July 10, 2013 (Vancouver, BC) – With the historic whistle chime of the famous Gastown steam clock playing Westminster Quarters every 15 minutes setting the scene, San Diego’s Ken Hanson (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) took top spot in the 40th anniversary of the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix Wednesday night.

A huge crowd created a buzz that continued to build as the men did 50-laps of a 1.2-kilometer circuit in downtown Vancouver, racing over the same cobblestones as cycling greats Lance Armstrong, Alex Stieda and Canadian Olympians like Brian Walton.

Backed by a five-year, $1-million commitment from tech company Global Relay, the historic Gastown Grand Prix returned last year after a four year hiatus.

Ken Hanson Interview

The win is Hanson’s second of B.C. Superweek after claiming the Brenco Criterium on Saturday and he’s quick to credit his teammates for the $15,000 cheque he gets to take home.

“It really was an Optum team effort the whole day, we kept it controlled and we wanted it to be a sprint,” Hanson said. “We had a lot of confidence that Eric and I could have a really good finish and I’m just really happy to finish for the team, the guys were amazing for us.”

“We were a little disorganized at the top of the course, but then Ryan Anderson did a really good job of getting us organized and back up to speed,” continued Hanson. “Eric (Young) decided to take the front just before the second-to-last corner and just keep the pace really high and that allowed for me to get a really good sprint for the finish.”

With a five podium appearances thus far through five races during B.C. Superweek, Hanson wouldn’t speculate on his Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies chances in Thursday’s Giro di Burnaby.

“We’re not greedy about it, we’re just happy that we got a win and along with second place too,” Hanson added. “We’re happy to defend Gastown and win it again, it’s a great race.”

In second place, Eric Young, also of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, was just a split second behind Hanson in the final sprint to the finish line. He noted that they had a distinct game plan heading into the final few laps.

“We were just planning for me to go out on the last corner, but felt the surge coming on the back stretch so I went a little bit earlier and just soft pedalled it through the last straightaway and then onto the last corner just put my head down and gave it everything I had,” Young said. “I knew Ken was right there and no one is going to beat him to the line, so I gave it everything I could to give him the best chance out of that corner and I was able to get second, which is really the icing on the cake for us.”

One of the underlying stories of this year’s Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix is that of Zach Bell, the 2013 Canadian Elite Men’s National Road Race champion and former Canadian Olympian. The 30-year-old broke away from the field with just about a quarter of the 50 lap, 60 kilometre race to go and when it looked like Bell might come away with the win, he was caught by Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, which had six riders in the race.

“We knew we didn’t want to catch Zach too early and Christian (Meier) was up there earlier as well,” Young explained. “If you catch them too early and kind of blow some of your guys, then you’re left a little stranded, so we knew we had to just feather it, and that’s exactly what we did. Once we caught Zach, then it was about managing the rest of the field and keeping everyone in check for the last lap.”

As for Bell, he chased down ORICA-GreenEDGE rider Christian Meier to open a commanding lead on the pack.

“I saw him go and I was keeping an eye on the board,” an exhausted Bell said. “It looked like the Optum guys were a little bit under pressure and it was worth the gamble. The one mistake I did make was that I thought it was seven to go when I went, but it was actually something like twelve.”

“Hats off to the Optum guys, I’ve ridden with that team before,” Bell added. “I have all the respect in the world for those guys, they are the greatest guys and it’s awesome to see them take home another one.”

Germany’s Florenz Knauer was third for the second straight B.C. Superweek event after finishing in the same spot during Tuesday’s UBC Grand Prix. Knauer made the overseas trip to race with Team Baier Lanshut, which as a team, now has three podiums as part of B.C. Superweek.

Women’s Race

With a 300 metre sprint to the finish line, Winnipeg’s Leah Kirchmann (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) almost made it look easy, winning the 30 lap, 36 kilometre Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix women’s race by just over three bike lengths ahead of Gillian Carleton of Victoria (Specialized-lululemon) and Nashville, Tennessee’s Robin Farina (NOW and Novartis for MS).

“It was definitely a very aggressive race, Team NOW and Novartis for MS has eight riders here and they definitely used their full strength,” said a beaming Kirchmann after crossing the finish line. “Luckily I have an amazing team behind me and they covered attack after attack.”

