March 3, 2008 – On Sunday March 2, the much-anticipated start to BC’s 2008 road racing season was held under cloudy skies, dry roads, very gentle winds, and cool but not chilly conditions. Although the west coast has experienced a cooler and snowier winter than usual, the racing community was out in force to test their early season fitness on the narrow roads east of the Fraser Valley’s historic Fort Langley on a flat 6.2 km rectangular circuit.

The A group had 53 starters, the B group had 85 starters, while the C group rolled out with a pack of 75 working to fit onto the narrow roads adjacent to the Fraser River. Due to the flat topography of the River Road circuit, both the B and C Group races ended in a pack sprint. In the B group, Jenny Trew (Vanderkitten Racing) was the class of the large field and powered away for the win. In the C group, Brian Hill (TNA/Shape) was first to the line.

Unfortunately, the A and Novice Group races were stopped short of their allotted number of laps due to a number of crashes during the finish in both the B and C group races. With a number of riders down on the course and ambulances attending to the injured, race organizers made the decision to pull the remaining groups from the course and stop the racing. “I think we just had a case of the opening race jitters” said Austin MacDougall, Race Director when asked about the crashes. “It was simply too dangerous for us to keep the other races going with ambulances and riders down on the course. We are sorry that the A and novice riders didn’t get to finish, but it was the right call to make in order to prevent further chaos.”, added MacDougall.

The Spring Series continues next weekend with racing on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the race venue is the gently rolling Zero Avenue course adjacent to the US border near Aldergrove, BC. On Sunday the racing shifts back to Langley and the infamous Armstrong hill course — a climber’s delight!

Results

B Group

1. Jenny Trew (Vanderkitten Racing )
2. Bruce Dennis (Coastal)
3. Unknown
4. Mark Rainer (La Bicicletta Pro Shop)
5. Owen Sampson (Mighty Cycling)

C Group
1. Brian Hill (TNA/Shape)
2. Jeff O’Connell (TNA/Shape)
3. Jen Tabbernor (Giant/Team Whistler)
4. Stuart Lynne (Escape Velocity)
5. Jennelle Cassidy (Giant/Team Whistler)

For full Spring Series details and race results visit www.escapevelocity.bc.ca/spring

Special thanks to our Spring Series sponsors:

– Powerbar – Be Great
– Louis Garneau – The Global Solution
– Wentings Cycle
– La Bicicletta Pro Shop

Our sponsors provide great prizes for the Spring Series and are fantastic supporters of the cycling community in British Columbia. Escape Velocity and dEVo appreciate their continued involvement and commitment to the sport.

About the Spring Series
Intended as training races, the Spring Series features some of the toughest competition of the year. With a variety of race courses and categories the series is the perfect venue for those new to cycling to hone their racing skills and for experienced cyclists to test their early season fitness.

For 2008, the Spring Series will consist of seven races on consecutive weekends March 2 through to March 23, culminating with the dEVo Stage Race on the weekend of March 29 and 30. All races will be held in the Fraser Valley area, near beautiful Langley, B.C.

The Spring Series races are organized by Escape Velocity’s youth development program dEVo. All riders in the dEVo program help run the Spring Series races and learn the organization and commitment that is required not only to be successful on the bike, but as an organizer and leader in the sport of cycling. Money raised at the Spring Series races will go to further support of the dEVo racing program.

About Escape Velocity
Founded in August 1989, Team Escape Velocity is a Vancouver, BC based cycling club committed to promoting and developing the sport of cycling in Canada. With membership ranging from novice Category 5 riders to Canadian National Team members and North American champions, we pride ourselves in our community involvement, race organization, youth development, and leadership activities. For more information on EV see: www.escapevelocity.bc.ca.