Women’s Race
There was a familiar feel to the women’s podium at the Steve Nash Fitness World presents Tour de White Rock Peace Arch News Road Race. Not only had all three women previously been on the podium during BC Superweek this year, but after Sunday, they had a combined 13 podium appearances between them.
In the end it was Canadian National Team member Stephanie Roorda of Vancouver who sprinted across the line ahead of compatriots Alison Jackson of Twenty16 RideBiker and Sara Bergen from Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes, finishing the 80 kilometre race in two hours, 32 minutes, and 23 seconds.The victory is Roorda’s first at BC Superweek after second place finishes at the MK Delta Lands Criterium ten days ago and the Giro di Burnaby on Thursday, and a third place finish in the Brenco Criterium eight days ago. Despite being a track racer at heart, she felt today’s road race would end up being about the sprint.
“I was trying to watch Sara and the teams like OPUS and the strong riders up the hills and see if they were going to make the separation. I was hoping for a bunch sprint, that was what I wanted,” the 2012 UBC Grand Prix winner said. “I think if you get the first jump, then you have the advantage and that’s kind of what I was looking for. I know the other girls are pretty strong sprinters as well and I thought if I just got that initial jump on them, I could maybe hold them off for the end.” The 29-year-old will now race the Cascade Cycling Classic in Oregon before heading off to Europe to get into some races with the Canadian National Team.2016 marks the third straight year that former Abbotsford resident Jackson claimed the Tour de White Rock omnium. After a second place finish the night before at the Choices Markets Criterium, winning the $1,000 omnium prize was definitely on the Trinity Western University grad’s mind.
“I was just wanting to win the omnium, and there’s more points available here in the road race than the criterium,” she said. “I was just watching Sara, not letting anything get up the road where I had to chase back and then trying to win the race. “I know that I have a pretty good sprint and this uphill to the finish suits me, so I just put all my eggs in the basket, not doing anything, using as little energy as possible, playing some games out there, tactical games, and then waiting for the sprint.”Jackson, who makes her home in Vermillion, Alberta, wound up BC Superweek with five podium appearances, including five straight to close out the series. She’s also historically done well at the Tour de White Rock, where she now has seven top-six finishes in the last three years. She now turns her attention to Rio, where she is an alternate for the Canadian Women’s road team for next month’s Summer Olympics.
Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes, which is a team based out of Vancouver, was prominent throughout BC Superweek and a big reason why is local rider Bergen, who won the Choices Markets Criterium and was second at the White Spot | Delta Road Race a week ago and Brenco Criterium eight days ago.“We definitely always ride the aggressive race, I want to give big congratulations to Steph and Alison, they rode incredibly smart. We tried to make it hard on the hills and keep the pressure on them, but Steph pulled off a really fantastic win,” she said. “I definitely had my eye on her, she’s super crafty, super strong, and also Alison as well.”
BC Superweek is Canada’s biggest professional cycling series and features more than $125,000 in prize money available during eight races over ten days. BC Superweek runs from July 8 – 17, and is made up of the Tour de Delta (July 8, 9, 10), Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix (July 13), Giro di Burnaby p/b Appia Development (July 14), PoCo Grand Prix p/b Dominion Lending Centres (July 15), and Steve Nash Fitness World presents Tour de White Rock (July 16, 17). For more information, visit <http://www.bcsuperweek.ca/>www.bcsuperweek.ca.Results (brief)
Pro Women – 80km
1. Steph Roorda (Can) Canadian National Team 2:32:23
2. Alison Jackson (Can) Twenty16 RideBiker
3. Sara Bergen (Can) Trek Red Truck P/b Mosaic Homes
4. Miriam Brouwer (Can) The Cyclery – Opus
5. Janna Gillick (Can) Women’s Team ATAC
6. Megan Rathwell (Can) Independent
7. Kendelle Hodges (Aus) Independent
8. Kristy Glover (Aus) Independent
9. Gabby Traxler (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes
10. Justine Clift (Can) The Cyclery – Opus
Pro Men – 134km
1. Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 3:30:37.49
2. Kaler Marshall (USA) Canyon Bicycles – Shimano 3:31:52.05
3. Timothy Rugg (USA) Herbalife p/b Marc Pro & Nature’s Bakery 3:32:28.00
4. Florenz Knauer (Ger) Independent 3:32:46.51
5. Juan Estevan Arango Carvajal (Col) Laprairie / Pedal Colombia 3:32:47.41
6. Remi Pelletier-Roy (Can) Garneau-Quebecor 3:32:54.57
7. Christoph Schweizer (Ger) Team H&P
8. Steve Fisher (USA) Canyon Bicycles – Shimano
9. David Drouin (Can) Norco/PremierTech pb POD
10. Morgan Schmitt (USA) Canyon Bicycles – Shimano
Omnium
Women
1. Alison Jackson (Can) Twenty16 RideBiker
Men
1. Kaler Marshall (USA) Canyon Bicycles – Shimano