June 17, 2009 (Maple Ridge, BC) – Local Ride Racing presented by Local Ride Bike Shop was back on the podium when Laura Brown successfully defended the BC Cup Road Series women’s lead last weekend at BC Cup #2 in Kelowna with the help of her team mates. Brown placed fourth in the demanding 104km race where she experienced the challenge of being the marked rider, as she carried the weight of the green and white BC Cup leader’s jersey on her shoulders. The result garnered her enough points to stay ahead in the standings.

“It was really hard, because other teams were banding together to make sure it was as hard for us as possible,” said Brown. “I’m so grateful to my team mates Chelsea [Bilsbarrow] and Shani [Laxson]. They worked super hard to make sure we could keep the jersey.”

The road race was part of the three-event K-Town Classic Stage Race, which included a 4.4km time trial and a highly tactical criterium on Saturday. Brown placed second in both the time trial and criterium, securing her second in the overall standings behind winner of all three stages, Alison Testroete of the Kelowna-based Total Restoration Team.

Five other Local Ride Racing team members competed as well with some solid results. Steve Devantier (Pitt Meadows) and Mike Berkenpas (Maple Ridge) held their own in the top men’s pack, with Devantier active in an early breakaway in the 130km road race, and then in action again later on in a chase group. Roy McBeth (Maple Ridge) rode a strong time trial, taking fifth in the Cat 3 men’s category. Liz Hatch (Maple Ridge) raced impressively, taking fourth in the time trial and criterium alike in the Cat 4 women’s category. Besides being an incredible workhorse in the road race, Bilsbarrow also clocked a sixth-place time in the Cat 1/2 women’s time trial.

The Local Ride Racing team is in action on the dirt this coming Saturday in Squamish for the Test of Metal mountain bike race. Then the Local Ride duo of Devantier and Sandra Walter will take on the seven-day BC Bike Race, June 28-July 4, from Vancouver to Whistler. The next BC Cup road event is the Yaletown Grand Prix BC Cup #3 on July 1, where Brown will fight tooth and nail to maintain her top spot.