June 17, 2011 (Banff, AB) – Stage 1, Day 2, at the Banff National Park Bike Fest slated the 81km Lake Louise Road Race along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway, home to one of Alberta’s premiere bike races. Cool temperatures and a light rain prevailed, making for a somewhat cautious approach to race tactics. Adding to the caution were recent sightings of wolves and grizzlies along the popular route.

A testament to the commitment Banff officials have towards minimizing potential conflict between wildlife and cyclists, an especially challenging and fun section of the race course was eliminated, shortening its distance to 64 kilometres. As clouds lowered and riders donned rain gear, the normally beautiful views from Mount Temple to Castle Mountain no longer provided a distraction, affording greater focus on the roadway.

The men started crisply at 9:30am with a neutral start just outside the hamlet of Lake Louise. The fast-paced and close-knit peloton flowed south along the Bow River, unyielding to breakaways until five riders slipped loose just before the turnaround near Johnston Canyon Campground. The break included Dan Skinner (Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Home) as his team worked hard to protect their GC leader Bailey McKnight. The pack was able to pull them back with about 10km to go; several more attempts were made, but none were successful.

Two kilometres from the finish, Will Routley (SpiderTech p/b C10) laid down a massive attack, but the reigning national road champ was caught by the charging and motivated pack just before the end. Craig Logan (Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Home) led out his teammate McKnight to perfection, while the team was able to secure their second win and add a 10-second bonus to their GC lead.

“We had a well-executed plan of attack,” offered McKnight. “This was my kind of finish, an up-hill climb to the line. I am lucky to have such a strong team this year.” Bailey was trailed by Colter Young (Rideokanagan.com p/b Norco) in second and Paul Tichelaar (Edmonton Road and Track Club) in third.

Starting 15 minutes after the men, the Open Women were also ready for the challenge. Similar to the men, they raced together tightly for the downward leg of the course, but were even less yielding to attacks. Team Alberta and Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes provided a few sparks, but no one was able to ultimately escape. Team Alberta was vigilant in protecting their GC leader, Pepper Harlton, while handling the lion’s share of the work at the front.

After the turnaround it was an upstream battle to the finish. Harlton demonstrated her cyclo-cross pedigree and went out front pulling the pack up the hills, while veteran roadie Laura Brown (Local Ride, Dr. Vie Superfoods+) conserved from just behind and on the wheel of her teammate, Steph Roorda. A perfectly timed Roorda struck with 200 metres to go, launching Brown’s final assault across the finish to take control of the leader’s jersey.

“It was freezing cold the whole race and it seemed like a slow motion sprint. But I got a gap and won,” commented an elated Brown after the race. An impressive second-place finish went to Shoshauna Laxson (Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes) while third was claimed by Katy Curtis of the hard-working Team Alberta.

Saturday serves up an exciting double-stager for riders. In the morning, the Stage 2 Individual Time Trial around a 21 km Lake Minnewanka Loop could play a big role in deciding the overall race winners. Later in the afternoon the Stage 3 Criterium in downtown Banff will delight visitors and residents alike who traditionally turnout in throngs to cheer the riders at this amazing event.

Results

Open Women

1. Laura Brown (Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+) 1:44:09
2. Shoshauna Laxson (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 00:01
3. Katy Curtis (Team Alberta)
4. Nik Vogler (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision:Sports)
5. Pepper Harlton (Team Alberta)
6. Kinley Gibson (Team Alberta)
7. Kristine Brynjolfson (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
8. Tanya Hopping (Team Niklas) 00:05
9. Catherine Vipond (Norco Factory Team) 00:06
10. Erin Taylor (Speed Theory) 00:09
11. Naomi Cooper (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 00:13
12. Steph Roorda (Local Ride/Dr Vie Superfoods+)
13. Kristin Baker (Team Alberta) 00:22
14. Julia Garnet (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 00:33
15. Shantel Koenig (Team Alberta) 00:37
16. Annett Kamenz (Team Alberta) 02:21
17. Justine Sagan (TopGear/ROAD) 05:11
18. Marilyn Taylor (Speed Theory) 07:18
19. Shawna Donaldson (CMC/Bow Cycle) 10:58
20. Jane McCurdy (Niklas Group)
21. Jillian Footz (Pedalhead Road Works) 11:01
22. Laura Bennion (Speed Theory) 11:04
23. Tomo Tsuchida (Speed Theory) 11:06
24. Rosalind Damer (TopGear/ROAD) 11:07
25. Alex Kotyk (CycloBellas) 11:17
26. Jennifer Joss (Speed Theory) 13:42
27. Sandra Yaworski (Team Niklas) 16:25
28. Christina Smith (TopGear/ROAD) 19:47
29. Sara Laliberte (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision:Sports) 26:07

