November 23, 2008 (Toronto, ON) – Torontonians out for a walk on Broadview Avenue must have wondered what was happening in Riverdale Park today. Looking down on a field of snow and ice littered with yellow and orange caution tape, rowdy fans (specifically the Hub/Devinci injured list), a beer tent complete with a live polka band, and 190 of Ontario’s cyclocross elite vying for the right to be provincial champion.

ZM Cycle Fitness and Cycle Solutions banded together to pull off a great event in downtown Toronto. Volunteers spent yesterday hammering hundreds of wooden states into rock hard frozen ground and went so far as to camp out over night to ensure the safety of the course. The course did not disappoint and riders and spectators turned out in droves. Many familiar faces turned out for the event, among them Mariposa Bicycle’s Mike Barry Sr , Team RACE Pro’s newest acquisition Andrew Randell, and Ontario provincial coaching director, Denise Kelly.

The racing got underway at 10am with Karl Hoppner showing off his great bike handling skills on the way to the U17 win. Logan Earhart (Cycle Solutions) took the U15 win, Sarah Lynch (Hub/Devinci) rode to the U17 Women’s win, Robert Galbraith cruised to the Master D title and Pierre Perrin (Cycle 4 MS) piloted his brand new 2009 Ridley to the Master 3 win.

The second start saw the Senior and Master Women, Master 2’s and Junior Men take to the line. The Senior women’s race was a hard-fought affair and for a long time it looked like 16-year-old junior rider Laura Bietola (3 Rox) might pull off the win but Vicki Thomas (Ottawa Cross) clawed back in the last lap to take the title. Sarah Coney rounded out the podium in third. Carolyn Haill (Chain Reaction) rode a great race to take the Master women’s win. Evan McNeely (J&J Cycle) made the trek down the 401 from Kingston and won the Junior Men’s race in convincing fashion. Steve Martin (Lap Dogs CC) gave the hometown crowd something to cheer about when he won the hotly contested Master 2 title.

The final start of the day saw the Senior men and Master 1s taking to the line. Crowds began to swell and the hillside was covered with fans cheering for their favourite riders and encouraging competitors to soldier on after slipping, sliding and spinning out of control on one of the many off-camber and icy sections of the course. The community of Hespler sent their two super-fans Erik and Cliff to the race. It was uncertain whether they were celebrating the great racing, or possibly the release of Guns and Roses’ first album in 17 years – what wasn’t in doubt was their dedication to cheering. Their long hair, trucker caps and pylon megaphones were seen around the course throughout the race. When asked about their attire, Erik replied; “First things first. More cheers, more beers, man. That it that’s all.”

The Senior men’s race was quick from the gun with the 38-deep field stringing out around the course. Newly named Ontario Provincial MTB Coordinator, Mike Garrigan (Epic Ride/Jet Power), opened up a gap on the first lap and was never seen again. Ontario Cup series leader Andrew Watson (Norco Evolution) was hot in pursuit but couldn’t close the gap and took second on the day. Peter Morse (Jet Fuel) rounded out the podium in third. Cameron Jette (Trek Store Toronto) had a great race and took home the Espoir title on the day. The biggest upset was in the Master 1 race. Peter Mogg (Hub/Devinci) has been unstoppable this season winning every race including the national championship but it was not to be today as Andrew Croutch (True North) stormed the course to win the Master 1 race.

Full results here.

Results

Senior Female – 12.5km – 5 Laps

1. Vicki Thomas (Ottawa Cross) 50:57.5
2. Laura Bietola (3 Rox Racing) 15.1
3. Sarah Coney (Team Ultralink) 02:59.88
4. Briana Illingworth (Sweet Pete`s) 03:36.8
5. Anna O`Brien (Tall Tree Cycles) 04:29.4
6. Tabitha Ferguson (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing) 06:39.8
7. Melissa Bunn (The Hub Bicycle Club) 08:13.2
8. Christina Bouchard (The Hub/Devinci Cyclocross Team) 10:36.2

Senior 1 Male – 17.5km – 7 Laps

1. Mike Garrigan (Jet Power / Epic Ride-La Bicicletta / J. Lindeberg) 00:05.3
2. Andrew Watson (Norco – Evolution Team/Barrie) 26.9
3. Peter Morse (Jet Fuel Coffee from Toronto) 03:00.7
4. Warren MacDonald (EMD Serono/Stevens) 03:41.7
5. Guy Vankrimpen (Rapid City Cycle/St. Catharines) 05:19.8
6. Neil Schiemann (Tall Tree Cycles) 06:42.3
7. John van Arragon (The Hub Bicycle Club/Cambridge) 07:12.1
8. Tim Carleton (Trek Bicycle Store Team/Toronto) 08:40.8
9. Stephane Marcotte (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing) 09:51.3
10. Marco Li (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing) 12:02.0

1 Lap Behind

11* Andrew Maemura Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing) to go
12* Michael Nash (Ride With Rendall)
13* David Freeman (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing)
14* Ian Gartley (Markham)
15* Stefan Wiechula (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing)
16* Peter Mancini (Bolton)
17* Mark Brusso (Lapdogs Cycling Club/Toronto)
18* Chat Ortved (Toronto F28)
19* Denis Thang (Toronto F191)
20* Dave Brown (BikeSports Racing Team)
21* Scott Kelly (Paris 1880)
22* Nicholas Bishop (The Hub Bicycle Club/Waterloo)
23* Noah Rosen (Toronto)
24* Wesley Hodgson (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny`s Racing)
25* Colin Simpson (Toronto)
26* Hopi Martin (Lapdogs Cycling Club/Toronto)

2 Laps Behind

27* Christopher Eckart (Hamilton Cycling Club/Hamilton)
28* Brett Liersch (Hamilton)
29* Winston Tam (North York)
30* Richard Costello
31* Mike Beatty (Mississauga)
32* Aidan Moore (Lapdogs Cycling Club/Toronto)
33* Michael Clark (Toronto)
DNF Isaac Smith (Aquila Racing/Racer Sportif)
DNF Brandon Throop (Reynold Cycle) Mechanical
DNF Demetre Kalkounis ( Toronto)
DNF Mark Cascella (Lapdogs Cycling Club/Toronto) Mechanical
DNF Ross McKegney