Kirchmann’s Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies was down a lead out rider with three laps to go, which caused some anxious moments, but they were able to persevere for her to get the win and claim the $8,000 top prize, which is the largest for a women’s criterium in North America.

“I was a little bit worried because one of our lead out rider’s derailleur kind of exploded, but then another teammate was able to string it out with two to go,” Kirchmann explained. “I just sort of drifted wheels for the last lap and was able to put in a good sprint at the end.”

“I have to give a huge thanks to my teammates Denise (Ramsden), Grace (Alexander), and Amber (Gaffney),” Kirchmann added. “When you have a domestique helping out, it means that when other teams start talking, they can cover those attacks so I can sit out of the way and do the least amount of work possible, so they make the sprinters job a lot easier.”

The win is Kirchmann’s third straight victory after winning the UBC Grand Prix on Tuesday and the Delta Road Race on Sunday.

“We’ve had such an amazing time so far at BC Superweek,” Kirchmann expressed. “I really want to say a huge thanks to all the volunteers, all the sponsors, all the fans, it’s just been incredible.”

Gillian Carleton, who won a bronze medal for Canada in the team pursuit with Tara Whitten and Jasmin Glaesser at the 2012 Summer Olympics, was coming off a disappointing UBC Grand Prix on Tuesday when she pushed it with half a lap to go and fell into the hay bales, but the Victoria native redeemed herself with a solid race and second place finish at the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix.

“I kind of stayed near the back for most of the race because I hurt my hand pretty bad last night and didn’t want to push it too much,” Carleton said. “Leah just had such a great lead that when I saw her go around that last corner with so much speed, I couldn’t match it.”

The 24-year-old is in her first road season as professional rider was thrilled to make the podium in her home province after celebrating her first UCI victory in May, taking the win in Stage 5 of the inaugural Tour Languedoc Roussillon in the south of France.

“It’s always a pleasure racing here in B.C. and the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix is probably one of my favourite events,” Carlton said smiling. “There are so many crowds here, I can’t thank everyone enough.”

The podium at B.C. Superweek is becoming familiar real estate to Robin Farina (NOW and Novartis for MS) as well. After a first place finish in Saturday’s Brenco Criterium and a third place finish in Sunday’s White Spot | Delta Road Race, Farina was third in the sprint at the Gastown Grand Prix.

“Our team’s goal was to keep this thing fast and furious, knowing that we don’t have a pure sprinter, but we have a couple girls who can jump,” said Farina. “Our goal was to just be on the offensive all night – make Optum Kelly Benefit Strategies work and make Vanderkitten work.”

“At the end we got super fast, Maura Kinsella attacked with one to go to make it really fast and that allowed me to sit on Leah, but she’s a very quick sprinter and all I did was just go for it,” Farina continued. “Gillian has a fantastic jump, and we just got beat by two fabulous racers.”

BC Superweek continues with the Giro di Burnaby (July 11) and the Tour de White Rock (races on July 12, 13, 14).

