July 13, 2008 – Evans original plans to race down at the Cascade Classic hit a snag when an lost his luggage on the way back from the Canadian Road Championships on Monday, making it too tight to get down to Oregon by Wednesday. Instead Evans stayed home in nearby Tsawwassen and got into a three-rider break at the Lehigh Cement Criterium, using help from Symmetrics Pro Cycling teammate (and Canadian Olympian) Zach Bell to win a sprint out of the final turn and take the second-stage of the Tour de Delta.

“The airline lost my bags but it worked out for the best,” said Evans, who also beat out Bell and Matt Shriver of Jittery Joes Pro Cycling to win a huge $2,060 Crowd Prime with four laps left. “I’m the hometown guy so it’s got a special place in my heart to win, especially the crit. Everyone comes out to watch and it’s not too often I get to race at home, so it’s really nice.”

After an hour of 900-meter laps through the streets of Ladner, Shriver didn’t stand much of a chance against two Symmetrics riders, especially when one is Evans, the 2007 Canadian Road Race champion, and the other is a Beijing-bound Bell, also defending Tour de Delta champion.

“You do the best you can when you have an Olympic sprinter and a national champion,” Shriver of Pocatello, Idaho, said after holding on to second place. “I just played it as smart as I could and there wasn’t much I could do. I tried to jump out but I was just trying to hang on there.”

Bell’s third-place finish, combined with his fifth place result in the Brenco Prologue on Friday night, gave him the overall leader’s jersey heading into the White Spot Road Race on Sunday morning, and a chance to defend his Tour de Delta overall title for the locally based Symmetrics squad. On Saturday though, he was clearly working for Evans, the hometown boy.

“It’s always good to win in your hometown and I was fortunate enough last year to have all the guys work for me and I was able to take the crit, so I’m happy to work for Cam,” said Bell, who took the leader jersey from Symmetric teammate — and fellow Olympian — Svein Tuft, who dominated Friday’s Prologue. “It wasn’t really a question once we got in the move. We talked about it and I said `yeah I’ll work for you to the end here bud’. The ma thing is we wanted to keep the leader’s jersey among the team and we’re the hometown guys so we want to race really well here.”

For Bell, it also helped him get ready for the track in Beijing.

“Absolutely,” he said when asked if it helps. “It’s an hour-long race and that’s one of the reasons I was out there and real active and putting in the big efforts because that’s the kind of thing I’m going to be doing when I’m racing in Beijing. So I come to these races ready for that effort for sure.”

Cheerwine Pro Cycling’s Kelly Benjamin of Kansas City, Missouri, also took advantage of some help from teammate Sarah Bamberger to win the 36-minute women’s race, beating Australian Ruth Corset (Jazz Apple), who also won the Prologue Friday and will wear the leader’s jersey on Sunday. Langley’s Lisa Howard of Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler was third, while Bamberger dropped off in the final lap after leading out for Benjamin.

“It was kind of a blur,” said Benjamin. “Ruth went and she’s so strong, she really put in a great attack. My teammate was right on her, but I happened to be right on Sarah so I just followed wheels and then realized we had a big gap. Ruth pretty much drove it all the way and then Sarah took over and gave me an excellent lead up.”

Corset came from behind in the final lap to catch a three-rider break and keep her spot atop the overall standing, which bodes well going into the road race for the self-professed climber, who expressed surprise at her strong showing for a second-straight race after winning the Prologue.

“Yes I am looking forward to tomorrow. Tonight was a surprise, I certainly didn’t expect it,” said Corset. “I was waiting or the right moment to go at the end and my teammates did a real good job throughout the race.”

Corset is part of the Jazz Apple development team led by New Zealand cycling legend — and two-time Olympian — Susy Pryde. At 31, Corset is the oldest member on a young team, but the former tri-athlete only took up competitive cycling three years ago, leaving her daughters, aged four and six, in Australia with her husband for her first taste of international racing. She already won the Mt. Hamilton Road Race in San Jose on May 25.

After the Tour de Delta wraps up with the White Spot Road Race on Sunday, BC Superweek continues with the Tour de Gastown and Giro di Burnaby mid week before wrapping up with the historic three-race Tour de White Rock from July 18 through 20.

