The Hill Climb is the first stage of the Tour de White Rock, which is celebrating its’ 34th edition this year. It’s an exciting dash to the top of Buena Vista Avenue in the heart of White Rock. The grueling climb takes brute power and strength.
That brute power and strength is something St. Catherine’s, Ontario’s Brandon Etzl (Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles) found out he had on Friday night as he finished first in the Homelife Realty Hill Climb ahead of last year’s winner Florenz Knauer of Germany (Team Baier Landshut) and Germany’s Yannick Mayer, who also rides for Team Baier Landshut.
“It was a tough race,” Eztl noted right before being presented with the Tour de White Rock leader’s jersey. “I thought if I eased into the first climb while the other riders took off, then maybe I’d catch them and it just so happened that my punch pushed me right past them so it worked out well for me I guess.”
Knauer, who was in the last pair to do the men’s first ride, had to race immediately after finding out his time was good enough for the top five and the second race.
“I hope that if we come back next year, I get to do the first ride earlier and have a little more recovery time,” Knauer said. It’s the 24-year-old’s fourth straight appearance on the podium at BC Superweek after winning the Giro di Burnaby on Thursday in addition to third place finishes in Wednesday’s Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix and Tuesday’s UBC Grand Prix.
Mayer, who was second in Sunday’s White Spot | Delta Road Race actually didn’t think he’d done well enough to be among the top five men to compete for the podium.
“I even thought my first run was too slow,” Mayer shrugged. “When they asked me to volunteer to hold Lex Albrecht at the start of the women’s final race, I said ‘Well, the day is over for me’ then they told me the numbers for the final and I was among them.”
BC Superweek has been good to Team Baier Landshut thus far, as the German-based team has six podiums through seven races. “I think I’ll forget the pain of this hill climb for the next year,” Mayer chuckled. “We’ll be back in 2014.”
Women’s Race
Once the results were announced for the first ride by the women at the Homelife Realty Hill Climb, it became clear that the event would likely be won by a member of Team NOW and Novartis for MS, which was co-founded by Phil Keoghan, Host and a Producer of “The Amazing Race” on CBS – namely because they had three of the five best times on Friday night in White Rock.
First place finisher Lex Albrecht, who won the MK Lands Delta Criterium to open BC Superweek seven days ago, lead the NOW and Novartis for MS charge. Teammates Lauren Rauck Komanski and Olivia Dillon were second and third respectively.
“This is my first time riding the events at BC Superweek and it was really important for me to bring my team to come and ride and show them what it was all about,” Albrecht claimed. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about it and we’re all super impressed, the organization is great, I love the crowds that come out and support us and cheer us on, I think that it’s a fun event not only for us, but for everybody else.”
“BC Superweek’s been fantastic and we’ve had a lot of fun up here,” Rauck Komanski said confidently. “We’re looking forward to the entire Tour de White Rock – this was a great way to kick it off!”
The grueling climb was difficult for some spectators to walk up, let alone race a bike, but the riders took a bit of morbid pleasure in pushing themselves to the limit.
“It’s a good ‘suffer-fest’, we loved it,” Rauck Komanski said in all seriousness. “It’s only 700 metres, so it’s not too long, it’s about a two minute effort and it’s something completely different than what we typically do.”
Albrecht went on Twitter earlier in the day and proclaimed, “Pre-rode the BC Superweek Tour de White Rock hill-climb race course: 700m 16% grind!”
“We did come up earlier today for a pre-ride and I’m not sure if it was a good or bad thing to know what was coming because it was intimidating,” smiled Rauck Komanski.
“I definitely give credit to Lex Albrecht, she’s the Canadian on our team and she really pushed for us to come to this,” added Rauck Komanski. “It’s been a really great time, we appreciate her getting this together for our team and really encouraging us to come, it’s a fantastic event.”
BC Superweek and the Tour de White Rock continues on Saturday with the Choices Market Criterium and wraps up with the Peace Arch News Road Race on Sunday.
