April 30/01 8:32 am - New Brunswick Canada Games Selection, Vuelta de Bisbee

Posted by Editor on 04/30/01
 

New Brunswick Canada Games Selection
Courtesy Aaron Hershoff

This summer's Canada Games will soon be upon us. The provincial association of Velo NB wishes to announce that it will be holding its first selection races to select the best cyclists to represent New Brunswick at the next Canada Games to be held August 11th to the 18th in London, Ontario.

The team shall consist of 6 men born between 1981 and 1984 and 6 women born between 1979 and 1984. The selected athletes wil have to compete in road racing and mountain bike.

The first races are to be held in Dieppe NB this coming weekend on May 5th and 6th. On Saturday, a time trial (TT) of 14 km on the road will begin at 15h00 at St-Anselme Park in Dieppe. This event will be followed by the road race to begin at 12h00 on Sunday at the same location. Registrations will be accepted 90 minutes before the scheduled start at the Rotary Lodge in St-Anselme Park. Registration fees will vary between 20$ and 25$. Each cyclist should possess a valid racing licence approved by Velo NB.

These races represent, in fact, one of a series of competition for the NB Cup open to all age categories. The athletes wishing to be selected on the Canada Games Provincial team will be grouped together and evaluated according to the selection criteria established by the Provincial Association.

All athletes who would like to try out are invited to these races. For more information, please contact either Mike's Bike Shop (race organizer) 852-7100, Charles Babineau (provincial coach) 858-7099, Isabelle Richard (provincial coach) 523-9245, Jean Luc Bélanger (provincial team manager) 735-6475.


Vuelta de Bisbee

The Intersports Cycling Team dominated the 2001 edition of the Vuelta de Bisbee. Raced over 3 days in South Eastern Arizona, Intersports riders won all 4 stages and the overall, while fending off challenges from a strong southwestern field. Time Trial ace Elizabeth Emery came away with the overall honors after convincingly winning both Time Trials and the final day's 66 mile road race. Emery benefited strongly from the support of faithful team rider Chloe Black and former World Champion Catherine Marsal (who also managed to round up a stage win in the stage 2 circuit race).

The field of riders included members of the Jane's Cosmetics and Landis/VW teams who were intent on making Emery work for her leader's jersey on the final day. After taking the mid race time bonus sprint, Emery had her 2 lieutenants ride tempo for the remaining 30 miles into a head/cross wind, before the day's final obstacle, the ascent of the Lavender Mine climb. Showing their efforts, Black and Marsal came off on the final climb into Bisbee, but Emery had things under control. Content to mark Carolyn Donnelly, her closest pursuant on the final climb, Emery had enough juice left at the finish to complete the sweep of stages for the Intersports Team.

From Bisbee the Intersports Team heads to the Tour of the Gila for what will certainly be a major showdown with heavyweights Saturn, Rona and Autotrader slated to be on the start line.