August 04, 2013 (Canmore, AB) – The final day of the 2013 TransRockies Challenge opened under cloudy skies after a heavy rain overnight.Stage 7, the 84th overall in the history of the TransRockies Challenge, began in Deadman’s Flats in a time trial format.
TR7 Solo Recap:
Strong riding on the early stages of the TransRockies Challenge enabled Oliver Zurbruegg to build a Men’s Open lead that held to the end. Zurbruegg would win the overall classification in 14:40:48 followed by Cory Wallace and Calle Friberg. Friberg capped off his week with a fourth stage win in 1:38:39.
Women’s Open leader Mical Dyck came back from a second place Stage Six placing for the Stage Seven win in 2:05:13. Her overall time of 17:22:20 would best second and third place finishers Jean Ann Berkenpas and Petra Tlamkova.
Leighton Poidevin continued his winning ways in the 40+ Men’s division going a perfect seven for seven and capturing the overall title in 16:11:23 followed by Pat Doyle and Craig Bartlett. Men’s 50+ leader, Beat Zumstein, finished off his TR7 with a fourth stage win and the overall title in a total time of 18:01:01. Pedro Vieira would finish a mere 3 minutes and 38 seconds behind with Grant Miller rounding out the top three.
TR7 Team Recap:
Team Louis Garneau – Quebec riders Sebestien Cadieux Duval and Marc-Andre Daigle came back from a rough Stage Six to notch their sixth stage win and secure the overall Men’s Open title in front of second place team, Riding 29, composed of Martin Moeberg Hansen and Morten Abel Jensen. Women’s Open leaders Jodie Willet and Cathryn Zeglinski, of team Northlands, won their seventh consecutive stage, and the overall, ahead of Nicola Mann and Val Thomson of Trailhead Racing.
The domination continued throughout the team competition. Open Mixed duo Daniella Storch and Lutz Baumgaertel, of team Scott – Generation, Men’s 100+ duo Mike Kloser and Michael Tobin of team Sram XX1 and 80+ Men’s team Geoff Clark and Juancito Garcia Casatti , of team JCTr, all swept the table taking seven wins in seven stages.
TR4 Recap:
With the addition of the TR7 Solo category for 2013 a number of riders made the jump up to the seven day. As a result, the total TR4 numbers were down over the previous year. The lack of depth in the field was more than made up for by strong performances at the top. After reeling off three straight 40+ Men’s wins, David Neubeck would drop to third on the day and second in the overall classification behind Jeff Gardner.
Congratulations go out to Trish Grajczyk in the Women’s Open, Paul Tichelaar in Men’s Open, and Conrad Audet in Men’s 50+. All three of these riders completed their TR4 experience with 4 stage wins each.
The last twelve years have been an amazing ride. The team at TransRockies Events is proud to have had the opportunity to bring mountain bike stage racing to North America and share the trails of Western Canada with riders from all over the world. A sincere ‘thank you’ to the thousands who have joined us and we look forward to seeing many old, and new, faces at Singletrack Six!