July 5, 2007 (Sechelt, BC) — Getting out of bed at 5 a.m. is never easy, but the prospect of two spectacular ferry rides made the task a little easier for the riders and staff of the B.C. Bike Race: The Pacific Traverse.

After finishing Tuesday’s Stage 3 with a thrill ride down the technical trails outside Cumberland, then spending a restful night on the soft patch of grass between the town’s water park and BMX track, Stage 4 kicked off at dawn on Wednesday, with the entire B.C. Bike Race entourage loading up for the short drive to the BC Ferries terminal at Little River.

Once aboard it was chow time, with the friendly ferry staff dishing out bagels, egg sandwiches and lots and lots of fresh coffee. The partnership between the race and BC Ferries was one of the keys to pulling off this year’s inaugural event, bridging the watery divide between Vancouver Island and the beaming Sunshine Coast, where Stage 4 was contested.

After breakfast, everyone involved in the race headed topside to smile for the photographer and videographer who were perched several hundred feet above the boat in the helicopter owned by Harbour Air Seaplanes boss Greg McDougall.

McDougall’s seaplane operation is the race’s top sponsor, but he wasn’t flying his commuter craft on this day. Instead McDougall was there among the BC Ferries crowd, readying for day four of the seven-day race that will finish in Whistler on Saturday. Turns out McDougall is an endurance race junkie himself, with finishes at Cape Epic and La Ruta de los Conquistadores on his impressive race resume.

With the group photo in the books, it was time for a quick transfer from the landing at Powell River over to the second ferry ride, which disembarked at Saltery Bay. By then light morning clouds had burned off, giving way to clear blue skies, a crescent moon and panoramic views of the western flanks of mainland British Columbia. You’d be hard pressed to find a better bike race transfer in the entire cycling world.

When the second ferry pushed into its dock at quaint Earl’s Cove it was game time, as riders readied for the 11:15 a.m. start that sent the field out on an undulating, 58.5-kilometer run south to the tourist town of Sechelt. The Rod Camposano-designed course was a balanced mix of logging road, doubletrack and famed Sunshine Coast singletrack. There was also one nasty uphill that had most riders on and off their bikes most of the way up the steep, singletrack climb.

The action at the front of the race was a near repeat of stage 1, with the Trek-Volkswagen duo of Jeff Schalk and Chris Eatough taking their fourth stage win in as many days, while maintaining their commanding lead in the overall standings. Hot on the American’s heels were B.C. natives Andreas Hestler and Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain-Haywood Securities), who ceded just 35 seconds and remained entrenched in second place overall. Third place on the stage went to Manuel Prado and Jason First (La Ruta de los Conquistadores), who rode with the front four for most of the day, before losing touch in the final section of singletrack.

The names remained the same at the top of the standings in the other two-rider categories, where teammates must stay within two minutes of each other or be hit with a one-hour time penalty. That team aspect is unique to events such as the B.C. Bike Race, fostering a bond of camaraderie and support between riders that’s lacking in traditional mountain bike events.

Cynthia Young and Michelle Newton (Shore Girls Don’t Cry) took their fourth 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 own commanding G.C. leads in their respective categories.

There was one new stage winner on Wednesday, as the Spike Shooter duo of David Overstreet and Mark Thompson broke through in the veterans 80-plus, derailing the three-stage run of Richmond and Mitchell.

Stage 5 of the B.C. Bike Race features another round of famous British Columbia singletrack, with racers making the 58-kilometer journey south from Sechelt to Langdale. Racing kicks off at 8 a.m. in downtown Sechelt, as riders take on a 6km ride along the paved road bordering Porpoise Bay.

From there it’s into the singletrack and a steady but steep ascent up a power line toward the area’s main logging road. One more climb brings racers to the Rat Race trail system, with its buff and fast rainforest trails.

