July 4, 2007 (Cumberland, BC) — While hot spots like Whistler, Squamish and the North Shore draw the bulk of the attention when you think mountain biking in British Columbia, the sleepy town of Cumberland is rapidly earning it’s own place among B.C.’s fat tire elite.

With a growing network of technical singletrack trails all within a quick pedal of downtown, it’s an ideal destination for anyone looking for a little adventure on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island.

On Tuesday, the adventurers were the 180 participants of the B.C. Bike Race: The Pacific Traverse, who made the grueling 83-kilometer journey from Port Alberni to Cumberland, which finished on some of the area’s best trails, including the devilishly name Bucket of Blood.

“Those were the best trails yet,” said Trek-Volkswagen’s Jeff Schalk, who along with teammate Chris Eatough, took a third consecutive stage win and now own a 14-plus minute lead in the overall standings of the seven-day race that ends in Whistler on Saturday.

The Rocky Mountain-Haywood Securities duo of Andreas Hester and Kevin Calhoun are second overall, with La Ruta de los Conquistadores-Sho Air teammates Jason First and Manuel Prado entranced in third.

There was no change at the top of the standings in any of the other two-rider categories, where teammates must stay within two minutes of each other or be hit with a one-hour time penalty.

Cynthia Young and Michelle Newton (Shore Girls Don’t Cry) took their third stage win and continue to lead the women’s overall. David Harris and Lynda Wallenfels (Team Desert Cyclery/HealthFX) in open mixed; Randy Richmond and Sandy Mitchell (Gerick-Nelson) in veterans 80-plus; and Doug Nottebrock and Con Diamond (Kootenay-Okanagan Cooperative) in veterans 100-plus also all pulled stage wins No. 3.

Tuesday’s stage started with a lap around the Port Alberni Multiplex athletics track, before riders headed out of town and onto the famed Log Train Trail that cuts a smooth, straight path through second growth Douglas Fir. Occasional breaks in the treeline offered glimpses of rolling, green farmland, the Beaufort Mountain Range and the lush Alberni Valley.

As the Alberni Valley gave way to the Comox Valley, the Log Train Trail widened into logging road. Finally at the 50km mark, the crux of the day unfolded: an 8km climb that varied between granny gear steep and nasty hike-a-bike. The only real respite was the stunning views of the valley below.

When the pain finally ceded, it was grinning time, as the course blazed a rapid path down towards the Cumberland trail system, before racers reached the finishline in front of the Riding Fool Hostel, which is owned and operated by Day 3 course director Jeremy Grasby. The hostel caters to mountain bikers and Grasby is one of the town’s leading trail advocates and builders.

Next up in British Columbia is a 58.5km ride from the Earl’s Cove Ferry Terminal to Sechelt. Before racing begins, the race caravan will rise at 5 a.m. then take a pair of B.C. Ferry rides across the Strait of Georgia: one from Little River to Powell River (1:20 crossing time) and another from Saltery Bay to Earls Cove (50 minutes).

Once off boat and on bikes, racers will head up through rainforest to Klein Lake Park. Highlights include spectacular views of Ruby Lake and Sakinaw Lake, and time on the Suncoast Trail, singletrack that was designed to allow people to get from ferry to ferry exclusively on trails and back roads.

The stage finishes in Sechelt, which literally means, “land between two waters.” Base camp is at Sechelt Indian Band Reserve.

To read Team Pedal-Specialized’s Stage 3 report and access all of the team’s daily updates click here.

