January 18, 2008 – Fifty-five riders from various locations across the country took part in Stage 5 of the Ride with Rendall/Peak Winter Racing Series. The 25.75km stage, tagged as one of the KOM stages in the series, had the riders’ average watts per kilogram play a factor in determining who was the actual climber of the day. Bragging rights for the stage win and the Pedal KOM competition were on the line at the start, and newly signed Jet Fuel rider, Derrick St. John, wasted little time setting the pace at the front. St. John, showing that he has recovered nicely from his European Cross campaign, set a blistering tempo up the climbs to push his average power higher on the way to the stage win. The end result was a trail of broken riders, a stage win, and full Pedal KOM points. Closest to Derrick’s time of 42:53.9, was 2008 RWR elite rider Jim Tsilemos, with a time of 44:35.5. Triathlete Jamie Stephenson took third with a time of 45:07.8. While Tsilmos and Stephenson stood on the podium for the stage results, the Pedal KOM second and third positions went to RWR’s Patrick Seguin and Vancouver’s Ted Russo.

While the road riders battled it out to take the top two honors in the men’s field, the triathletes were the class of the field in the women’s. Elite triathlete and GC leader, Tenille Hoogland, once again showed that she is the one to beat with a time of 49:16.0, while Ottawa’s Triathlete of the Year, Cynthia Wilson, started her 2008 season with a time of 50:09.9. Stevens Cyclocross rider, Natasha Elliott, riding with a broken wrist, put in a valiant effort to stay with the leaders’ times and finished in third with a time of 51:13.1. In the Pedal QOM, the tables where turned a bit with Cynthia taking top points over Tenille. Cynthia’s watts per kilogram carried her up the hills to take full points in the Pedal QOM. Wendy Blagdon took third in the QOM.

While the sprinters and climbers have had their day, the next few stages will help establish the best time trialist in the series. Stage 6 will once again return to the series time trial course followed by stage 7’s new extended time trial course. Both courses are the only ones that will get repeated in the series to help gauge individual fitness. The course for stage 6 has been with the series since its first year and has a high benchmark to go after if the records are to fall. (Aaron Fillion 34.17.6 in the 2007 series, Natasha Elliott 38:02.6 in the 2005 series). Stage 7 is a new course for the series and the first record holder is up for grabs. Time will tell if the record will be as elusive on the extended tt course as the regular one.

The challenge is out. Can you beat the record or your PB? Register now by contacting the center nearest to you. With heats expanded to Sunday’s in Ottawa, and Tuesdays in Vancouver and Montreal, it’s time to get 2008 underway.

To book your start time, call:
– Vancouver, Peak Centre, (604) 299-7959
– Canmore, Life Works, (403) 609-2019
– Montreal, Peak Centre Mansfield, (514) 390-1230
– Ottawa, Peak Centre, (613) 737-PEAK or visit the online booking system
For more information, full results, and registration, go to www.ridewithrendall.com.

Special thanks to MAXXIS, PEDAL, and EASTON for providing prizes for the series.

January 11, 2007 – 92 riders from Ottawa, Montreal, Canmore and Vancouver took part in Stage 5 of the Ride with Rendall/Peak Winter Series. On a rolling course riddled with short steep climbs, the GC contenders came out swinging in an effort to end the winning streaks of Warren MacDonald and Sue Schlatter.

In the woman’s field, Elite Triathlete Tenille Hoogland went head to head with series leader Sue Schlatter. Over the first half of the course both riders were evenly matched until Tenille gradually opened up a lead of 41 seconds that held to the end. Tenille’s time of 46:10.1 was good enough to take 4th overall in one of the largest fields to date. Sue’s time was 46:52.6 and Cynthia Wilson (formerly Clark) took third with a time of 49:07.5.

In the men’s category, Warren MacDonald’s four stage winning streak came to an end thanks to the efforts of Marc Boudreau. 43:17.3 vs. 43:57.5 were the final times as both riders averaged over 34km/h over the hilly course that saw climbing speed win out over downhill power. Master’s C rider, Rick Sudac , finished in 3rd place with a time of 44:26.4.

With 12 races left in the 17 stage RWR/ Winter Series, riders will once again return to the series TT course this upcoming weekend for Stage 6. Riders will have another crack at breaking the course records held by Aaron Fillion (34:36.7 in 2007) and Natasha Elliot (38:02.6 in 2006).

The TT is the only stage of the 17 race series that is repeated so riders can try to set new course records and personal bests on a profile that is used once a month throughout the series. Right now the challenge is out to see if anyone can beat Natasha or Aaron’s course records. I know there are alot of time trialists and racers out there thinking they could challenge Aaron and Natasha for their records. If you’ve been looking over the results week after week and continue to wonder but have not yet ridden, now is the time. Remember new riders to the series ride for free the first time out so you have nothing to loose.

-For information call the Peak Centre for Human Performance in Ottawa at (613)737-Peak or (604)299-7959 in Vancouver. Ottawa riders can now book a start time online when they view the results by going to www.ridewithrendall.com or the Peak Centre website.
-In Canmore call Life Works at (403)609-2019.
-Montreal riders can contact the Peak Centre Mansfield at (514)390-1230.

***Thanks to Easton ,riders who purchase 10 or 17 race packages will be eligible for a draw to win a set of Easton Tempest 2 Race wheels.

More information on the results and start times can be found at www.ridewithrendall.com