May 2, 2008 (Maple Ridge, BC) – Local Ride’s, Race The Ridge 2008, hit the town of Maple Ridge, on April 26, 27 with 180 riders to tackle what is arguably the toughest 2-day Stage race in BC. With a new road course, along with the proven Golden Ears Park TT and spectator-friendly Town Core Crit, the stage was set for this year’s BC Cup sanctioned event.

Hot sunny skies welcomed the riders for the Saturday morning road race. The new course was just recently buffed by municipal street sweepers, and residents of the rural neighborhood of Thornhill came out to welcome the action on the streets. In the Cat 1,2 women’s race, Leah Goldstein (Total Restoration), who has won the Race The Ridge road race the past two years, attacked early and was never caught. The chase group, three minutes behind, came down to an exciting sprint finish with Marni Hambleton (Valueact Capital Cycling Team) capturing second followed by Sarah Stewart (Total Restoration), Jean Ann McKirdy (Rock Mountain Bikes), and in fifth, Jessica Hannah, (Giant Bicycles / Team Whistler). Queen of the Mountain honours went to Goldstein.

In the men’s Cat 1, 2 it was all Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes. Jamie Sparling and Rob Britton stole the show finishing first and second respectively, taking a 2.5-minute lead into Sunday’s Time Trial. Cory Forrest (Total Restoration) finishe third while Symmetrics Zach Bell and Zack Garland (Kona Adobe) rounded out the top five. Sparling also won the King of the Mountains.

Riders awoke to an overcast Sunday morning, with the threat of rain on the horizon. But fair weather prevailed for the 22km Time Trial on the rolling hills of the Golden Ear’s Park parkway. Again it was Goldstein taking the Cat 1, 2 women’s race with a time of 33:51. Laura Brown (Giant Bicycles / Team Whistler) finished second at 36 seconds back with Jessica Hannah (Giant Bicycles / Team Whistler) finishing third. In the men’s race, Bell unleashed some very impressive speed setting a new course record of 28:46. Second place went to Britton while Cory Forrest, (Total Restoration) came third.

The final stage, the Town Core Criterium would be the deciding factor for the overall stage race winners. With Goldstein leading the women’s Cat 1, 2, it would be up to the riders of the Giant Bicycles / Team Whistler to prevent her from getting any points and in turn, have their GC leader, Hannah take both primes and set her up for the victory. If this scene played out, Hannah would take the overall. In the final sprint to the finish, Giant Bicycles/ Team Whistler took the top three spots, with Hannah finishing second to team mate Stephanie Roorda in first with Lisa Howard in third. The crit results created a tie for the GC with Goldstein taking home top honours having a faster TT result.

That rain which held off for most of the day, came down heavy on the Cat 1, 2 Men creating a slick course to navigate. The first few laps had riders sliding out on the chicane, yet once the field found their line, it was clear riding. Bell was able to stay up-right and win the sprint finish to capture first place in the Criterium, followed by Tim Shertobitoff, (Total Restoration) with Matthew Cottrell, (Team Aviawest) taking third. Bell earned enough points in the Criterium to capture the GC.

Race The Ridge would like to thank the staff at Local Ride and all the volunteers for putting on a great event. Thanks to our event sponsors: Local Ride, Giant Bicycles, Pedal Magazine, Specialized, Shimano, Louis Garneau, District of Maple Ridge, Ramada Inn and Suites, Meadow Gardens Golf, The Keg, Panago, Kicking Horse Coffee, MR/PM News.

Results

Elite Women

1. Leah Goldstein (Total Restoration)
2. Jessica Hannah (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler)
3. Stephanie Roorda (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler)
4. Sarah Stewart (Total Restoration)
5. Jean-Anne McKirdy (Rocky Mountain Bikes)
6. Gillian Kornell (Total Restoration)
7. Marie-Claude Gagnon (Glotman Simpson)
8. Kristine Brynjolfson (Team Coastal Cycling)
9. Laura Brown (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler)
10. Kelsey Miller (Wedgewood)
11. Lisa Howard (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler)
12. Lisa Dorian (Chicks Cycling)
13. Karen Watson (Glotman Simpson)
14. Jennifer Shultz (Total Restoration)
15. Shoshauna Laxson (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler)
16. Monica Nelson (Total Restoration)
17. Jaymie McGowan (Oak Bay BIkes)
18. Lee Darling (Glotman Simpson)
19. Leslie V (ice Glotman Simpson)
20. Fiona Macleod (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
21. Marni Hambleton (Valueact Capital Cycling)
22. Jenelle Cassidy (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler DNF)

Elite Men

1. Zach Bell (Symmetrics Cycling)
2. Jamie Sparling (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
3. Cory Forrest (Total Restoration)
4. Rob Britton (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
5. Devon Smibert (Synergy)
6. Zack Garland (KONA-ADOBE)
7. Nathan MacDonald (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
8. Tim Abercrombie (Escape Velocity)
9. Cody Campbell (Symmetrics Cycling)
10.. Tim Shertobitoff (Total Restoration)
11. Scott Laliberte (Campione Ratcliff)
12. Tyler Trace (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
13. Matthew Cottrell (Team Aviawest)
14. Daniel Macdonald (KONA-ADOBE)
15. Craig Richey (Team Aviawest)
16. Dave Vukets (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
17. Jonathan Gormick (KONA-ADOBE)
18. Brett Boniface (Campione Ratcliff)
19. Andrew Kyle (Escape Velocity)
20. Jonathan Page (Escape Velocity)
21. Brad Kerr (Total Restoration)
22. Ryan Taylor (Campione Ratcliff)
23. Kevin Noiles (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
24. Nic Hamilton
25. Trevor Connor (Chris Cookies/Swan Cyclies)
26. Tom Skinner (Rocky Mountai – Different Bikes)
27. Shawn Goulet (KONA-ADOBE)
28. Jason Thompson (Escape Velocity)
29. Shane Savage (Mighty Cycling)
30. Hugh Trenchard (Schwalbe Cycling Club)
31. John Tolkamp (Escape Velocity)
32. Kurtis Vallee (Team Aviawest)
33. G. Tommaso (Cirella)
34. Owen Harrison (Total Restoration)
35. Chris Squire (Escape Velocity)
36. Maurice Worsfold (Glotman Simpson)
37. Jonathan Wood (La Bicicletta/J.Lindeberg)
38. Jim Wheeler (Team Aviawest)
39. Chris Worsfold (Glotman Simpson)
40. Marcel Aarden (KONA-ADOBE)
41. Jeff Ain (Escape Velocity)
42. Julian Base (Campione Ratcliff)
43. Dave Brooks (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes)
44. Christopher Hillier (Pactimo Racing)
45. Alistair Howard (KONA-ADOBE)
46. Ryan Olson (Campione Ratcliff)
47. Chris Reid (KONA-ADOBE)
48. Marco Sabatino (Campione Ratcliff)
49. Dan Skinner (Total Restoration)
50. Owen Sturgess (Escape Velocity)
51. Joe Wessel (Kelowna Cycle, Opus,)
52. Sean Williams (Total Restoration)
53. Christiaan De (Vries H&R BLOCK)
54. Jason Fluckiger (Repswest DNF)
55. Christopher Reynolds (Campione Ratcliff DNF)