May 27, 2003 – Home of the National Training Center and many PacificSport athletes, Victoria played host to the second round of the SISU BC Cup Road Racing Series, where over 200 racers took part in the Times Colonist Stage Race.  The weekend of racing played host to the Sooke Classic Road Race, a grueling combination of hills, rough pavement, and challenging switchback turns, in concert with the Bastion Square Grand Prix, a fast, technically demanding criterium course.

As part of the SISU BC Cup Road Racing Series, the Sooke Classic Road race saw newly signed Broadmark rider, Dylan Sebel make a decisive move late in the day as he rolled away from the breakaway pack only kilometers from the finish.  Current SISU BC Cup Champion, Matt Usborne (Symmetrics), opening a small gap in the overall points chase, came across the line second, with Luca Segato, himself a former winner of this event, rounding out the top three.

A stacked womenís field, including former National Team Member Leah Goldstein (Victory Brewing) and speedy gals Lesley Tomlinson (Rocky Mountain Bicycles), Melanie McQuaide (Ford Outfitters) and the rapidly emerging, BC Team member, Sarah Noble (Bike Barn) would battle for supremacy over the 80km out-and-back loop.

Fresh off her overall win at the Enumclaw Stage Race, Goldstein would go on to win the Sooke Classic and collect maximum Series points, with Noble only 30 seconds in tow, followed closely by Tomlinson and Trish Sinclair (Gears racing).

With the SISU BC Cup marking its mid-point this weekend, action is sure to intensify as the points race heats up. Island resident Usborne, leads the Series by 6 points, over North Vancouver's Larry Zimich (Campione) and Dylan Sebel, with Derek McMaster (PartOne International) holding a slim edge over Symmetrics' Steve Colborne.

The Women's Championship promises even closer racing, as the top five positions are separated by a scarce eight points. Sarah Noble takes over top spot after her impressive 2nd place finish at the Sooke Classic, over former Series Champion Marni Prazsky (Trek-VW) and Victory Brewing's Leah Goldstein.

For event details, including registration information for the SISU BC Cup #3, Atomic Road Race, please go to: http://www.atomicracing.com/atomic/races.htm

SISU BC Cup Championship Points after 2 of 6 Events
Open Women
Name Team Hometown Points
1. Sarah Noble Bike Barn Penticton 15
2. Marni Prazsky Trek-Vw Vancouver 13
3. Leah Goldstein Victory Brewing Vancouver 10
4. Lisa Sweeney Kappa Langley 8
5. Lesley Tomlinson Rocky Mountain Bikes N. Vancouver 7
6. Heather Parrote Opus Bicycles White Rock 6
7. Trish Sinclair Gears Racing Victoria 6
8. Sara Neil Trek-VW Vancouver 5
9. Melanie McQuaide Ford Outfitters Victoria 5
10. Barb Zimich Dizzy Cycles N. Vancouver 4


SISU BC Cup Team Points (Men) After 2 of 6 Events
1. Symmetrics 9
2. Campione 5
3. Rocky Mountain Bicycles 4
4. PartOne International 4
5. Trek-VW 4
6. Symmetrics 2
7. Kona Factory 3
8. Atlas Cold Storage 2
9. Bike Barn 1
10. Riders' Cycles 1

SISU BC Cup Team Points (Women) After 2 of 6 Events
1. Trek-VW 9
2. Bike Barn 7
3. Kappa 4
4. Gears Racing 4
5. Opus Bicycles 3
6. Rocky Mountain Bikes 3
6. Trek-VW 2
7. Dizzy Cycles 2
8. Dizzy Cycles 2
9. Trek-VW 2
10. Ford Outfitters 2
11. Escape Velocity 1