Results
Women
1. Lex Albrecht (Can) NOW and Novartis for MS by position
2. Lauren Rauck Komanski (Usa) NOW and Novartis for MS by position
3. Olivia Dillon (Irl) NOW and Novartis for MS by position
4. Jenny Lehmann (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes by position
5. Anika Todd (Can) by position
6. Kathryn Donovan (Usa) NOW and Novartis for MS 02:04.1
7. Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Team Tibco 02:06.2
8. Megan Rathwell (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes 02:07.5
9. Shoshauna Laxson (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes 02:10.4
10. Maura Kinsella (Usa) NOW and Novartis for MS 02:10.9
11. Devon Gorry (Usa) NOW and Novartis for MS 02:13.4
12. Justine Clift (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling 02:14.9
13. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Can) Local Ride Racing 02:15.1
14. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) 02:16.8
15. Erin Redl (Can) Steed Cycles 02:16.8
16. Allison Beveridge (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes 02:18.0
17. Robin Farina (Usa) NOW and Novartis for MS 02:19.8
18. Kristine Brynjolfson (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes 02:19.9
19. Jana Schemmer (Ger) RSV Unna 02:20.3
20. Stacey Spencer (Can) Republic 02:20.7
21. Carrie Cartmill (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 02:21.6
22. Beth Duryea (Aus) Specialized-lululemon 02:22.9
23. Annie Foreman-Mackey (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 02:25.0
24. Jennifer McMahon (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling 02:26.2
25. Candice Vermeulen (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 02:27.0
26. Adriane Provost (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 02:33.0
27. Emily Flynn (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 02:36.8
28. Haley Warkentin (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre 02:38.0
29. Sarah Coney (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes 02:39.2
30. Allison Arensman (Usa) NOW and Novartis for MS 02:39.7
31. Audrey Bernard (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery 02:52.8
DNS Meghan Grant (Can) Local Ride Racing
DNS Gina Haatz (Ger)
DNS Tessa Pinckston (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Katie Rushton (Can) Oak Bay Bikes
DNS Jessica Cutler (Usa) Vanderkitten
DNS Joëlle Numainville (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Kate Chilcott (Nzl) Vanderkitten
DNS Sophie Williamson (Nzl) Vanderkitten
DNS Denise Ramsden (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Gillian Carleton (Can) Specialized-lululemon
DNS Rhae Shaw (Can) Vanderkitten
Pro 1/2 Men
1. Brandon Etzl (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles by position
2. Florenz Knauer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut by position
3. Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut by position
4. Anton Varabei (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles by position
5. Louis Crosby (Nzl) by position
6. Bailey McKnight (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 01:34.2
7. Cody Canning (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 01:34.6
8. Chris McNeil (Can) Soul Sportif 01:36.5
9. Colin Gibson (Usa) Keller Rohrback Cycling 01:36.5
10. Marsh Cooper (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:36.8
11. Ed Veal (Can) RealDeal / Gears p/b Fieldgate 01:37.3
12. Will Routley (Can) Accent-Jobs-Wanty 01:38.2
13. Jon Hornbeck (Usa) Hagens Berman Cycling 01:38.4
14. Trevor Pearson (Can) 01:40.0
15. Jeffrey Werner (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre 01:40.1
16. Chris Stastny (Usa) Hagens Berman Cycling 01:41.3
17. Jesse Reams (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 01:42.8
18. Luke Koolman (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre 01:42.8
19. Michael Van Den Ham (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre 01:43.4
20. Noah Bloom (Can) Garneau Evolution 01:43.4
21. David Gerth (Can) Triple Crown Racing 01:43.6
22. Daniel Bichlmann (Ger) 01:44.0
23. Dustin Andrews (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 01:45.2
24. Tim Gebauer (Ger) National Team Germany 01:45.3
25. Mackenzie Garvin (Can) Cyclemiesters Bow Cycle 01:45.9