The day ends at the Langdale Ferry Terminal where a 40-minute ferry ride awaits. There will be two ferry runs “” one for the early group at 2:50 p.m., and another at 4:20 p.m. That’s followed by a bus transfer from Horseshoe Bay up the famous Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish, where the Day 5 Base Camp is located and stage 6 will start.

Results

Teams of 2 Open Men
1. Chris Eatough, Jeff Schalk (Trek Vw Mountain Bike) 3:03:40
2. Andreas Hestler, Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain Bikes) 0:00:34
3. Manuel Prado, Jason First (La Ruta/Sho-Air) 0:02:01
4. Justin Mark, Andrew Clarke (Team Helly Hansen) 0:19:47
5. Evan Plews, Bear Perrin (Capitol Subaru Cycling) 0:23:21
6. Julian Hine, Kevin Phelps (Chromag-Sram) 0:27:39
7. Timmy Dougherty, Rich Dillen (Bearnaked Cannondale/T) 0:29:13
8. Michael Cushionbury, Damon Roberson (Bicycling Magazine) 0:30:20
9. Reed Melton, Marc Driver (Sun Summit South-Drive) 0:31:36
10. Jeff Cote, Mark Coates (Itscanadianeh) 0:36:36
11. Nicholas White, Jesse Epstein (Team Marty’S) 0:42:13
12. Gary Jackson, James Durand (Twin Sin) 0:52:50
13. Neall Banner, Paul Martin (Bow Cycle) 0:55:02
14. Dan Peters, Brett Zagozewski (Prairie Boys) 0:55:24
15. Kip Mikler, Mark Sevenoff (Bike Magazine) 0:56:04
16. Graham Tutti, Paul Player (Tutti) 0:56:23
17. Scott Hedlund, Brad Samis (Sin Twin) 0:59:12
18. Sterling Mudge, Mike Bordogna (Cloud City Cyclists) 1:03:08
19. Barry Lyster, Steven Devantier (Pedal – Specialized) 1:06:17
20. Nigel Halsted, Brian Mccurdy (Ridin’ Dirty) 1:06:49
21. Charles Halliburton, Nicholas Vipond (Fat And Slow) 1:07:55
22. Phil Johnston, Paul Sharman (The Hustlers) 1:11:21
23. Rodrigo Elvira, Guillermo Cuello (Miti Batai) 1:16:16
24. Alexei Marko, Ross Mccredie (Fat Chance) 1:22:12
25. Erik Keniston, Doug Gangi (Cold One Please) 1:24:04
26. Daffyd Roderick, Mike Peshko (Rpm Spinning Plus Grav) 1:26:56
27. Mark Coates, (Team Coates (Team 13)) 1:35:59
28. Rick Bruce, Cam Robertson (Los Hombres) 1:43:33
29. Terry Williams, Todd Williams (Williams) 1:51:21
30. John Nakashima, Andrew Mckean (Keep The Rubber Side D) 2:06:15
31. Tim Logie, William John (Phat’N’Dirty) 2:07:02
32. Dan Stern, Doug Clawson (Sts) 2:20:59
33. Chris Mccann, Layne Nadeau (Sierra Spokesmen) 2:21:08
34. Husain Esmail, Vince Elenko (Team P.A.A.W.G.) 2:38:54
35. Nick Thelen, David Simpson (Slowmosapiens) 2:46:27
36. Daniel Gordon, Greg Jakubek (Cycle Center)

Teams of 2 Open Women
1. Karen Eller, Carolin Rahner (Scott / Trenga / De) 4:03:58
2. Cynthia Young, Michelle Newton (Shore Girls Don’T Cry) 0:13:58
3. Jennifer Keefer, Jen Sawrenko (The Jenerators) 0:25:24
4. Emma Smith, Sarah O’Byrne (Team Tunnelvision) 0:43:55
5. Stephanie Tuck, Megan Kogut (Lucky Golden Star Bicy) 0:52:03
6. Danielle Fisher, Karen Todd (Katfish) 0:59:23
7. Jennifer Garrett, Janna Mackenzie (Rider’S Cycles) 1:31:20
8. Beth Crowther, Lanie Forman (Team 10-33) 1:58:39
9. Andrea Kraft-Costigan, Carmen Turner (Sombrio Dakine Bavaria) 3:18:12

