June 18/10 22:12 pm - Banff National Park Bicycle Festival: Stage 1 report, photos and results

Posted by Editoress on 06/18/10
 

Results from today's 2nd stage: 1A Sprint along the Bow Valley Parkway from Lake Louise to Sawback return

Photos by organization and Mark Kay/kayphoto.ca

Under a high ceiling of cloud, riders and race personnel milled about in Lake Louise, getting ready for the 81 kilometre 1A Sprint Road Race, the second event of the Banff National Park Bike Festival.

Invited Men

The Invited Men rolled out and rode aggressively from the start, with multiple attacks by riders from Trek Red Truck, Garneau Evolution, Cafe Racers, and ERTC. Though attempts were frequent, the peloton stayed together for the first 70 kilometres.

With about 10km to go, a break of five riders went off the front. With representation from Trek Red Truck, Total Restoration, Lenovo, ERTC, and Garneau Evolution, the five riders got into rotation immediately, working well together to stay away. But missing the break was race leader Justin Kerr (Team H&R Block).

"That was not the break we wanted!" commented Aaron Schooler (H&R Block). Schooler and his team mates went to the front of the peloton and attempted to reel it in. As most of the bigger teams were represented in the break, the chase effort was largely powered by H&R Block. After 7 km of chasing, the pack swarmed the leaders, and three kilometers later riders sprinted for podium positions.

Cody Canning (ERTC) came around Tyler Trace (Trek Red Truck) taking the win, with Wes Richards (Lenovo) third. "I was feeling good, this was the best race so far this year for me," commented Canning. "I'm primarily a mountain biker, and this is only my second road race this year. I guess I might be rolling a bit better on the road than off."

Canning takes over the leader's jersey for the Invited Men as a result of the time bonus from his win today. Kerr is now in second place in the General Classification, while Ian McKissick (Lenovo) is in third.

Open Women

The Open Women got rolling a half hour after the Invited Men, on the same course. The women's race was also an aggressive affair, with attacks from race leader Tara Whitten (Specialized Mazda Samson G Conseil), Julie Beveridge (Vienne Futuroscope), and Jessica Hannah (Total Restoration). But the right combination of teams off the front never materialized for anything to stick, and the women's race came down to a sprint finish.

Canada's 2009 National Road Race Champion Alison Testroete (Team Vera Bradley Foundation) crossed the line first, with Leah Kirchmann (Trek Red Truck) on her heels, and Steph Roorda (Incycle/Time to Track p/b Empowerment) taking third.

"Tara Whitten had some really solid attacks out there, and so did Julie Beveridge and Jessica Hannah," said Testroete following her victory. "I think the overall winner this weekend will probably be decided by the time trial, so I would have liked to have been in a break to gain some time on Tara and Julie, who are such strong time trialists. But I didn't think I had much of a chance of getting away from them today!"

With her win Testroete is now in the leader's jersey for the Open Women. Whitten and Roorda now sit in second and third place respectively in the General Classification.

Saturday sees a double stage day for riders and all categories racing will reconvene for the 21 km Stage 2 Individual Time Trial on Saturday, with the first rider off at 8 a.m. The start line will be at the Husky Gas Station at 601 Banff Ave. Later that day the Stage 3 Lezyne Criterium, with a start/finish in downtown Banff near Wolf Street begins with the Category 5 racers at 5 p.m. and finishes with the Invited Men's race.

Report courtesy Banff National Park Bike Festival