The opening prologue of the Tour de Delta officially started the BC Super
Cycling Week in British Columbia on Friday night, July 12, 200 . A thirty
thousand dollar prize list for the week of racing has already attracted
over 30 women racers and over 70 senior men. Among them were Eric Wohlberg
and Kim Langton of the Saturn racing team, Amy Jarvis and Manon Jutras of
the Rona Cycling Team, Roland Green, 2001 World MTB Champion
(Trek/Volkswagen), and other national calibre riders along with the local
favourites.

The evening’s events began with Bert and Ernie, (yes, those guys from
Sesame Street) clearing the way for the pros by riding up the entire
course. A vendor selling cowbells, hats and t-shirts added to the festive
atmosphere, already littered with a couple hundred spectators for the hot
Friday night hill climb.

The women raced first at one-minute intervals. The first rider to sprint up
the hill was Jessica DeMars, (Campione). A relatively unknown rider and
part-time physiotherapist from Calgary, DeMars set the pace for the rest of
the field. Her time of one minute and twenty-nine seconds put her in the
hot seat for the remainder of the race. DeMars was very happy about her
win.

“I feel overwhelmed this is crazy– I’m obviously an unknown and I didn’t
expect this at all everything worked out it made my weekend!” Australia’s
Helen Kelly (Verizon Wireless) and Kim Langton (Saturn) came close but not
fast enough, finishing second and third respectively.

In the men’s race, format was a little different than the women’s event.
Racers went off in pairs, racing up different sides of the hill. Despite
the international depth of the field, it was Nanaimo local Matt Usborne
(Part One Int’l) who came out with the best time. “I was (using the) big
chain ring, biggest gear I could push” While some opted to use their small
chain ring it seems that Usborne’s strategy worked best.

Just over a second behind him was teammate Stephen Colborne in second and
Trek/Volkswagen’s Roland Green in third. Green was happy about the event so
far.”When I saw the amount of volunteers here today,the amount of
organization that went into just a 700 metre prologue, it’s obviously a
well-organized race.”

Race director, Rita Clarkson, was really happy with the successful outcome
of the prologue, only in its second year. “It’s absolutely unbelievableÃ… to
see an organization in their second year pull off an event that looks like
everything I’ve been to that takes twenty years to learn.”

Next race on the schedule for BC Super Cycling Week is the Tour de Delta
Criterium in Ladner, followed by Sunday’s Tour de Delta Road Race. After
riders finish the Tour de Delta they have only two days to recover before
they compete for top honours, money and prizes at the revived Tour de
Gastown, (formerly the Gastown Grand Prix) on July 19th. To end the week
with even more excitement, racers will compete in the Tour de White Rock
during the weekend of July 19-21. Riders will race daily for awards but
will also be collecting points at each of the seven events to contribute
towards an overall omnium prize purse.

Unofficial Results:

Tour de Delta Hill Climb

Pro Men:

1. Matt Usborne (Part One Int’l) 1:09:74;

2. Steven Colborne (Part One Int’l) 1:10:93;

3. Roland Green (Trek-Volkswagen) 1:11:06.

4. Andrew Pinfold (Atlas cold/Ital pasta)
1:11:87;

5. Scott Zizanski (Snow Valley) 1:12:08.

Pro Women: (Times were unavailable for press release)

1. Jessica DeMars (Campione)

2. Helen Kelly (Verizon Wireless)

3. Kim Langton (Saturn).