Teams of 2 Open Mixed
1. David Harris, Lynda Wallenfels (Team Desert Cyclery/He) 3:48:07
2. Hillary Harrison, Ryan Watts (Crystal Mountain Hotel) 0:09:26
3. Lesley Clements, Matthew Bodkin (Team Bc) 0:12:29
4. Greg Norombaba, Lisa Riehl (San Diego Trek) 0:19:14
5. Karl Etzel, Jennifer Ratay (Team Ride424.Com/X-Fus) 0:33:04
6. Brady Fleguel, Astrid Bonter (Vancouver Bike Gallery) 1:00:11
7. Robin Kay, Jameel Adam (Special K And Captain) 2:30:32
8. Jochen Faber, Diane Faber (Faber) 3:00:23
9. Ming Gin, Christina Cuthbertson (Gin)

Teams of 2 Veterans 80
1. David Overstreet, Mark Thompson (Spike Shooter) 3:30:38
2. Andrew Handford, Pat Doyle (Different Bikes One) 0:01:00
3. Rod Dagneau, Mike Charuk (West Coast Racing To T) 0:05:26
4. Randy Richmond, Sandy Mitchell (Gerick- Nelson) 0:07:58
5. Brent Martin, Greg Hayes (Ryders Eyewear Corp) 0:18:10
6. Keith Mcivor, Kevin Smith (Skyline Flyers) 0:25:52
7. Dave Howells, Denis Fontaine (Ironhorse/Helly Hansen) 0:28:45
8. Mike Hardenbergh, Tim Crum (Damn Dirty Apes) 0:36:56
9. Michael Stiles, Rick Lewis (Stitch Me, I’M Bleedin) 0:37:13
10. Doug Doyle, Darin Nevin (Sleepmonsters.Ca) 0:37:51
11. Trevor Plestid, Stuart Jones (Winded) 0:40:03
12. Michael Wardas, Ken Waring (Up And Down) 0:40:55
13. Dave Mountain, Jim Bennett (Midlife Mojo) 0:40:58
14. Paul Nicholas, Henric Meldgard (Ride To Survive) 0:43:05
15. Greg Mcdougall, Graeme Fitch (Team Harbour Air) 1:09:00
16. Steven Wallouch, Bruce Kelsch (The Aristocrats) 1:10:12
17. Dean Hachey, Mike Davidson (Hachey) 1:13:32
18. Bruce Gordon, Ken Knight (Wheely Forkin’ Tired) 1:15:16
19. Greg Stevenson, Jim Clement (Ready & Wheeling) 1:16:41
20. Shuichi Kanamori, Leon Fetzer (Team Shuichi-Leon) 1:45:22
21. Ken Oertle, Jonathan Mcquenn (Team Action Cyclery) 2:03:28
22. Chris Mccue, John Ratzke (Big Ride – Bigger Hair) 2:04:41
23. Derek Riley, Monti Burtini (Burley M F) 2:06:44
24. Keith Winzenried, Scott Hodges (Red Team)

Teams of 2 Veterans 100
1. Doug Nottebrock, Con Diamond (Kootenay-Okanagan Coop) 4:11:31
2. Clive Rubens, Leo Groenewoud (Geopsyclos) 1:25:51
3. Gary Stetler, Guy Dutil (Team Synergy) 1:59:21
4. Rick Kaleta, Jean Michaud (Team Canine Carnage) 2:07:09

Teams of 4
1. Rob Blanchard, Rob Herbst, Bruce Barker, Darrell Jones (Out There Guys) 05:17:34
2. Tori Fahey, Alana Heise, Lisa Le Poole, Alison Jones (Out There Girls) 15:01
3. Calindy Ramsden, Donna Macintosh, John Ramsden, Unknown Rider (Dark Horse Racing) 43:08

