October 19, 2017 (Vancouver, BC) – The Vancouver Cyclocross Coalition’s annual race at Aldergrove Lake Park was forecast to be the muddy, messy affair it usually is. But the rain held off, and the course was instead a power-fest, mixing rough grass, fast gravel, plenty of climbing, and enough technical challenges to dump the unwary on the ground.

More than 300 riders challenged the course and each other. This being Vancouver, the unseasonal mid-October sun probably kept attendance down.

Peter Kobzar, one of the 62 starters in the Novice race, which got going shortly after 9:30 AM. These early-birds had to contend with a heavy layer of bokeh on the course, which lifted by the time the mid-day races started.

The sprawling landscape and the tolerant attitude of the park’s caretakers allow for a vast course over semi-groomed terrain. In these dry conditions, it came off as a sort of super-Belgian experience, kind of like when your favorite local brewery decides to whip up a convincing low-IBU quadrupel.

Local club Glotman Simpson, resplendent as always in their black, white, and yellow, took the opportunity to show off their sprinkles-themed cyclocross kit. But independent rider Brandon Woudzia demonstrates it is better to be good than look good, and rode to Novice victory in his basic black outfit.

A short run-up delays riders at the bottom of this power climb, ensuring that they carry no momentum whatsoever into this part of the course. It is also just a little too long to sprint up, giving riders an opportunity to watch their competition roll away. The course then transitions into a switchbacked and surprisingly technical descent, which invites the unwary to throw their race away with poor cornering.

Craig Richey lofts his bike in dramatic fashion, and displays his usual dominance over the leftmost province’s cyclocross scene. He won the Elite Men’s race in convincing fashion.

Olympic medalist Jasmin Duehring takes a break from serious bike racing to try out this “cyclo-cross” thing that all the kids are talking about. She demonstrated that a big engine can take you far, and claimed second in the Elite Women’s field, behind Giant’s Sandra Walter

Results

Elite Men
1.  Craig Richey (Garneau-Easton p/b Transitions Lifecare) 57:32:00
2.  Nathan Killam (Moustache Mafia Racing) 1:12
3.  Parker Bloom (Broad Street Cycles) 2:02
4.  terry Mckall (Broad Street Cycles) 2:19
5.  Nicholas Kupiak (Broad Street Cycles) 2:23
6.  Brett Wakefield (Team Giant Vancouver) 3:12
7.  Sherwood Plant (Langlois Brown Racing) 3:26
8.  Garrett Kryt (Independent) 4:20
9.  Drummond Lawson (Steed Cycles) 4:32
10.  Elliot Jamieson (Cycling BC) 4:39
11.  Wai-Ben Wong (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 4:47
12.  Jake Cullen (Smart Savvy+ / Garneau Ctycling) 5:30
13.  Alexander Murison (Trek Red Truck Racing) 5:33
14.  James Cameron Birkenbuel (Mighty Cycling) 5:55
15.  Paul Sales (Independent) 6:10
16.  Nicholas Geddes (Independent) 6:20
17.  Connor Wolff (Independent) 6:36
18.  Cody Scott (Cannondale p/b Fortius) 7:01
19.  Michael Wegner (Langlois Brown Racing) 7:38
20.  Carsten Ivany (Team GIANT Vancouver) -1 lap
21.  Quinn Storey (Cannondale p/b Fortius) -1 lap
22.  Richard Machhein (Team Giant Vancouver) -1 lap
23.  Nathan Bishop (Cannondale p/b Fortius) -1 lap
DNF  Marc Edwards (Broad Street Cycles)
DNF  Matthew Hornland (Mighty Cycling)
DNS  Dan Gronross (Steed Cycles)

Elite Women
1.  Sandra Walter (Liv/Giant Canada) 43:31:00
2.  Jasmin Duehring (Independent) 0:41
3.  Helena Coney (Fluevog’s Crit Nasty) 2:01
4.  Natasha Cowie (Steed Cycles) 2:24
5.  Haley Gill (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 2:36
6.  Kelly Jones (Steed Cycles) 2:39
7.  Elizabeth Gin (Cannondale p/b Fortius) 3:07
8.  Denise Mahon (Pro City Racing) 4:49
9.  Anne Ouellet (Fluevog’s Crit Nasty) 4:55
10.  Josie Welbourn (DEVO p/b Fortius) 6:23
11.  Elle Bush (DEVO p/b Fortius) 6:23
12.  Claire Anderson (Independent) 8:19
13.  Lilly Ujfalusi (DEVO p/b Fortius) -1 lap
14.  Lindsey Von Bloedau (Steed Cycles) -1 lap
DNF  Emilie Thy (Dodge City Racing)

