July 23, 2005 (White Rock, B.C.) – B.C. Superweek continued on Friday evening (July 22) with the first stage of the Tour de Whiterock, a 700-metre hill climb with grades of up to 16%. Christina Briante (BC, Symmetrics) and Will Pratt (BC, Bike Barn) won the women’s and men’s events, respectively. The competition was staged in a dramatic head-to-head, format. The top five positions were ultimately decided in a five-up final, where the riders with the five fastest times had to face one another in a final all-out effort on the same climb.

Briante wasn’t expecting to win, but after qualifying with the fifth fastest time of just over 2:19, she knew the odds were on her side. The final was very tactical and she controlled the race the whole way, leading from the start and finally punching up the power to ensure no one could hang on to outsprint her. “It hurt,” she said. “I got to the top and I swear I was cross-eyed.”

“When I qualified [for the final], I thought, I don’t really wanna do it again,” said Lisa Sweeney (BC, Team Coastal), who finished second in the event. She sucked it up, however, and left it all out on the climb, earning a spot on the podium and points towards the general classification. “I’m pretty happy about it,” she said of her result.

Seventeen-year-old Karol-Ann Canuel (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) finished third in the final. “It’s my first experience against seniors,” said the junior-age rider, who placed second in the junior women’s road race and time trial at the Canadian National Championships in Kamloops, B.C. earlier this month. “I didn’t really expect much. I’m very happy.”

Pratt was surprised to win the men’s hill climb after placing sixth in the event in both 2003 and 2004. In fact, the 28-year-old bike store co-owner wasn’t even planning on attending. It was a last-minute decision – he registered yesterday, worked until noon today and then drove from Penticton to White Rock this afternoon. Pratt, who qualified with the third-fastest time, attributes part of his success in the final to luck of the draw. He raced in the first heat and had lots of time to recover for the final, unlike the other finalists, who had later start times. The large crowd was “pretty amazing,” he said, commenting that they “swarmed across the road” during the final to cheer the competitors on.

Andrew Pinfold (ON, Symmetrics) qualified in second and finished second in the final. “I was happy with my ride,” he said. “I rode the way I always do,” which is not too fast off the start and consistent through to the end. Pinfold liked the new head-to-head format and so did the spectators. “There were tons of people,” he said, more than in the past.

Results

Women

1. Christina Briante (BC, Symmetrics) by position
2. Lisa Sweeney (BC, Team Coastal) by position
3. Karol-Ann Canuel (QC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) by position
4. Alison Testroete (AB, Team Alberta) by position
5. Jenny Trew (BC, Team Coastal) by position
6. Alena Radomsky (BC, Team Coastal) 2:29.69
7. Brei Gudsell (NZL, BikeNZ) 2:31:63
8. Naomi Cooper (BC, Canadian National Junior Women’s Team) 2:31.68
9. Lauren Koedyk (NZL, BikeNZ) 2:32.21
10. Heather Lamson (BC, Wentings Cycle) 2:32.96

Men

1. Will Pratt (BC, Bike Barn) by position
2. Andrew Pinfold (ON, Symmetrics) by position
3. Andrew Fischer (USA, Broadmark Capital) by position
4. Dustin MacBurnie (NS, Broadmark Capital) by position
5. David Goosen (BC, Rocky Mountain-Adobe) by position
6. Shawn Bunnin (SK, Team Saskatchewan) 1:50.97
7. Derek McMaster (SK, Team Coastal) 1:51.52
8. Marsh Cooper (BC, Symmetrics) 1:51.59
9. Jordan Guenette (AB, Rocky Mountain-Adobe) 1:51.72
10. Will Routley (BC, Symmetrics) 1:51.97