Cat 1/2 Men

1. Bailey McKnight (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes) 1:31:48
2. Colter Young (Rideokanagan.com pb Norco) 00:01
3. Paul Tichelaar (ERTC/Revolution)
4. Gordon Jewett (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club)
5. Will Routley (Independent)
6. Dan Skinner (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes)
7. David Stephens (Garneau Evolution) 00:03
8. Dan MacDonald (Rideokanagan.com pb Norco)
9. Craig DeBellefeuille (Cyclemeisters)
10. Scott Laliberte (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports)
11. Jason Thompson (Garneau Evolution)
12. Trev Williams (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training)
13. Aaron Schooler (Team H&R BLOCK)
14. Mark McConnell (Synergy Racing)
15. Marvin Guzman (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports)
16. Justin Kerr (Team H&R BLOCK)
17. Cam MacKinnon (Team H&R BLOCK)
18. Dan Wood (ERTC/Revolution)
19. David Gonda (Cyclemeisters)
20. Dallas Morris (TopGear/ROAD)
21. Dave Vukets (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes)
22. Craig Logan (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes)
23. Kris Dahl (Team H&R BLOCK)
24. Jeff Werner (Garneau Evolution)
25. Troy Henry (Cyclemeisters)
26. David Gerth (Garneau Evolution)
27. Curtis Deardon (Garneau Evolution)
28. Ian Auld (TopGear/ROAD)
29. Shawn Taylor (Café Racers) 00:12
30. Cid Martinez (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 00:13
31. Keith Batstone (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club)
32. Vries De (Chris TopGear/ROAD) 00:17
33. Jon Wood (ERTC/Revolution) 00:18
34. Brian Countryman (Velocity) 00:22
35. Jesse Collins (Independent) 00:25
36. Frank Woolstencroft (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training)
37. Darren Anderson (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club)
38. Sean Crooks (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 00:28
39. Jason Kilmartin (Rideokanagan.com pb Norco)
40. Steve Ferris (TopGear/ROAD)
41. Ryan Correy (Cyclemeisters)
42. Matt Potma (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 00:30
43. Brian Robinson (Cyclemeisters) 00:35
44. Ted Martin (Garneau Evolution)
45. Anthony Steenbergen (TopGear/ROAD) 00:38
46. Dustin Andrews (Team H&R BLOCK)
47. Scott Inman (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 00:40
48. James Larmer (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports)
49. Aaron Sands (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club)
50. Scott Manktelow (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club)
51. Eric Jensen (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 01:07
52. Guy Biggar (Garneau Evolution)
53. Charles Bougie (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 01:36
54. Matthew O’Hagan (Team H&R BLOCK) 02:22
55. Andrew Cullingham (Synergy Racing) 03:27
56. Geoff MacDonald (ERTC/Revolution) 04:05
57. Kevin Rokosh (ERTC/Revolution) 06:01
58. Mike Laxdal (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 08:23
59. Dennis Bland (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 08:53
60. Mac Garvin (Cyclemeisters) 13:27
61. Blaine Richter (ERTC/Revolution) 16:11
62. Mark MacDonald (TopGear/ROAD)
63. Rob Lukacs (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 25:31
DNF Jason Proche (ERTC/Revolution)

GC after Stage 1

Open Women

1. Laura Brown (Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+) 1:47:11
2. Pepper Harlton (Team Alberta) 00:06
3. Katy Curtis (Team Alberta) 00:17
4. Kristine Brynjolfson (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 00:21
5. Nik Vogler (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b VisionVSports) 00:23
6. Shoshauna Laxson (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 00:26
7. Catherine Vipond (Norco Factory Team) 00:27
8. Kinley Gibson (Team Alberta) 00:34
9. Naomi Cooper (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 00:36
10. Steph Roorda (Local Ride/Dr Vie Superfoods+) 00:37
11. Erin Taylor (Speed Theory) 00:44
12. Kristin Baker (Team Alberta) 00:52
13. Tanya Hopping (Team Niklas) 00:58
14. Shantel Koenig (Team Alberta) 01:11
15. Julia Garnet (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 01:20
16. Annett Kamenz (Team Alberta) 02:42
17. Justine Sagan (TopGear/ROAD) 05:58
18. Marilyn Taylor (Speed Theory) 07:54
19. Jane McCurdy (Niklas Group) 11:56
20. Shawna Donaldson (CMC/Bow Cycle) 11:57
21. Jillian Footz (Pedalhead Road Works) 12:04
22. Tomo Tsuchida (Speed Theory) 12:04
23. Laura Bennion (Speed Theory) 12:10
24. Rosalind Damer (TopGear/ROAD) 12:18
25. Alex Kotyk (CycloBellas) 12:30
26. Jennifer Joss (Speed Theory) 14:15
27. Sandra Yaworski (Team Niklas) 17:32
28. Christina Smith (TopGear/ROAD) 20:16
29. Sara Laliberte (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b VisionVSports) 27:28

