November 29, 2010 (North Vancouver, BC) – It was a perfect day for cross at Mahon Park in North Vancouver. Crisp air, no rain, and enough mud to make it interesting. The course was in immaculate condition and covered a very fast 3km (approx) for all of the day’s races. The women’s elite race featured the likes of Mical Dyck (Trek Canada), Jean Ann Berkenpas (Local Ride Racing), and Joele Guynup (IRC), as well as Catherine Vipond (Norco) participating in her first two cross races all year. For a smallish field, the talent pool was deep.

Dyck had a great start, took the hole shot and slowly each lap pulled away from 2nd place Berkenpas. Guynup and Kelly Jones (Sugoi) ended up battling for most of the race, with Local Ride’s Sandra Walter in tow, but not able to bridge the gap. Jones and Guynup battled all the way down the final straight, with Guynup sprinting past Jones to the last corner, only to go through too wide allowing Jones to take her on the inside, but not without a final finish line sprint rub from Guynup.

The men’s race was the marquee of the day. The three riders to watch were surly Tyler Trace (Trek Red Truck), Aaron Schooler (H&R Block) and Evan Guthrie (Rocky Mountain), who is coming off a rough year fighting illness for the better part of the summer. Right off the start, the three started to separate themselves from the field along with Andrew Pinfold (Maxxis p/b Healthnet).

They battled hard all race, not really taxing each other too much and just feeling each other out. All three were bunny hopping the three-set of stairs in the back of the course and each lap it was looking more and more precarious as their arms grew weary. With two laps left, Schooler slowed dramatcally with what looked like a flat, but the visibly low tire pressure was his standard choice of 20 psi. Drew Mackenzie (IRC) and Dylan Trembaly (OBB) had an epic battle going for the final podium spots in 4th and 5th. On the last lap, Trace made his move on the start/finish line and by the time they cleared the barriers he had about six bike lengths on Guthrie, with Pinfold falling back. Mackenzie and Tremblay were still battling for position well back of third.

On the back half of the course, Trace continued to assert his dominance and really kept the power down to win, while Guthrie courageously held on for second. Pinfold came through for third, and then, like his fiance Guynup, Mackenzie had to battle Tremblay all the way to the line to grab 4th, with Dylan a respectable fifth.

It was great racing in all categories, all day. Of the 31 possible medal categories, Vancouver Island took 12 podium spots, three of them championship jerseys – a great sign of all the work Wendy Simms and Norm Thibault do in promoting the sport of cyclocross with their Cross on the Rock series. A great turn-out and a great venue and event put on this weekend. Thank you to all the organizers and sponsors for hosting the 2010 BC Cyclocross Championships.

Results (brief)

Elite Women
1. Mical Dyck (Trek Canada)
2. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Local Ride Racing)
3. Kelly Jones (Sugoi)
4. Joele Guynup (IRC)
5. Sandra Walter (Local Ride Racing)

Elite Men
1. Tyler Trace (Trek Red Truck Racing)
2. Even Guthrie (Rocky Mountain)
3. Andrew Pinfold (Maxxis p/b Healthnet)
4. Drew Mackenzie (IRC)
5. Dylan Tremblay (OBB)