August 20th, 2005 -Yesterday at the Juan de Fuca Velodrome in Victoria, British Columbia, approximately fifty athletes took part in the Ron Marat Memorial American Velodrome Challenge. This year athletes are not only going for prize money but the race is also the British Columbia Provincial Championships, which means athletes are riding for inaugural provincial titles! Scott Laliberte of Port Moody took two titles yesterday one in the Individual Pursuit Final and later in the men’s Miss and Out, while Breanna Loster of Victoria took the women’s Miss and Out title. However, the most exciting races of the evening came when the Master men took to the track for the Individual Pursuit finals.

Keith Bruneau, who is organizing the race, said “I’ve never seen pursuits so close, they were within 1000th of a second. Chad Gottfried took gold but only by one thousand’s of a second. It was so exciting to watch!”Bruneau expects another dozen or so elite racers to arrive today from the mainland and the United States and says the racing is only going to get better. Bruneau, who no longer lives in British Columbia, is committed to helping ensure this is an annual race. “Ron Marat was a very special individual who consistently put into the community and cycling. He gave me and many others a great deal of moral support when I was racing in Victoria, I don’t want him to be forgotten.” Stay tuned, more results coming soon.

Racing Schedule

Friday August 19
-Junior Women Pursuit
-Junior Men Pursuit
-Elite Women Pursuit
-Masters Men Pursuit
-Elite Men Pursuit
-Junior/Elite Women 500m
-Masters Men Kilometer
-Junior Men Kilometer
-Elite Men Kilometer
-Junior Men 15km Scratch
-Women Miss & Out
-Elite men Miss & Out

Saturday August 20
-Junior Men 200m TT (16 Qualify)
-Elite Men 200m TT (16 Qualify)
-Elite Women Keirin Qualifier
-Masters 15km. Scratch race
-Junior/Elite Men Sprint First Round 1/8
-Junior/Elite Men Sprint 1/4
-Masters Men Keirin Qualifier
-Junior/Elite Men Sprint Semi Final 1/2 best of three
-Elite Women Keirin Qualifier Repechage
-Masters Men Keirin Qualifier Repechage
-Women 15km Points
-Elite Men 20km Scratch Race.
-4pm Masters Men Keirin Final
-Elite Women Keirin Final
-Junior/Elite Men Sprints 5-8th
-Junior/Elite Men Sprints Final
-Masters Men Miss and Out
-Team Sprint all categories
-Junior women 20 km points
-Open Madison 40km.


Sunday August 21
-Masters Men/Junior/Elite Women 200m TT (16 qualify)
-Junior/Elite Men Keirin Qualifier
-Masters Men/Junior/Elite Women Sprints 1/8
-Junior/Elite Men Keirin Repechage
-Masters Men/Junior/Elite Women Sprints 1/4
-Masters Men/Junior/Elite Women Sprints Semi-final
-Kids Chariot Race
-Masters Men/Junior/Elite Women Sprints (5-8th )
-Masters Men/Junior/Elite Women Sprints final
-Junior/Elite Men Keirin Final
-Masters Men 20km. Points Race
-Elite Women 15km. Scratch Race
-Junior Women 10km Scratch
-Junior men 20km points race
-Elite Men 30km Points Race
-Open men/women/Flying Lap Record Attempt