Results

Elite Women

1. Kelly Benjamin (Usa) Cheerwine Pro Cycling 41:28.6
2. Ruth Corset (Nzl) Jazz Apple Cycling Team 41:29.1
3. Lisa Howard (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 41:29.2
4. Sarah Bamberger (Usa) Cheerwine Pro Cycling 41:30.9
5. Sarah Stewart (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 41:38.1
6. Lauren Ellis (Nzl) Jazz Apple Cycling Team 41:38.3
7. Malindills Maclean (Nzl) Jazz Apple Cycling Team 41:38.6
8. Steph Roorda (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 41:38.8
9. Heather Kay (Can) ERTC/Revolution Cycle 41:39.0
10. Gillian Moody (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 41:39.2
11. Jenny Trew (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 41:39.5
12. Marie-Claude Gagnon (Can) Glotman Simpson 41:39.5
13. Lisa Dorian (Can) Chicks Cycling Club 41:39.6
14. Jennifer Schulz (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 41:40.0
15. Karen Watson (Can) Glotman Simpson 41:40.4
16. Morgan Schneidler (Usa) Wines of Washington 41:40.5
17. Laura Brown (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 41:40.7
18. Jaymie Mcgowan (Can) Oak Bay Bikes 41:40.9
19. Heather Lamson (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 41:41.0
20. Monica Nelson (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 41:41.3
21. Alyssa Weninger (Can) Sask/BCW 41:41.5
22. Kelsey Miller (Can) Wedgewood Cycling Team 41:41.5
23. Rachel Canning (Can) Escape Velocity / DEVO 41:41.9
24. Susannah Pryde (Nzl) Jazz Apple Cycling Team 41:42.4
25. Taitt Sato (Usa) ValueAct Capital 41:42.7
26. Kristine Brynjolfson (Can) Team Coastal 41:42.8
27. Jessica Hannah (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 41:43.1
28. Fiona Macleod (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 42:01.5
29. Hannah Banks (Aus) ValueAct Capital 42:02.3
Lapped Moriah Macgregor (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 43:42.3
Lapped Gina Kavesh (Usa) Wines of Washington 43:57.3
Lapped Chelsea Bilsbarrow (Can) Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada 44:07.3
Lapped Leslie Vice (Can) Glotman Simpson 44:22.3
Lapped Shoshauna Laxson (Usa) Team Whistler 44:32.3
Lapped Sarah Mcmillan (Can) Chicks Cycling Club 44:37.3
Lapped Jennifer Tabbernor (Can) Team Whistler 44:47.3
Lapped Margaret Pugh (Can) Chicks Cycling Club 44:47.3
DNF Sonja Heilmeier (Can) Chicks Cycling Club
DNF Dana Lis (Can) Chicks Cycling Club
DNF Sarah Nathan (Can) Chicks Cycling Club
DNF Bonnie Catlin (Can) Chicks Cycling Club
DNF Clara Hungr (Can) Chicks Cycling Club
DNF Jennifer Kohm (Can) Glotman Simpson

