March 5/05 8:52 am - Ride with Rendall Stage 12, Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen: Stages 1 and 2 cancelled

Posted by Editoress on 03/5/05
 

RWR/Peak Winter series Stage 12 results

Stage 12 results are finally available on the Ride with Rendall website after a few technical difficulties. To view the results go to www.ridewithrendall.com

After a hard fought battle up and down the hills of Stage 12's profile, Fraser Atkinson (aka Fraser Atkins) from Fresh Air Experience managed to hold off the series mystery rider's challenge. The lead was swapped many times within the race but ultimately Fraser's downhill speed and steady riding put him in the lead. In the woman's category, Natasha Elliott of Cycle Logik once again won the woman's field with a ride that also placed her third overall in the men's category. Cynthia Clarke rode steady to finish a well deserved second place in the woma's field.

The next race will be held Sunday March 6 with heats once again starting at 7am and running throughout the day. To book your heat call the Peak Centre at 613-737-PEAK. Stage 12 saw many new riders take part in the racing so don't be shy and book you heat for stage 13 or 14 now.

Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
Courtesy Navigators Insurance Cycling Team

Stage-1 of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen (3 Days of West Flanders) started Friday, but never was completed. Owing to the severe winter that has gripped northern Europe for most of the season, especially in the past week, the race was cancelled about 50-km from the start in Kortrijk after the snow started falling.

Although cold at the start, the snow wasn't expected to begin falling until after the sun went down, but race officials were surprised when the white powder came down and rapidly coated the roads just outside of Roselare. This was the second event (Memorial Samyn Fayt-le-Franc) to be cancelled this week, after the riders endured a miserably cold two days of racing last weekend in the opening of the "Northern Classics" season with Het Volk and Kuurne-Bruxells-Kuurne. Hopefully the weather will cooperate in the next two days (Stages 2 & 3) for this popular event in western Belgium.

Stage 2 has also been cancelled due to snow and bad roads.