November 18, 2012 (Surrey, BC) – The wild and exciting cyclo-cross action continued in South Surrey after the successful presentation of the 2012 Canadian Cyclo-Cross Championships. On Sunday, the group of adrenaline seekers reconvened at the South Surrey Athletic Park for the 2012 Daryl-Evans BC Grand Prix of Cyclo-cross, an event held for the first time.

In the Elite Women’s race, Mical Dyck of Victoria, BC (Stan’s No Tube) continued on her winning ways after taking the Canadian title on Saturday, taking the victory in the 40 minute race on the 2.8 km course, slightly different from Saturday’s Canadian Championships race. With the Canadian Championships title and this victory, Dyck established herself as a strong contender for UCI World Championships, to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, in February.

Edmonton’s Harlton Pepper (Juventus Cycling Club), Canada’s top-ranked cyclo-cross rider, took the second place in today’s Grand Prix, bouncing back after a fourth-place finish in yesterday’s race. Wendy Simms rounded up the podium crossing the finish line in third place.

The Elite Men’s race, the field was strong as both the U23 and Elite racers were starting in the same category. Four-time Canadian Champion Geoff Kabush, winner of yesterday’s race, started alongside some big names of cyclo-cross coming from both Canada and the USA. Three-time U23 Canadian Cyclo-cross Champion Evan McNeely (Ottawa, ON/Specialized Canada) also took the start, matching his skills against the Elite field.

Early in the 60 min race, Jeremy Martin (Boischatel, QC/Rocky Mountain Factory Team), Geoff Kabush and Mike Garrigan (St-Clemens, ON) were leading the large lead group. In the third lap, Steve Fisher (Bellingham, WA/Hagens Berman p/b Raleigh), Geoff Kabush and Mike Garrigan, along with McNeely, Chris Sheppard (Bend, OR/Rocky Mountain Bicycle), Andrew L’Espérance (Halifax, NS/Norco Factory Team) and Spence Paxson (Seattle, WA/Team Kona) established themselves as the strongest contenders to take the victory.

In the last 20 minutes of racing, a group of five riders remained at the lead, including Kabush, Paxson, McNeely, L’Espérance and Fisher. With a few attempts to attack and separate the group, Kabush, McNeely and Fisher were able to drop Paxson and L’Espérance and ride as a small lead group.

Thanks in part to a crash from Fisher, holding up Kabush, McNeely took the opportunity to increase his gap on Kabush and Fisher, with 15 minutes left of racing. But Kabush showed he’s in top form, and was able to close the gap on McNeely, and drop him in the last lap.

Kabush rode away solo, never looking back, to take the victory, followed by McNeely and Fisher in second and third places respectively.

The designed course offered many challenges to the competitors over the weekend, including barriers, stairs, dirt sections and many slippery off-camber switchbacks.

In addition to the UCI-sanctioned international Elite categories for men and women, many riders tackled for the second consecutive day the challenging course in wet and cold conditions. Riders from all categories were lined-up for Challenges, including Masters and Youth racers.

Results

Elite Women
1. Mical Dyck (Victoria, BC/Stan’s No Tube)
2. Pepper Harlton (Edmonton, AB/Juventus Cycling Club)
3. Wendy Simms (Nanaimo, BC/Kona)

Elite Men
1. Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC/SCOTT-3 Rox Racing)
2. Evan McNeely (Ottawa, ON/Specialized Canada)
3. Steve Fisher (Bellingham, WA/ Hagens Berman p/b Raleigh)

Challenge U17 Women (1 entry)
1. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Maple Ridge)*
*only competitor in category

Challenge U17 Men (4 entries)
1. Willem Boersma (Portage La Prairie, BC/Team Manitoba)
2. Kellen Viznaugh (Revelstoke, BC/Revelstoke Cycling)
3. Joshua Hardwick (New Westminster, BC)

Challenge Men (29 entries)
1. Lucas Johnston (Portland, OR)
2. Paul McCarthy (North Vancouver, BC/Steed Cycles)
3. Drew Hemmingson (North Vancouver, BC)

Challenge Women (8 entries)
1. Aja Philip (Chilliwack, BC)
2. Tessa Pinckston (Point Roberts, WA/Team DEVO)
3. Fiona Hodga (Vancouver, BC)

Full results HERE.