Elite Men

1. Cam Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 02:30.6
2. Matt Shriver (Usa) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling 02:32.4
3. Zach Bell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 02:34.3
4. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 03:12.7
5. Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling 03:12.7
6. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 03:13.1
7. Ryan Anderson (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 03:13.5
8. Mike Sayers (Usa) BMC Pro Cycling Team 03:13.5
9. Tim Sherstobitoff (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 03:13.6
10. Maxime Vives (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 03:13.7
11. Kirk O’Bee (Usa) Health Net Pro Cycling Team 03:13.8
12. Tyler Trace (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:14.0
13. Sean Mazich (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:14.3
14. Scott Laliberte (Can) Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team 03:14.5
15. Tom Last (Gbr) Kinesis UK 03:15.1
16. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 03:15.1
17. Evan Elken (Usa) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling 03:15.2
18. Mark Macdonald (Can) Team H&R Block 03:15.2
19. Maurice Worsfold (Can) Glotman Simpson Racing 03:15.2
20. Jared Barrilleaux (Usa) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling 03:15.3
21. Kiel Reijnen (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:15.7
22. Jon Parrish (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:16.2
23. Grant Van Horn (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:16.3
24. Mathieu Roy (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 03:16.7
25. Josh James (Can) Kinesis UK 03:17.0
26. Marcel Aarden (Can) Kona-Adobe 03:17.2
27. Chris Worsfold (Can) Glotman Simpson Racing 03:17.5
28. Guy Biggar (Can) Escape Velocity / DEVO 03:17.5
29. Kyle Ward (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:17.9
30. John Perkins (Can) Glotman Simpson Racing 03:17.9
31. Dave Brooks (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:18.0
32. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 03:18.1
33. Shaun Adamson (Can) Juventus 03:18.2
34. Francois Parisien (Can) Team RACE Pro 03:18.8
35. Chris Squire (Can) La Bicicletta 03:19.0
36. Dan Skinner (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 03:19.4
37. Owen Harrison (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 03:19.4
38. Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block 03:19.9
39. Matthew Cottrell (Can) Team Aviawest 03:20.0
40. Scott Zwizanski (Usa) Bissell Pro Cycling Team 03:20.2
41. Ron Jensen (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:20.3
42. Garrett Peltonen (Usa) Bissell Pro Cycling Team 03:20.5
43. John Meehan (Usa) Bissell Pro Cycling Team 03:20.9
44. Ryan Taylor (Can) Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team 03:21.2
45. Jeff Bolstad (Can) Team H&R Block 03:21.3
46. Stevie Cullinan (Usa) Team Waste Management 03:21.5
47. Jason Fluckiger (Can) repswest 03:21.8
48. Rob Britton (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:22.0
49. Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling 03:22.1
50. Cory Forrest (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 03:22.2
51. Jonathan Gormick (Can) Kona-Adobe 03:22.2
52. Evan Flater (Can) Team Aviawest 03:22.3
53. Mathew Bell (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 03:22.6
54. Chris Devries (Can) Team H&R Block 03:22.8
55. Dave Vukets (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:23.0
56. Matt Potma (Can) Kona-Adobe 03:23.1
57. Shawn Goulet (Can) Kona-Adobe 03:23.1
58. Paul Beard (Can) Escape Velocity 03:23.4
59. Alistair Howard (Can) Kona-Adobe 03:23.8
60. Mike Norton (Usa) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 03:23.9
61. Brett Boniface (Can) Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team 03:24.2
62. Jonathan Page (Can) Escape Velocity 03:24.5
63. Trevor Haaheim (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 03:25.1
64. Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling 03:25.6
65. Anthony Steenbergen (Can) Team H&R Block 03:25.8
66. Brad Kerr (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team 03:25.9
67. Nathan Macdonald (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:25.9
68. Kevin Noiles (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:26.2
69. Matthew Guse (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 03:26.9
70. Jeff Ain (Can) Escape Velocity 03:27.0
71. Jesse James Collins (Can) Bicisport Gruppo Sportivo Campione 03:27.1
72. Devon Vigus (Usa) California Giant/Specialized 03:27.6
lapped Tim Henry (Usa) Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling 06:48.0
lapped Nic Hamilton (Can) Team Aviawest 04:28.0
lapped Joe Wessel (Can) Kelowna Cycle Opus sd23 07:43.0
lapped Ben Chaddock (Can) Team Whistler 04:28.0
lapped Dana Williams (Can) TNA/Shape Properties 06:43.0
lapped Sebastian Salas (Can) Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team 07:43.0
lapped Jamie Sparling (Can) TREK Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic 03:27.6
DNF Attila Hajdu (Can) La Bicicletta
DNF Dan Macdonald (Can) Kona-Adobe
DNF Chris Reid (Can) Kona-Adobe
DNF Shane Savage (Can) Mighty Cycling
DNF Michael Rothengatter (Can) Escape Velocity
DNF Owen Sturgess (Can) Escape Velocity
DNF John Tolkamp (Can) Escape Velocity
DNF Chris Mcneil (Can) Team H&R Block
DNF Kurtis Vallee (Can) Team Aviawest
DNF Russell Stead (Can) La Bicicletta
DNF David Gillam (Can) Cycle Solutions
DNF Julian Base (Can) Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team
DNF Jonathan Cheung (Can) Independent
DNF Chris Reynolds (Can) Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team
DNF Frederic Bussieres (Can) Team Aviawest