June 21, 2004 – The Burnaby Velodrome played host to the BC Provincial
Track Cycling Championships this weekend, June 18-20, 2004. Riders from
Vancouver and Victoria made their way to the covered velodrome to escape
some of the weekend’s 30+ degree sunshine and test their legs against each
across Jr, Senior, Masters, and Vets categories. Two tandem pairings with
blind sport athletes also took part in the time trial events, with Brian
Cowie and pilot Murray Solem and Shawn Marsolais and pilot Lisa Sweeney
preparing for the Paralympic Games in Athens Sept 17-18, 2004.

In the Senior Men’s events, the dominant force throughout the weekend was
Matt Chater (Schwalbe Cycling). Chater took gold in the Men’s Kilo
(1:09.6), Keirin, as well as being part of the winning Team Sprint and
Team Pursuit gold medal teams. Chater’s teammate Scott Laliberte won the
men’s Points Race and Scratch race. John Tolkamp (Escape Velocity) won
gold in the Individual Pursuit (4:59.9).

The Senior Women’s events were split between endurance athlete and road
rider Stephanie Hannos (Team Basis) winning the 3000m Individual Pursuit
(4:00.8), Scratch Race, and Points Race, and Breanna Loster (Dr Walker)
winning the 500m TT (40.168), Keirin, and Sprints.

The Masters Men saw an epic battle in every race between hometown boy Andy
George and Victoria-but-soon-to-be-Vancouver resident, Mark Butschler (Dr
Walker). George swept the podium with five gold medals, letting Luis
Bernhardt get the better of him for the 6th in the Points
Race, where he claimed silver.

BC athletes are looking forward to the upcoming track schedule on the west
coast which includes the GVVA’s AVC Challenge with a $10,000 prize purse
held in Victoria on July 9-11 and the Canadian National Track Cycling
Championships, also held in Victoria August 5-8.