Results

Teams of 2 Open Men
1. Chris Eatough, Jeff Schalk ( Trek-VW Mountain Bike Team) 4:00:10
2. Manuel Prado, Jason First (La Ruta/Sho-Air) 0:08:05
3. Andreas Hestler, Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain-Haywood) 0:08:15
4. Justin Mark, Andrew Clarke (Team Helly Hansen) 0:28:02
5. Reed Melton, Marc Driver (Sun Summit South-Driver) 0:40:48
6. Julian Hine, Kevin Phelps (Chromag-Sram) 0:41:29
7. Jeff Cote, Mark Coates (Itscanadianeh) 0:43:05
8. Evan Plews, Bear Perrin (Capitol Subaru Cycling) 0:55:57
9. Michael Cushionbury, Damon Roberson (Bicycling Magazine) 0:56:42
10. Gary Jackson, James Durand (Twin Sin) 1:01:15
11. Sterling Mudge, Mike Bordogna (Cloud City Cyclists) 1:03:42
12. Timmy Dougherty, Rich Dillen (Bearnakedcannondale/Team) 1:03:43
13. Scott Hedlund, Brad Samis (Sin Twin) 1:03:44
14. Kip Mikler, Mark Sevenoff (Bike Magazine) 1:04:28
15. Neall Banner, Paul Martin (Bow Cycle) 1:05:12
16. Graham Tutti, Paul Player (Tutti) 1:07:06
17. Dan Peters, Brett Zagozewski (Prairie Boys) 1:12:27
18. Alexei Marko, Ross Mccredie (Fat Chance) 1:16:45
19. Nigel Halsted, Brian Mccurdy (Ridin’ Dirty) 1:18:06
20. Nicholas White, Jesse Epstein (Team Marty’S) 1:19:50
21. Barry Lyster, Steven Devantier (Pedal-Specialized) 1:30:34
22. Daffyd Roderick, Mike Peshko (Rpm Spinning Plus Gravit) 1:32:34
23. Rodrigo Elvira, Guillermo Cuello (Miti Batai) 1:35:01
24. Rick Bruce, Cam Robertson (Los Hombres) 1:53:09
25. Charles Halliburton, Nicholas Vipond (Fat And Slow) 1:55:56
26. Phil Johnston, Paul Sharman (The Hustlers) 1:57:15
27. Erik Keniston, Doug Gangi (Cold One Please) 2:05:36
28. Mark Coates, 0 (Team Coates (Team 13)) 2:08:01
29. Tim Logie, William John (Phat’N’Dirty) 2:19:57
30. Terry Williams, Todd Williams (Williams) 2:20:48
31. John Nakashima, Andrew Mckean (Keep The Rubber Side Dow) 2:41:44
32. Dan Stern, Doug Clawson (Sts) 2:51:05
33. Chris Mccann, Layne Nadeau (Sierra Spokesmen) 3:12:11
34. Nick Thelen, David Simpson (Slowmosapiens) 3:24:25
35. Husain Esmail, Vince Elenko (Team P.A.A.W.G.) 3:29:29
36. Daniel Gordon, Greg Jakubek (Cycle Center) 3:37:52

Teams of 2 Open Women
1. Cynthia Young, Michelle Newton (Shore Girls Don’T Cry) 5:25:17
2. Karen Eller, Carolin Rahner (Scott / Trenga / De) 0:09:11
3. Emma Smith, Sarah O’Byrne (Team Tunnelvision) 0:14:24
4. Jennifer Keefer, Jen Sawrenko (The Jenerators) 0:16:01
5. Danielle Fisher, Karen Todd (Katfish) 0:49:46
6. Stephanie Tuck, Megan Kogut (Lucky Golden Star Bicycl) 1:15:43
7. Jennifer Garrett, Janna Mackenzie (Rider’S Cycles) 1:17:58
8. Andrea Kraft-Costigan, Carmen Turner (Sombrio Dakine Bavarian) 1:45:47
9. Beth Crowther, Lanie Forman (Team 10-33) 2:12:37

Teams of 2 Open Mixed
1. David Harris, Lynda Wallenfels (Team Desert Cyclery/Heal)
2. Hillary Harrison, Ryan Watts (Crystal Mountain Hotels) 0:08:56
3. Lesley Clements, Matthew Bodkin (Team Bc) 0:16:29
4. Karl Etzel, Jennifer Ratay (Team Ride424.Com/X-Fusio) 0:42:28
5. Greg Norombaba, Lisa Riehl (San Diego Trek) 0:48:14
6. Brady Fleguel ,Astrid Bonter (Vancouver Bike Gallery) 1:09:22
7. Robin Kay, Jameel Adam (Special K And Captain A) 2:23:21
8. Jochen Faber, Diane Faber (Faber) 3:07:37
9. Ming Gin, Christina Cuthbertson (Gin) 3:25:33

Teams of 2 Veterans 80
1. Randy Richmond, Sandy Mitchell (Gerick- Nelson) 4:32:42
2. Andrew Handford, Pat Doyle (Different Bikes One) 0:05:33
3. Rod Dagneau, Mike Charuk (West Coast Racing To Tea) 0:06:06
4. David Overstreet, Mark Thompson (Spike Shooter) 0:11:43
5. Brent Martin, Greg Hayes (Ryders Eyewear Corp) 0:21:52
6. Keith Mcivor, Kevin Smith (Skyline Flyers) 0:24:23
7. Dave Howells, Denis Fontaine (Ironhorse/Helly Hansen) 0:24:25
8. Michael Wardas, Ken Waring (Up And Down) 0:24:58
9. Doug Doyle, Darin Nevin (Sleepmonsters.Ca) 0:37:42
10. Michael Stiles, Rick Lewis (Stitch Me; I’M Bleeding) 0:44:05
11. Mike Hardenbergh, Tim Crum (Damn Dirty Apes) 0:49:20
12. Paul Nicholas, Henric Meldgard (Ride To Survive) 0:58:09
13. Dean Hachey, Mike Davidson (Hachey) 1:04:12
14. Dave Mountain, Jim Bennett (Midlife Mojo) 1:04:24
15. Steven Wallouch, Bruce Kelsch (The Aristocrats) 1:07:09
16. Trevor Plestid, Stuart Jones (Winded) 1:12:54
17. Shuichi Kanamori, Leon Fetzer (Team Shuichi-Leon) 1:16:22
18. Chris Mccue, John Ratzke (Big Ride-Bigger Hair) 1:30:33
19. Greg Stevenson, Jim Clement (Ready & Wheeling) 1:30:34
20. Bruce Gordon, Ken Knight (Wheely Forkin’ Tired) 1:30:35
21. Greg Mcdougall, Graeme Fitch (Team Harbour Air) 1:35:28
22. Derek Riley, Monti Burtini (Burley M F) 1:37:26
23. Ken Oertle, Jonathan Mcquenn (Team Action Cyclery) 2:21:49
24. Keith Winzenried, Scott Hodges (Red Team) 2:40:01

