June 27, 2010 (Edmonton, Alberta) – It’s a blue bird day with a light wind in Edmonton, Alberta for the start of the Elite Women’s road race this morning. There are 59 starters who will complete a total of 9 laps of the 13km course for total distance of 117km – start list here – course map here.

Lap 1
The women are off and all together at an easy pace almost like a neutral start. They’re still together as they hit the first climb, Emily Murphuy, the steepest one on the course.

Now Lex Albrecht (Cascades) has attacked and had a 1-min gap on the group. Cara Gillis (Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus) has also jumped to chase Albrecht.

Lap 2
Albrecht has increased her lead to 2:40 followed by Gillis who is about a minute ahead of the chasing peloton. Albrecht continues to make gains and has increased her lead to 3:30.

Lap 3
Half way thru lap three Albrecht’s lead is dropping as the peloton is coming alive and will soon catch Gillis.

Lap 4
Albrecht has come thru to begin her 4th lap. The peloton seems to have let up as Gillis comes thru at 2:30 behind Albrecht and the pack is at 3:30 behind the leader.

The peloton is picking up speed again and the gap to the leader is dropping. Gillis has been caught.

Lap 5
Albrecht has begun her 5th lap and the peloton is at 2:45. Tara Whitten crashed in the feed zone but is back up with no serious problems. The pace has picked up and Albrecht’s lead continues to drop thru the lap.

Lap 6
Albrecht comes thru on lap 6 as the race is almost at the 3/4 point and the chasing peloton is only 45s back. Kristal Jeffs (Team Nanoblur Gears) has joined Albrecht now with the pack at 30s

Lap 7
Albrecht and Jeffs come thru to start lap 7 and the peloton is at 20s with three laps to go. The leaders are caught and the pack is all together. Through the lap the pace has picked up as Erinne Willock (Webcor) is leading the charge.

Lap 8
The pack is together through the penultimate lap – the pace has picked up but nobody is escaping as the riders watch each other. Willock tried to get away and then Anne Samplonius (Team Vera Bradley).

Lap 9 Final
The pack is together coming through on the final lap.

Up the first climb and the pack is still together. Descending the second the climb four riders are off the front.

Willock is leading the charge up the final climb… down the descent it’s strung out with Willock at the front and about 2km to the finish – she’s got another Webcor rider up there with her – we think it’s Joelle Numainville.

Final 500m to go the pack is together – it looks like it’s coming down to the final sprint.

Joelle Numainville takes it.

Results

1. Joelle Numainville (Webcor Builders) 3:14:21.0
2. Tara Whitten (Specialized Mazda Samson G Conseil)
3. Alison Testroete (Cycling BC)
4. Joanie Caron (Team Nanoblur-Gears)
5. Heather Logan-Sprenger (Team Ontario)
6. Anne Samplonius (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
7. Leah Kirchmann* (Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes)
8. Heather Kay (United Cycle)
9. Julie Beveridge* (Equipe Vienne Futuroscope)
10. Sarah Coney (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery)
11. Pepper Harlton (Juventus)
12. Karol-Ann Canuel* (Equipe Vienne Futuroscope)
13. Amy Dearden (Keller Rohrback Cycling Team)
14. Karlee Gendron* (Woodcock Cycleworks/ Team Manitoba)
15. Denise Ramsden* (Team Kenda)
16. Carrie Cartmill (Team Nanoblur-Gears)
17. Suzie Brown (P-K Express/ HNZ Strategy)
18. Laura Brown (Total Restoration Cycling Team)
19. Valérie Crête* (Specialized Mazda Samson G Conseil)
20. Véronique Bilodeau* (Team Quebec)
21. Andrea Bunnin (Team Saskatchewan)
22. Julie Bellerose (Cascades-ABC Cycles)
23. Virginie Gauthier* (Team Quebec)
24. Steph Roorda (Cycling BC)
25. Rachel O’Reilly (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery)
26. Cara Gillis (Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus)
27. Marg Fedyna (ERTC/Revolution Cycle)
28. Krista Ruby* (Team Ontario)
29. Kristine Brynjolfson (Westwood Cycle Cannondale p/b Vision Sports)
30. Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders)
31. Shailie Sanbrooks (Russ Hays Bike Shop)
32. Cynthia Wilson (Ride With Rendall)
33. Danika Medinski* (ERTC/Revolution Cycle)
34. Christina Smith (GEC Architecture)
35. Naomi Cooper (Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes)
36. Jessica Hannah (Total Restoration Cycling Team)
37. Krystal Jeffs (Team Nanoblur-Gears)
38. Jean Ann McKirdy (Cycling BC) 26.68
39. Eritia Smit (P-K Express/ HNZ Strategy) 02:46.3
40. Shoshauna Laxson (Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes) 06:47.0
41. Lex Albrecht (Cascades-ABC Cycles) 08:16.2
42. Tanya Hopping (Speed Theory) 09:17.1
43. Anne Guzman (Team Nanoblur-Gears)
44. Rachel Canning* (Local Ride Racing)

*=U23