GC after Stage 4

Teams of 2 Open Men
1. Chris Eatough, Jeff Schalk (Trek Vw Mountain Bike) 16:00:27
2. Andreas Hestler, Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain Bikes) 0:14:51
3. Manuel Prado, Jason First (La Ruta/Sho-Air) 0:55:52
4. Evan Plews, Bear Perrin (Capitol Subaru Cycling) 2:12:04
5. Justin Mark, Andrew Clarke (Team Helly Hansen) 2:13:45
6. Julian Hine, Kevin Phelps (Chromag-Sram) 2:44:27
7. Michael Cushionbury, Damon Roberson (Bicycling Magazine) 2:58:26
8. Reed Melton, Marc Driver (Sun Summit South-Drive) 3:10:01
9. Neall Banner, Paul Martin (Bow Cycle) 4:07:26
10. Kip Mikler, Mark Sevenoff (Bike Magazine) 4:09:16
11. Timmy Dougherty, Rich Dillen (Bearnaked Cannondale/T) 4:11:23
12. Graham Tutti, Paul Player (Tutti) 4:18:01
13. Gary Jackson, James Durand (Twin Sin) 4:18:04
14. Nicholas White, Jesse Epstein (Team Marty’S) 4:25:29
15. Scott Hedlund, Brad Samis (Sin Twin) 4:26:54
16. Sterling Mudge, Mike Bordogna (Cloud City Cyclists) 4:27:09
17. Barry Lyster, Steven Devantier (Pedal – Specialized) 5:25:28
18. Dan Peters, Brett Zagozewski (Prairie Boys) 5:31:40
19. Rodrigo Elvira, Guillermo Cuello (Miti Batai) 5:36:34
20. Nigel Halsted, Brian Mccurdy (Ridin’ Dirty) 5:36:55
21. Alexei Marko, Ross Mccredie (Fat Chance) 5:52:13
22. Daffyd Roderick, Mike Peshko (Rpm Spinning Plus Grav) 6:01:54
23. Phil Johnston, Paul Sharman (The Hustlers) 6:09:27
24. Mark Coates, (Team Coates (Team 13)) 6:56:09
25. Rick Bruce, Cam Robertson (Los Hombres) 7:04:06
26. Erik Keniston, Doug Gangi (Cold One Please) 7:15:49
27. Charles Halliburton, Nicholas Vipond (Fat And Slow) 7:17:12
28. Jeff Cote, Mark Coates (Itscanadianeh) 8:31:50
29. Tim Logie, William John (Phat’N’Dirty) 8:36:25
30. Terry Williams, Todd Williams (Williams) 9:09:38
31. Dan Stern, Doug Clawson (Sts) 10:10:41
32. Chris Mccann, Layne Nadeau (Sierra Spokesmen) 10:12:03
33. John Nakashima, Andrew Mckean (Keep The Rubber Side D) 10:19:38
34. Husain Esmail, Vince Elenko (Team P.A.A.W.G.) 11:38:33
35. Nick Thelen, David Simpson (Slowmosapiens) 13:13:12
36. Daniel Gordon, Greg Jakubek (Cycle Center)

Teams of 2 Open Women
1. Karen Eller, Carolin Rahner (Scott / Trenga / De) 21:20:57
2. Cynthia Young, Michelle Newton (Shore Girls Don’T Cry) 0:14:26
3. Jennifer Keefer, Jen Sawrenko (The Jenerators) 1:29:56
4. Emma Smith, Sarah O’Byrne (Team Tunnelvision) 2:01:06
5. Danielle Fisher, Karen Todd (Katfish) 3:19:09
6. Stephanie Tuck, Megan Kogut (Lucky Golden Star Bicy) 3:33:28
7. Jennifer Garrett, Janna Mackenzie (Rider’S Cycles) 4:58:42
8. Beth Crowther, Lanie Forman (Team 10-33) 7:12:18
9. Andrea Kraft-Costigan, Carmen Turner (Sombrio Dakine Bavaria) 8:38:30

