Lisa Verbisky 1:20:11 for third and Trisha Gladysz 1:29:08 for 4th spot.

Mike's time of 1:08:26 was 1:44 minutes faster than last years time of 1:10:10 hours held by the five-time winner, Robert Martens. Pat Ferris was second at 1:09:14 and Rod 'The Rocket' Lewis was third at 1:09:25 all past the previous record.

Twenty-one riders came out under ideal conditions, which is unusual for this event as the weather is usually cold. A pack of Mike Hientzman, Pat Ferris, Roger St. Jean and Tim Gladysz pulled away after the Pineview Fairgrounds. Gladysz was dropped at the 19 km mark with Roger and Rod Lewis to follow at the 30 km mark. Rod Lewis managed to catch back up to the lead pair, though, and hung on until the final climb.

Mike Hientzman pushed hard on the last climb to the finish, dropping Rod Lewis at the bottom and the elder Ferris at the top. He came in alone with a splendid 1:08:26 hours. Pat Ferris came in 48 seconds later with Rod Lewis coming third at 1:09:25. Roger St. Jean was 4th at 1:11:16 and Tim Gladysz outsprinted Ed Fornelli for 5th at 1:12:23.

Tessa Bilodeau was 7th overall at 1:12:36, Kevin Sparling 1:12:56, Terry Stone 1:16:00, Gord 'The Hammer' Harris at 1:16:03, Ross Garbutt 1:16:08, Darren Guliov 1:17:17, Ken Nix 1:17:48, Barb Polehoykie 1:18:57, Richard Wood at 1:20:11, Lisa Verbisky 1:20:11, Adam Currie 1:20:14, Jamie Maxwell of Dawson Creek 1:20:14, Trisha Gladysz 1:29:08 and Owen Giebelhaus 1:30:15. Marg Evens did 1:04:23 for 25 km's.

Stephen Ferris and Robert Martens were racing the Alberta Circuit in Canmore, this weekend. Stephen Ferris was 8th place in Saturday's Provincial Time trial Race #1. In Sunday's Canmore Criterium, Robert Martens picked up 5th place in Category 3. Stephen Ferris crashed and could not continue.

Coming up:

• Monday is Duathlon #1 at the Baldonnel School at 7:00 pm. It is a 2 km run, 7.5 km bike and another 2 km run.
• Thursday is a Baldonnel time trial at 7 pm
• Sunday is the Ferris Fast Cycles Team Time trial Trophy race at Cecil Lake at 2:00 pm.
• This weekend is also the Grande Prairie Triathlon.

For information check out the web site at www.dawntech.bc.ca/blizzard

On the randonneur front four riders cycled the 300 km Petit Tour de Peace brevet on Saturday. Participants included three cyclists from the Lower Mainland and one local rider. John Bates and Danelle Laidlaw on tandem completed the ride in 14 hrs and 15 minutes, as did Wim Kok from Fort St John. Val White finished the distance in 17 hours and 54 minutes, well within the 20-hour time limit. The cyclists rode from Fort St. John via Hudson's Hope, Chetwynd, Ted's Service and Farmington back to Fort St. John.

Randonneuring, also known as ultra marathon bicycling, requires riders to complete set distances within a fixed time window. Riders must be self-reliant and follow a pre-selected course, while checking in at various control points along the route. Every year the BC Randonneurs Club organizes long distance brevets, ranging from 200, 300, 400, 600 to 1,000 km per event. Every second year it holds the prestiguous Rocky Mountain 1200 km event which runs from Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise back to Kamloops and must be completed in 90 hours. Local brevet organizer Wim Kok is planning the ride this event in July 2004. For more information check the club's website at www.randonneurs.bc.ca


World Masters Track Championships 2004

Regulations, entry details and forms are now available for the World Masters Track Championships to be held in Manchester, England from 13th to 18th September 2004. All of the above can be found on their web site www.cyclingmasters.com

Starting next month news items will be posted on the front page about riders, officials and sponsors etc - Also coming up June will be ticket details for spectators.

You can contact the Masters Office at info@cyclingmasters.com