26. Thomas Raeymaekers (Bel) Team Novo Nordisk 01:46.5
27. Brad Tuhi (Nzl) Full Circle Cycling 01:46.6
28. Yuri Hrycaj (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles 01:46.9
29. Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk 01:46.9
30. Richard Machhein (Can) Local Ride Racing 01:47.4
31. Daniel MacDonald (Can) RideOkanagan.com 01:48.7
32. Tom Soladay (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:48.8
33. Clayton Meisner (Can) 01:48.9
34. Stuart Wight (Can) Hagens Berman Cycling 01:49.7
35. Dylan Davies (Can) Super Champion 01:49.8
36. Christopher Williams (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk 01:50.1
37. Ty Andrews (Can) Cyclemeisters Bow Cycle 01:50.2
38. Matthew O’Hagan (Can) 01:52.6
39. Hendrik Werner (Ger) Team HED by STAPS 01:54.9
40. Michael Schweizer (Ger) NSP Ghost / Team Germany 01:55.0
41. Marcel deLisser (Usa) 01:55.4
42. Mac Brennan (Usa) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team 01:56.1
43. Gregory Christian (Usa) Garneau Evolution 01:57.2
44. Henri De Boever (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 01:58.2
45. Benjamin Stauder (Ger) Team Baier Landshut 01:58.3
46. Teklit Zeweldi (Eri) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear 01:59.1
47. Andrea Ciacchini (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk 02:02.6
48. Brad Clifford (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 02:19.6
49. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 02:20.0
50. Ken Hanson (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 02:21.8
51. Travis Samuel (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee/Norco Bicycles 02:22.1
52. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team 02:23.5
53. Adam de Vos (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes 02:32.7
DNS Nic Hamilton (Can) Jelly Belly presented by Kenda
DNS Zachary Bell (Can) Champion System
DNS Guido Palma (Arg) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNS Demis Aleman (Arg) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNS Luis Amaran (Cub) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNS Gabriel Varela (Usa) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNS Philip Mooney (Usa) Jamis Hagens Berman
DNS Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Eric Young (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Alex Candelario (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Sebastian Salas (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNS Kyle Buckosky (Can) Team H&R Block
DNS Kristofer Dahl (Can) Team H&R Block
DNS Justin Kerr (Nzl) Team H&R Block
DNS Ryan MacDonald (Can) Team H&R Block
DNS Federico Marchiori (Ita) Team H&R Block
DNS Garrett McLeod (Can) Team H&R Block
DNS Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block
DNS Ben Wortelboer (Nzl) Team H&R Block
DNS Thomas Radermacher (Ger) Team HED by STAPS / Team Germany
DNS Joachim Tolles (Ger) Team HED by STAPS / Team Germany
DNS Maurice Worsfold (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNS Chris Worsfold (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNS Bruno Nella (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNS Matt Usborne (Can) Tranquilo Racing PMS/ Code Performance Wear
DNS Cid Martinez-Arroyo (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNS Steven Grandy (Can) Russ Hays Accent Inns p/b Pacific Cycling Centre
DNS Travis Streb (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Mark Rainer (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Emil Marcetta (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Ted Matson (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Bartholomew Ludbrook (Nzl) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS David Gillam (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Marvin Isaza Guzman (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Brett Boniface (Can) Garneau Evolution
DNS Geoffrey Parslow (Can) Todd’s Racing
DNS Sherwood Plant (Can) Musette Caffe
DNS Nigel Kinney (Usa) Musette Caffe
DNS Chad Adair (Nzl) Full Circle Cycling
DNS Branden Russell (Usa) Team Novo Nordisk
DNS Craig Jones (Gbr) Glotman Simpson Cycling
DNS Colter Young (Can)
DNS Geoffrey Homer (Can) Opus/OGC
DNS Jonathan Braunstein (Can) Todds Racing
DNS Chris Gruber (Can) Champion System p/b Stans NoTubes