Cat 1/2 Men

1. Bailey McKnight (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes) 1:34:09
2. Will Routley (Independent) 00:14
3. Justin Kerr (Team H&R BLOCK) 00:17
4. Colter Young (Rideokanagan.com pb Norco) 00:18
5. Gordon Jewett (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 00:19
6. Curtis Deardon (Garneau Evolution) 00:21
7. David Stephens (Garneau Evolution) 00:22
8. Cam MacKinnon (Team H&R BLOCK) 00:23
Mark McConnell (Synergy Racing) 00:23
10. Dan Skinner (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes) 00:24
21. Aaron Schooler (Team H&R BLOCK) 00:24
12. David Gonda (Cyclemeisters) 00:27
54. Ian Auld (TopGear/ROAD) 00:27
14. Dave Vukets (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes) 00:29
87. Jeff Werner (Garneau Evolution) 00:29
16. Craig Logan (Trek Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes) 00:30
17. Troy Henry (Cyclemeisters) 00:32
61. Trev Williams (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 00:32
19. Jason Thompson (Garneau Evolution) 00:33
20. David Gerth (Garneau Evolution) 00:35
21. Dan Wood (ERTC/Revolution) 00:36
36. Paul Tichelaar (ERTC/Revolution) 00:36
23. Craig DeBellefeuille (Cyclemeisters) 00:37
94. Dan MacDonald (Rideokanagan.com pb Norco) 00:37
25. Kris Dahl (Team H&R BLOCK) 00:39
26. Vries De (Chris TopGear/ROAD) 00:42
27. Dallas Morris (TopGear/ROAD) 00:43
28. Scott Laliberte (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 00:46
29. Marvin Guzman (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 00:47
30. Keith Batstone (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 00:49
31. Cid Martinez (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 00:52
32. Shawn Taylor (Café Racers) 00:54
33. Sean Crooks (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 00:54
34. Aaron Sands (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 01:02
35. Matt Potma (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 01:03
36. Brian Countryman (Velocity) 01:03
37. Jesse Collins (Independent) 01:03
38. Frank Woolstencroft (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 01:04
39. Dustin Andrews (Team H&R BLOCK) 01:06
32. Jon Wood (ERTC/Revolution) 01:06
42. Ryan Correy (Cyclemeisters) 01:06
42. Scott Manktelow (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 01:11
43. Brian Robinson (Cyclemeisters) 01:12
44. Steve Ferris (TopGear/ROAD) 01:14
45. Ted Martin (Garneau Evolution) 01:14
46. Darren Anderson (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 01:23
47. James Larmer (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 01:24
48. Scott Inman (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 01:25
49. Anthony Steenbergen (TopGear/ROAD) 01:27
50. Jason Kilmartin (Rideokanagan.com pb Norco) 01:31
51. Eric Jensen (Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) 01:39
52. Guy Biggar (Garneau Evolution) 01:40
53. Charles Bougie (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 02:28
54. Matthew O’Hagan (Team H&R BLOCK) 03:08
55. Andrew Cullingham (Synergy Racing) 04:18
56. Geoff MacDonald (ERTC/Revolution) 04:42
57. Kevin Rokosh (ERTC/Revolution) 06:51
58. Mike Laxdal (Westwood Cycle/Cannondale p/b Vision+Sports) 09:11
59. Dennis Bland (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 09:37
60. Mac Garvin (Cyclemeisters) 13:59
61. Blaine Richter (ERTC/Revolution) 16:52
62. Mark MacDonald (TopGear/ROAD) 16:55
63. Rob Lukacs (Speed Theory Cycling p/b The Doctrine Training) 26:27