Teams of 2 Veterans 100
1. Doug Nottebrock, Con Diamond (Kootenay-Okanagan Cooper) 5:18:35
2. Clive Rubens, Leo Groenewoud (Geopsyclos) 1:40:57
3. Rick Kaleta, Jean Michaud (Team Canine Carnage) 2:11:04
4. Gary Stetler, Guy Dutil (Team Synergy) 2:29:59

Teams of 4
1. Rob Blanchard, Rob Herbst, Bruce Barker, Darrell Jones (Out There Guys)
2. Tori Fahey, Alana Heise, Lisa Le Poole, Alison Jones (Out There Girls)
3. Calindy Ramsden, Donna Macintosh, John Ramsden, Unknown Rider (Dark Horse Racing)

GC after Stage 3

Teams of 2 Open Men
1. Chris Eatough, Jeff Schalk (Trek Vw Mountain Bike) 12:56:48
2. Andreas Hestler, Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain-Haywood) 0:14:16
3. Manuel Prado, Jason First (La Ruta/Sho-Air) 0:53:51
4. Evan Plews, Bear Perrin (Capitol Subaru Cycling) 1:48:43
5. Justin Mark, Andrew Clarke (Team Helly Hansen) 1:53:58
6. Julian Hine, Kevin Phelps (Chromag-Sram) 2:16:47
7. Michael Cushionbury, Damon Roberson (Bicycling Magazine) 2:28:05
8. Reed Melton, Marc Driver (Sun Summit South-Drive) 2:38:25
9. Neall Banner, Paul Martin (Bow Cycle) 3:12:24
10. Kip Mikler, Mark Sevenoff (Bike Magazine) 3:13:12
11. Graham Tutti, Paul Player (Tutti) 3:21:37
12. Sterling Mudge, Mike Bordogna (Cloud City Cyclists) 3:24:00
13. Gary Jackson, James Durand (Twin Sin) 3:25:13
14. Scott Hedlund, Brad Samis (Sin Twin) 3:27:41
15. Timmy Dougherty, Rich Dillen (Bearnakedcannondale/Te) 3:42:10
16. Nicholas White, Jesse Epstein (Team Marty’S) 3:43:15
17. Barry Lyster, Steven Devantier (Pedal-Specialized) 4:19:11
18. Rodrigo Elvira, Guillermo Cuello (Miti Batai) 4:20:17
19. Alexei Marko, Ross Mccredie (Fat Chance) 4:30:00
20. Nigel Halsted, Brian Mccurdy (Ridin’ Dirty) 4:30:06
21. Daffyd Roderick, Mike Peshko (Rpm Spinning Plus Grav) 4:34:57
22. Dan Peters, Brett Zagozewski (Prairie Boys) 4:36:16
23. Phil Johnston, Paul Sharman (The Hustlers) 4:58:06
24. Mark Coates (Team Coates (Team 13)) 5:20:09
25. Rick Bruce, Cam Robertson (Los Hombres) 5:20:33
26. Erik Keniston, Doug Gangi (Cold One Please) 5:51:44
27. Charles Halliburton, Nicholas Vipond (Fat And Slow) 6:09:17
28. Tim Logie, William John (Phat’N’Dirty) 6:29:23
29. Terry Williams, Todd Williams (Williams) 7:18:16
30. Dan Stern, Doug Clawson (Sts) 7:49:42
31. Chris Mccann, Layne Nadeau (Sierra Spokesmen) 7:50:54
32. Jeff Cote, Mark Coates (Itscanadianeh) 7:55:13
33. John Nakashima, Andrew Mckean (Keep The Rubber Side D) 8:13:23
34. Husain Esmail, Vince Elenko (Team P.A.A.W.G.) 8:59:39
35. Daniel Gordon, Greg Jakubek (Cycle Center) 9:24:13
36. Nick Thelen, David Simpson (Slowmosapiens) 10:26:44