Teams of 2 Open Mixed
1. David Harris, Lynda Wallenfels (Team Desert Cyclery/He) 18:50:49
2. Lesley Clements, Matthew Bodkin (Team Bc) 0:57:54
3. Hillary Harrison, Ryan Watts (Crystal Mountain Hotel) 0:58:36
4. Karl Etzel, Jennifer Ratay (Team Ride424.Com/X-Fus) 2:23:01
5. Greg Norombaba, Lisa Riehl (San Diego Trek) 3:15:07
6. Brady Fleguel, Astrid Bonter (Vancouver Bike Gallery) 4:15:53
7. Robin Kay, Jameel Adam (Special K And Captain) 9:09:40
8. Jochen Faber, Diane Faber (Faber) 11:32:45
9. Ming Gin, Christina Cuthbertson (Gin)

Teams of 2 Veterans 80
1. Randy Richmond, Sandy Mitchell (Gerick- Nelson) 18:07:53
2. Andrew Handford, Pat Doyle (Different Bikes One) 0:12:58
3. David Overstreet, Mark Thompson (Spike Shooter) 0:34:31
4. Rod Dagneau, Mike Charuk (West Coast Racing To T) 0:50:51
5. Dave Howells, Denis Fontaine (Ironhorse/Helly Hansen) 1:59:37
6. Brent Martin, Greg Hayes (Ryders Eyewear Corp) 2:07:08
7. Keith Mcivor, Kevin Smith (Skyline Flyers) 2:20:18
8. Mike Hardenbergh, Tim Crum (Damn Dirty Apes) 2:23:12
9. Michael Wardas, Ken Waring (Up And Down) 2:38:46
10. Michael Stiles, Rick Lewis (Stitch Me, I’M Bleedin) 2:43:25
11. Doug Doyle, Darin Nevin (Sleepmonsters.Ca) 2:50:30
12. Dave Mountain, Jim Bennett (Midlife Mojo) 3:45:19
13. Paul Nicholas, Henric Meldgard (Ride To Survive) 3:58:52
14. Steven Wallouch, Bruce Kelsch (The Aristocrats) 4:17:57
15. Trevor Plestid, Stuart Jones (Winded) 4:28:57
16. Greg Stevenson, Jim Clement (Ready & Wheeling) 4:34:34
17. Shuichi Kanamori, Leon Fetzer (Team Shuichi-Leon) 4:58:55
18. Dean Hachey, Mike Davidson (Hachey) 4:59:14
19. Greg Mcdougall, Graeme Fitch (Team Harbour Air) 5:27:31
20. Bruce Gordon, Ken Knight (Wheely Forkin’ Tired) 5:42:52
21. Chris Mccue, John Ratzke (Big Ride – Bigger Hair) 6:30:40
22. Derek Riley, Monti Burtini (Burley M F) 6:56:43
23. Ken Oertle, Jonathan Mcquenn (Team Action Cyclery) 8:29:49
24. Keith Winzenried, Scott Hodges (Red Team)

Teams of 2 Veterans 100
1. Doug Nottebrock, Con Diamond (Kootenay-Okanagan Coop) 21:14:51
2. Clive Rubens, Leo Groenewoud (Geopsyclos) 5:56:13
3. Rick Kaleta, Jean Michaud (Team Canine Carnage) 8:35:27
4. Gary Stetler, Guy Dutil (Team Synergy) 9:03:06

Teams of 4
1. Rob Blanchard, Rob Herbst, Bruce Barker, Darrell Jones (Out There Guys) 23:50:23
2. Tori Fahey, Alana Heise, Lisa Le Poole, Alison Jones (Out There Girls) 3:30:10
3. Calindy Ramsden, Donna Macintosh, John Ramsden, Unknown Rider (Dark Horse Racing) 4:04:33