Master A Men
1.  Eric Hung (Steed Cycles) 48:13:00
2.  Kim Steed (Steed Cycles) 0:04
3.  Dean Broomham (Fulgas) 0:07
4.  Quinn Anderson (Mighty Cycling) 0:18
5.  Greg Macdonald (Dodge City Racing) 0:35
6.  Christian Hansen (Escape Velocity p/b Fortius) 0:45
7.  Jacob Rodgers (Daryl Evans Racing) 0:51
8.  Matthew Drown (Daryl Evans Racing) 1:44
9.  Shawn Pettersen (Steed Cycles) 1:47
10.  Edward Lawson (Daryl Evans Racing) 2:04
11.  Joel Lutz (Mid Island Velo Association) 2:23
12.  Chris Bishop (Steed Cycles) 2:38
13.  Ken Olson (Mid Island Velo Association) 3:46
14.  Scott Mcgregor (Steed Cycles) 3:46
15.  Wade Luksay (Trail Bicycles) 4:02
16.  Drew Hemmingson (Independent) 4:32
17.  Ray Lachance (Crossroad Racing) 5:35
18.  Michael Parrish (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 6:35
19.  Gary Macgregor (Comox Valley Athletic Association) 6:35
20.  Francois Bedard (Independent) 7:08
21.  Ben Ford (Glotman Simpson Cycling) -1 lap
22.  Eric Vermander (Independent) -1 lap
DNS  Brad Issel (Daryl Evans Racing)
DNS  Mike Murphy (Steed Cycles)

Master B Men
1.  Simon Pulfrey (Steed Cycles) 42:48:00
2.  James R Davison (Daryl Evans Racing) 1:21
3.  Kalle Karu (Independent) 1:23
4.  GAVIN Elliott (Daryl Evans Racing) 1:57
5.  Colin Funk (Escape Velocity p/b Fortius) 2:09
6.  Brian Wong (Escape Velocity p/b Fortius) 2:23
7.  Niels Steiner (West Coast Cycling) 2:36
8.  Christopher Kam (Mighty Cycling) 2:42
9.  Owen Scott (Steed Cycles) 2:50
10.  Ian Parker (HSC Garneau) 3:00
11.  Pedro Peralta Elgueta (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 3:03
12.  Mark Dunn (Atomic Racing) 3:33
13.  John Tani (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 3:33
14.  Jordan Behan (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 3:37
15.  Mike Tunnah (West Coast Cycling) 3:53
16.  Kenny James (Glotman Simpson Cycling) 4:02
17.  Ivo Rytir (Escape Velocity p/b Fortius) 4:06
18.  Jason Bond (Independent) 4:36
19.  Troy Neale (Independent) 4:45
20.  Aías Cienfuegos (Independent) 4:47
21.  Michael Dolling (Daryl Evans Racing) 4:51
22.  Dave Strajt (Independent) 5:00
23.  Daniel Sivertson (Independent) 5:42
24.  Jeremy Jones (Independent) 5:47
25.  Jamie Lemay (Independent) 6:12
26.  Andrew Pickell (Daryl Evans Racing) 6:24
27.  John Wong (Independent) 7:29
28.  Sean Solheim (Glotman Simpson Cycling) -1 lap
29.  david Goodman (TaG Cycling) -1 lap
30.  Mario Sanches (Glotman Simpson Cycling) -1 lap
31.  David Holder (Crossroad Racing) -1 lap
32.  Jay Stacey (Crossroad Racing) -1 lap
33.  Bob Mclaren (Escape Velocity pb Fortius) -1 lap
34.  Carl Moriarty (Independent) -1 lap
35.  Harry Bohan (Daryl Evans Racing) -1 lap
36.  Robert Airey (Mighty Cycling) -1 lap
37.  Mike Hewat (Independent) -1 lap
38.  Carmen Marin (Glotman Simpson Cycling) -2 laps
DNF  Mark Oldenburg (Mighty Cycling)
DNF  Jeremy Seamans (Independent)
DNS  Chris Mallinson (Steed Cycles)
DNS  Darrin Grund (Escape Velocity p/b Fortius)
DNS  Chris Fraser (Independent)
DNS  Daryl Vachon (Independent)
DNS  Daren Adams (Independent)
DNS  Craig Mcgarry (Fraser River Fuggitivi (FRF))
DNS  Tobin Copley (Group W Racing p/b Duffin’s Donuts)
DNS  Brent Hambleton (Team GIANT Vancouver)
DNS  Matt Scott (Cahilty Racing)

Full results all categories here.