“The team had the most amazing season and I am incredibly proud of our inspirational women who have represented their sponsors, their country, and their sport so passionately,” said Barry Lyster, Team Manager and owner of squad sponsor Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge.
The team’s most exciting accomplishment of 2012 was a bronze medal at the London Olympic Games won by the Canadian Women’s Team Pursuit crew, of which Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+’s Gillian Carleton (Victoria) was an integral member, along with former Dr. Vie Superfoods+ rider Jasmin Glaesser (Coquitlam). Carleton has since accepted an offer with the high-calibre Specialized-lululemon professional women’s team for 2013 – an exciting next step in her cycling career.
Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ riders Laura Brown (Vancouver) and Steph Roorda (Vancouver) also played vital roles in the Canadian women’s track cycling program over the past quadrennial, and they undoubtedly hold a large stake in the team’s Olympic success.
The team of Carleton, Brown, and Roorda won the Women’s Team Pursuit title at the Canadian Track Cycling Championships in Dieppe, NB, in September, one of many Canadian titles earned by the Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ women this past season.
Carleton and Brown have also broadened their athletic roles, joining on as ambassadors for the Fast and Female initiative, which is all about empowering girls and young women through sport.
In addition to Canadian championship jerseys, Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ riders scored a stack of provincial titles. The squad’s development racer, 13-year-old Maggie Coles-Lyster (Maple Ridge), took home five U15 women’s titles from the B.C. Track Cycling Championships in Victoria in August. In October she went on to earn the B.C. Cyclo-cross Champion’s jersey in the U17 category, while senior teammate Sandra Walter (Coquitlam) won the title in the elite women’s race.
Coles-Lyster’s cycling success this season even caught the attention of the television media, and as a result, she was featured on CTV’s Perry’s Prospects.
In July, the team made waves during the province’s most prestigious 10 days of competitive cycling, BC Superweek, with Roorda, Lisa Howard (Vancouver), Melanie Von Stetten (Langley), Rachel Canning (Vancouver), and guest rider Jean Ann Berkenpas (Maple Ridge) displaying some awesome teamwork all around.
Roorda bagged the overall general classification win at the Tour de Delta along with a victory at the UBC Grand Prix criterium, while Berkenpas took home third place at the Giro di Burnaby. Howard’s experience was invaluable in the pack, Berkenpas’s big engine came in handy for chasing down countless breaks, Roorda’s sprinting legs prevailed, and Von Stetten made huge bounds in her development with some great displays of courage and determination.
Team rider Meghan Grant (Ladner) was sidelined for most of the season due to illness, but she remained an important member of the team, cheering for her teammates and often generously donating her time and volunteering at events.
Sarah Coney (Coquitlam) had an incredibly promising start to her season as she cut her teeth on the most difficult racing scene in the world. She spent months racing in Europe, learning the ropes, and logging some impressive results. Canning joined her for a shorter period and found the experience equally rewarding.
Unfortunately, Coney suffered an injury in a crash during her time overseas and was forced to sit out most of the remaining road season. More motivated than ever, she returned to the race course late in the summer and represented her Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ squad on the cyclo-cross scene. Coney will joins former Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ teammate Jenny Lehmann (Vancouver) on the Trek Red Truck Racing Team for 2013.
Each member of the Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ roster played an important role on the team, whose goals of promoting women’s cycling and youth development in the sport were emphasized more than results.
“These women have done an impeccable job of bringing more attention to women’s cycling provincially, nationally, and internationally,” said Lyster. “I hope they will continue to be such great advocates for our sport as they move on to new opportunities.”
Lyster has decided to relinquish his managerial and sponsorship position with the successful squad after two years under the Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ banner.
“It was a difficult decision to step down as manager and sponsor of the Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+, but I am pleased with what we have accomplished together for women’s cycling,” said Lyster. “When Laura [Brown] first raced on a team that I supported in 2008, I immediately recognized her work ethic and potential. She has come so far since, winning World Cup medals on the track and travelling to London with Team Canada. I believe in all of the athletes I support and I strongly believe women’s cycling is worth investing in. However, I need to step back from managing and sponsoring an elite level team and focus on my family and my business.”
Lyster will continue to advocate for youth and women’s cycling as he supports daughter Coles-Lyster in her development in the sport. He also has two younger daughters who he hopes will become equally passionate about the sport he loves and shares with his family.
“I will always support women’s and youth cycling on a smaller scale and on a more personal level, because it is a cause I am close to,” said Lyster. “Local Ride Bike Shop will continue to promote grassroots and provincial level racing through the Local Ride Racing Team, which has been in existence since 2005.”
The Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ elite women’s cycling team would like to wholeheartedly thank all of the sponsors, supporters, fans, friends, and family who helped the racers achieve their goals over the past seasons; deepest thanks to Dr. Vie Superfoods+, Local Ride Bike Shop, Kicking Horse Coffee, Golden Ears Physiotherapy, Giant Bicycle Canada, Tifosi Optics, Cycles Lambert, and Louis Garneau for investing in these amazing women. Their generous support made this project possible.