Teams of 2 Open Women
1. Karen Eller, Carolin Rahner (Scott / Trenga / De) 17:17:00
2. Cynthia Young, Michelle Newton (Shore Girls Don’T Cry) 0:00:28
3. Jennifer Keefer, Jen Sawrenko (The Jenerators) 1:04:32
4. Emma Smith, Sarah O’Byrne (Team Tunnelvision) 1:17:10
5. Danielle Fisher, Karen Todd (Katfish) 2:19:45
6. Stephanie Tuck, Megan Kogut (Lucky Golden Star Bicy) 2:41:24
7. Jennifer Garrett, Janna Mackenzie (Rider’S Cycles) 3:27:22
8. Beth Crowther, Lanie Forman (Team 10-33) 5:13:39
9. Andrea Kraft-Costigan ,Carmen Turner (Sombrio Dakine Bavaria) 5:20:17

Teams of 2 Open Mixed
1. David Harris, Lynda Wallenfels (Team Desert Cyclery/He) 15:02:43
2. Lesley Clements, Matthew Bodkin (Team Bc) 0:45:25
3. Hillary Harrison, Ryan Watts (Crystal Mountain Hotel) 0:49:10
4. Karl Etzel, Jennifer Ratay (Team Ride424.Com/X-Fus) 1:49:57
5. Greg Norombaba, Lisa Riehl (San Diego Trek) 2:55:52
6. Brady Fleguel, Astrid Bonter (Vancouver Bike Gallery) 3:15:41
7. Robin Kay, Jameel Adam (Special K And Captain) 6:39:08
8. Jochen Faber, Diane Faber (Faber) 8:32:22
9. Ming Gin, Christina Cuthbertson (Gin) 10:00:16

Teams of 2 Veterans 80
1. Randy Richmond, Sandy Mitchell (Gerick- Nelson) 14:29:17
2. Andrew Handford, Pat Doyle (Different Bikes One) 0:19:56
3. David Overstreet, Mark Thompson (Spike Shooter) 0:42:30
4. Rod Dagneau, Mike Charuk (West Coast Racing To T) 0:53:24
5. Dave Howells, Denis Fontaine (Ironhorse/Helly Hansen) 1:38:50
6. Mike Hardenbergh, Tim Crum (Damn Dirty Apes) 1:54:14
7. Brent Martin, Greg Hayes (Ryders Eyewear Corp) 1:56:57
8. Keith Mcivor, Kevin Smith (Skyline Flyers) 2:02:25
9. Michael Wardas, Ken Waring (Up And Down) 2:05:49
10. Michael Stiles, Rick Lewis (Stitch Me; I’M Bleedin) 2:14:10
11. Doug Doyle, Darin Nevin (Sleepmonsters.Ca) 2:20:37
12. Dave Mountain, Jim Bennett (Midlife Mojo) 3:12:19
13. Steven Wallouch, Bruce Kelsch (The Aristocrats) 3:15:44
14. Shuichi Kanamori, Leon Fetzer (Team Shuichi-Leon) 3:21:31
15. Paul Nicholas, Henric Meldgard (Ride To Survive) 3:23:45
16. Greg Stevenson, Jim Clement (Ready & Wheeling) 3:25:51
17. Dean Hachey, Mike Davidson (Hachey) 3:53:40
18. Trevor Plestid, Stuart Jones (Winded) 3:56:53
19. Greg Mcdougall, Graeme Fitch (Team Harbour Air) 4:26:29
20. Chris Mccue ,John Ratzke (Big Ride-Bigger Hair) 4:33:58
21. Bruce Gordon, Ken Knight (Wheely Forkin’ Tired) 4:35:35
22. Derek Riley, Monti Burtini (Burley M F) 4:57:58
23. Ken Oertle, Jonathan Mcquenn (Team Action Cyclery) 6:34:20
24. Keith Winzenried, Scott Hodges (Red Team) 11:17:06

Teams of 2 Veterans 100
1. Doug Nottebrock, Con Diamond (Kootenay-Okanagan Coop) 17:03:21
2. Clive Rubens, Leo Groenewoud (Geopsyclos) 4:30:21
3. Rick Kaleta, Jean Michaud (Team Canine Carnage) 6:28:18
4. Gary Stetler, Guy Dutil (Team Synergy) 7:03:44

Teams of 4
1. Rob Blanchard, Rob Herbst, Bruce Barker, Darrell Jones (Out There Guys) 18:32:51
2. Tori Fahey, Alana Heise, Lisa Le Poole, Alison Jones (Out There Girls) 3:14:11
3. Calindy Ramsden, Donna Macintosh, John Ramsden, Unknown Rider (Dark Horse Racing) 3:22:03