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Stage 5: Day in Squamish

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Day 6: Squamish Highlights

For Immediate Release

July 3, 2009 – Squamish BC

Squamish is known as the recreation capital of Canada and yesterday more than 400 riders in BC Bike Race understood why mountain biking falls under that umbrella.

The usual daily rider contingent was enhanced by a solid 15% today, as roughly 50 people got into their riding gear and followed the pack as they ripped out onto the highly anticipated Day 6 singletrack. Just before the start gun went off, the group of guest riders gathered together beneath the large, arching bob logo for a VIP photo.

Shimano is the title sponsor for Stage 6, which had several activities in store for its visiting dignitaries. Sponsors, supporters, community members, and friends were all invited to sample a day in the life of “The Ultimate Singletrack Experience.” Beyond the heaping serving of fantastic singletrack, Squamish style, the BCBR Base Camp opened its doors to the visiting VIPs and encouraged them to mix and mingle with the riders.

Back out on course, it didn’t take long for the first Men’s Open category team to cross the finish line.

It wasn’t a huge surprise when the current and long-time yellow-jersey wearing Jamis / Santa Cruz powerhouse team flew around the corner and into sight. They finished the day in 2:44:03, with an overall time gap of cose to 8 minutes over the second place team, Kona. Barry Wicks and Kris Sneddon finished the stage in 2:50:50 to secure second spot in the overall GC. South Africans DCM Chrome 1, who finished in 2:52:15 are keeping third place in hand.

With only the short and snappy Whistler stage remaining, the podium spot could still shift hands.

In the women’s category team Luna Chix’s Catharine Pendrel and Katerina Nash continued to dominate with their aggressive riding style. To take the top podium spot they posted a 3:13:39 for the day’s ride, which is a terrific time for the two world-class athletes. Rocky Mountain’s Alison Sydor and Lea Davison maintanted their tight grip on second place by posting a 3:21:28 finish for the day. Third place went to Oak Bay Bikes Lisa Ludewig and Dawn Anderson who posted 3:51:37.

The GC standings haven’t shifted since Day 1: Luna Chix hold onto their jerseys for the duration, with the two-three punch not shifting either. These girls knew where they were meant to be.

Once again, in the Womens Solo Category, North Vancouver’s Megan Rose retained the yellow jersey for the sixth time this week after posting a stage winning 3:50:44.

Team of 2 Mixed category riders Georgia Gould & Ryan Trebone maintained their significant lead in the category with a quick time for the day, 3:10:08.

One last stage for the racers to tackle in Whistler!

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Correct Version Press Release

Thursday’s BC Bike Race route, the second one on the Sunshine Coast, was much anticipated by both BCBR staff and return riders simply because its notorious Hwy 102 trail brings riders to a slick and swoopy mountain bike nirvana. Not a bad way to wrap up a solid day of mountain biking

Beneath endless bluebird skies, the almost 370 BCBR participants queued up for the start of their Sunshine Coast – Part II adventure; their fifth consecutive day of mountain biking in south-western BC. During Stage 4 on Wednesday, many riders were cursing Course Designer, Rod Camposano, because of the relentless climbing he threw at them. However, by dinner time, the conversation had turned to how much riders loved the trails.

Pumpkin Patch. Black Tower. White Knuckle Tight. Often, mountain bike trail names can be really good clues as to what’s in store before you commit to dropping in. After 5 days on the trail BCBR riders were catching on.

The passion and the commitment to mountain biking and trail building can’t help but permeate Camposano’s flow of conversation as we drive up to check on the first aid station. His genuine passion for creating one helluva race course comes out when he realizes that the flagging for one corner on this course has been removed.

Home field advantage proved valuable for the Kong team on Thursday’s singletrack intensive course. While DCM Chrome’s Brandon Stewart and Max Knox had an early lead on the field, the technical singletrack skills that are second nature to the Sneddon and Wicks team outshone the South Africans’ pure hill strength.

As we’ve seen throughout the week, Kris Sneddon & Barry Wicks (Kona) and Seamus McGrath & Chris Sheppard (Jamis / Santa Cruz) rode a hair’s breadth apart for the better part of the course. The finish times – 2:37:47 (Kona) and 2:37:49 (Jamis/Santa Cruz) – reflect exactly how hard-fought this battle is for top spot in the Team of 2 Open Men category. With two more days to go, the competition is unbelieveably tight – merely 53 seconds separate the yellow jersey-wearing Kona from Jamis / Santa Cruz.

In the Solo Open Men category, the experience of seasoned racer Ruedi Schnyder (Schnyder) earned him his second consecutive stage win with a time of 2:41:57. Schnyder crossed the line 15 seconds ahead of Colin Kerr, current yellow jersey wearer. RMB – Different Bikes Kevin Calhoun came in third at 2:50:51.

Colin Kerr was a big fan of Day 5, “Yesterday was hard, I think it was mentally taxing just being up under the powerlines all day (with no shade) and then you have today (almost all climbs were shaded). The singletrack is great and then the 10km flight in to the finish. It feels easy you know that it’s an effortless roll the finish.”

Team of 2 Open Women has been a constant 1-2-3 shake out, with Catharine Pendrel & Katerina Nash (Luna Chix) holding a commanding lead over Rocky Mountain’s Alison Sydor & Lea Davison and  Lisa Ludwig & Dawn Anderson (Oak Bay Bikes).

Solo Open Women changed leaders once again with Megan Rose, continuous yellow jersey wearer, staking claim on the stage win in 3:50.

There was little change in the remaining categories and overall standings for the rest of the groups.

Two more days of solid BCBR action lie ahead. Next stop: Squamish.