Results

Pro 1/2/3 Women

1. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 52:40.4
2. Gillian Carleton (Can) Specialized-lululemon  
3. Robin Farina (USA) NOW and Novartis for MS
4. Jana Schemmer (Ger) RSV Unna
5. Jenny  Lehmann (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes  
6. Lauretta Hanson (Aus)
7. Elle Anderson (USA) Vanderkitten
8. Leah Guloien (Can) Colavita Fine Cooking  
9. Devon Gorry (USA) NOW and Novartis for MS
10. Jamie Gilgen (Can) Infinit Canada / Cyclepower  
11. Lex Albrecht (Can) NOW and Novartis for MS  
12. Sophie Williamson (Nzl) Vanderkitten
13. Rhae Shaw (Can) Vanderkitten  
14. Allison Beveridge (Can)
15. Olivia Dillon (Irl) NOW and Novartis for MS
16. Laura Brown (Can) Colavita/Fine Cooking  
17. Justine Clift (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling 52:45.3
18. Joanie Caron (Can) Primal Pro Womens Racing P/B BH  
19. Audrey Bernard (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
20. Lauren Rauck Komanski (USA) NOW and Novartis for MS
21. Catherine Dessureault (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery   
22. Jennifer McMahon (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling  
23. Megan Rathwell (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes  
24. Grace Alexander (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
25. Amber Gaffney (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
26. Liza  Rachetto (USA) Vanderkitten
27. Anika Todd (Can)   
28. Jessica Cutler (USA) Vanderkitten 52:48.7
29. Stephanie Skoreyko (Can) Infinit Canada / Cyclepower  
30. Melina Bernecker (USA) Primal Pro Womens Racing P/B BH 52:49.7
31. Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Team Tibco 52:50.6
32. Kate Chilcott (Nzl) Vanderkitten 52:54.0
33. Annie Foreman-Mackey (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 52:55.0
34. Maura Kinsella (USA) NOW and Novartis for MS 52:56.4
35. Kathryn Donovan (USA) NOW and Novartis for MS 53:21.0
DNF Allison Arensman (USA) NOW and Novartis for MS
DNF Denise Ramsden (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Beth Duryea (Aus) Specialized-lululemon
DNF Candice Vermeulen (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
DNF Adriane Provost (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
DNF Carrie Cartmill (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
DNF Emily Flynn (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery  
DNF Shoshauna Laxson (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes
DNF Kristine Brynjolfson (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes
DNF Sarah  Coney (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes
DNF Kaytie  Scott (USA) Primal Pro Womens Racing P/B BH
DNF Alysia Withers (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Tessa Pinckston (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Meghan Grant (Can) Local Ride Racing
DNF Melanie von Stetten (Can) Local Ride Racing
DNF Haley Warkentin (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNF Jessica Daugharty Sterner (USA) Team Rep
DNF Norrene Godfrey (USA) Rubicon
DNF Erin Redl (Can) Steed Cycles
DNF Jennifer Gaertner (USA08) Team REP
DNF Gina Haatz (Ger)
DNF Chelsea Smith (USA) Primal Pro Womens Racing P/B BH
DNF Maddi Campbell (Nzl)
DNF Jennifer Gerth (Can)
DNF Maggie Coles-Lyster (Can) Local Ride Racing
DNF Anna Schappert (Can) Obsession: Bikes
DNF Krista Rawlings (Can) Obsession Bikes
DNS Joëlle Numainville (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies

Pro 1/2 Men

1. Ken Hanson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 17:47.6
2. Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
3. Florenz Knauer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut
4. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  
5. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
6. Demis  Aleman (Arg) Jamis Hagens Berman
7. Dion Smith (Nzl) Predator Carbon Repair
8. Cody O’Reilly (USA) Predator Carbon Repair
9. Kristofer Dahl (Can) Team H&R Block  
10. Ed Veal (Can) RealDeal / Gears p/b Fieldgate  
11. Brandon Etzl (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles  
12. Ian Crane (USA) Hagens Berman Cycling
13. Hendrik Werner (Ger) National Team Germany
14. Emile Abraham (Tri) Predator Carbon Repair
15. Nic Hamilton (Can) Jelly Belly presented by Kenda  
16. Cody Canning (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes  
17. Anton  Varabei (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles  
18. Luis  Amaran (Cub) Jamis Hagens Berman
19. Cid Martinez-Arroyo (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre  
20. Tim Gebauer (Ger) National Team Germany
21. Bailey McKnight (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes  
22. Daniel Bichlmann (Ger)
23. Adam de Vos (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes  
24. Aurelien Passeron (Fra) Predator Carbon Repair
25. Philip Mooney (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman
26. Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk
27. Michael Schweizer (Ger) NSP Ghost / Team Germany
28. David Fleischhauer (USA) Hagens Berman Cycling
29. Colin Gibson (USA) Keller Rohrback Cycling 17:54.1
30. Travis Samuel (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles  
31. Garrett McLeod (Can) Team H&R Block  
32. Dustin Andrews (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes  
33. Ben Chaddock (Can) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis  
34. Jean Michel Lachance (Can) Predator Carbon Repair  
35. Steve Fisher (USA) Hagens Berman Cycling
36. Jeffrey Werner (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre  
37. Kane Macri (Aus)
38. Dylan Davies (Can) Super Champion
39. Thomas Radermacher (Ger) Team HED by STAPS / Team Germany
40. Craig Richey (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes  
41. Will Routley (Can) Accent-Jobs-Wanty 17:59.6
42. Guido Palma (Arg) Jamis Hagens Berman
43. Gregory Christian (USA) Garneau Evolution
44. Daniel MacDonald (Can) RideOkanagan.com  
45. Stuart Wight (Can) Hagens Berman Cycling  
46. Emile De Rosnay (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre  
47. Christopher Williams (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk
48. Kyle Buckosky (Can) Team H&R Block  
49. Justin Kerr (Nzl) Team H&R Block 18:03.9
50. Chris  Worsfold (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear  
51. Louis Crosby (Nzl)
52. Jon Hornbeck (USA) Hagens Berman Cycling
53. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 18:10.7
54. Benjamin Stauder (Ger) Team Baier Landshut 18:12.1
55. Sebastian Salas (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 18:16.3
56. Tom Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
57. Federico Marchiori (Ita) Team H&R Block 18:21.3
58. Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut 18:29.1
59. Maurice Worsfold (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear 18:44.7
60. Zachary Bell (Can) Champion System 19:51.8
DNF Gabriel Varela (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNF Marsh Cooper (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Ryan MacDonald (Can) Team H&R Block
DNF Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block
DNF Ben Wortelboer (Nzl) Team H&R Block
DNF Joachim Tolles (Ger) Team HED by STAPS / Team Germany
DNF Jesse Reams (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes
DNF Brad Clifford (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes
DNF Henri De Boever (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes
DNF Yuri Hrycaj (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles
DNF Rory  McAdams (USA) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNF Bruno Nella (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNF Chris Wingfield (USA) Hagens Berman Cycling
DNF Michael  Van Den Ham (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNF Steven  Grandy (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNF Luke Koolman (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNF Raphael Lalumiere (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNF Travis Streb (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Mark Rainer (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Emil Marcetta (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Ted Matson (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Bartholomew Ludbrook (Nzl) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF David Gillam (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Marvin Isaza Guzman (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Alistair Howard (Can) Triple Crown Racing
DNF David Gerth (Can) Triple Crown Racing
DNF Brett Boniface (Can) Garneau Evolution
DNF Noah Bloom (Can) Garneau Evolution
DNF Mac Brennan (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
DNF Mackenzie Garvin (Can) Cyclemiesters Bow Cycle
DNF Ty Andrews (Can) Cyclemeisters Bow Cycle
DNF Ian Frith (Gbr) Todd’s Racing
DNF Geoffrey Parslow (Can) Todd’s Racing
DNF Sherwood Plant (Can) Musette Caffe
DNF Nigel Kinney (USA) Musette Caffe
DNF Richard Machhein (Can) Local Ride Racing
DNF Julian Base (Can) Local Ride Racing
DNF Teklit Zeweldi (Eri) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNF Kevin Noiles (Can)
DNF Matthew O’Hagan (Can)
DNF Vincent Marcotte (Can)
DNF Normand Richard (Can) Escape Velocity
DNF Geordie Morrison (Can) Pro City Racing
DNF Andrea Ciacchini (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
DNF Thomas Raeymaekers (Bel) Team Novo Nordisk
DNF Branden Russell (USA) Team Novo Nordisk
DNF Trevor Pearson (Can)
DNF Nicholas Jones (Can) Musette Caffe
DNF Geoff Duyker (Can) TNA
DNF Craig Jones (Gbr) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNF Tom Malczynski (Can) Russ Hays/Accent Inn’s
DNF Colter Young (Can)
DNF Ian Baldwin (USA) Lake Washington Velo/Hagens Berman/Society Consulting
DNF Jonathan Braunstein (Can) Todds Racing
DNF Quinn Anderson (Can) Mighty Riders
DNF Ira Sy (Can) Tranquilo Racing
DNS Carson Miller (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNS Alex Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Ricardo Escuela (Arg) Predator Carbon Repair
DNS Matt Usborne (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNS Chris Stastny (USA) Hagens Berman Cycling
DNS Mike Laxdal (Can) Triple Crown Racing
DNS Chad Adair (Nzl) Full Circle Cycling
DNS Brad Tuhi (Nzl) Full Circle Cycling