RESULTS ARE IN...Provincial Championship ITT

The early hours of Sunday morning saw approximately 85 riders challenge the Provincial Championship Individual Time Trial, along Highway 1A, on the outskirts of Canmore. Cooperative weather, combined with an air of friendly competitiveness added to the excitement of the championship, the finale to the hotly-contested events of the inaugural Calgary Bike Week. The results show some impressive wins: some were rewarded with medals, others with the satisfaction of having achieved a personal best; and in the case of still others, with the sheer delight that arises from having survived a "first" time trial. Ultimately, everyone went home a winner. Special recognition to those receiving gold medals goes to:
  • Men U15 ~ Samuel Beaudoin (Juventus)
  • Men U 17 ~ Graham Courtney (Synergy)
  • Women U17 ~ Caeli Barron (Synergy)
  • Junior Women ~ Lauren Lankester (bicisport)
  • Women Master C ~ Carol Chester (bicisport)
  • Women Master B ~ Carolyn Soules (Calgary Crankmasters)
  • Women B ~ Tanya Salomon (Speed Theory)
  • Women A ~ Tara Whitten (Velocity Cycling Club)

  • Men Master D ~ Lev Krivitsky (Terrascape)
  • Men Master C ~ James Janzen (bicisport)
  • Men Master B ~ Stephen Mundy (ERTC/Revolution Cycle)
  • Men Master A ~ Brennan Bagdan (Pedalhead Road Works)

  • Cat 5 ~ Thomas Yip (bicisport)
  • Cat 4 ~ Ryan Murray (Speed Theory)
  • Cat 3 ~ Alex Shaw (Speed Theory)
  • Cat 1/2 ~ Bruce Copeland (Juventus)

The Cat 1/2 race was highlighted by Bruce Copeland's stellar time of 51m42s, which is a significant gain over his times of 52:50.3 in 2007 and 55:30.6 in 2006. Gideon Krishtalka (Team H&R Block) shadowed Bruce with a close five seconds, clocking in at 51m47s, and shaving nearly five minutes from his 2007 result of 56:07.

The riders in this race - along with the others who contested the events of Calgary Bike Week - clearly revealed what can be accomplished when significant time, energy and effort are invested!!

On behalf of the organizers of the Provincial Championship ITT - Thank you!!!!

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

The final event of Calgary Bike Week is only hours away: the Provincial Championship ITT in Canmore, along the scenic Highway 1A. Start lists are available here. Sign-on and license check begin at 7:00am, at Elizabeth Rummel School. Please, please: review the technical guide. We need to be "safety aware" when we ride tomorrow, so that all of us can join in celebrating the medal winners.

A RESOUNDING SUCCESS ~~ The Bearspaw Open

PRESS RELEASE - The Midweek Mayhem Racing Association of Calgary

(race photos here)

(Calgary, 08 August 2008 – The inaugural running of the Bearspaw Open, presented with The RCMP – A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary took place yesterday in the NW of Calgary on a challenging new course for the Alberta peloton. The tough course was made just a little bit tougher with temperatures in the low 30’s throughout the day and blistering sun.

Photo courtesy of Finn Petersen

As expected, the 1k+ Campione Cycles Climb proved to be the decisive obstacle of the day for all races. On each ascent of the climb the gates would swing open at the back of the pack and a selection made of the strongest and smartest riders. After cresting the top of the Campione Cycles Climb riders then had to cope with a technical trip through the rolling and narrow back half of the course, where many battles were played out for position at the front – crucial for the tough corner leading into the base of the climb after the fast descent down 12 Mile Coulee Road.

The first races of the day were the Alberta U15 M/F Provincial Road Championships. The men’s race saw Samuel Beaudoin from Juventus CC out of Edmonton taking the win over Ben Marquart (Independent, -0:20) and Robert Dunn (Independent, -3:54). The women’s race was taken by Andrea St. Germain (CMC/Bow Cycle) over Zoe Dahl (CMC/Bow Cycle, -0:44). All competitors in these races are to be congratulated on the exceptional sportsmanship observed out on the course. In such tough and hot conditions, and on such a challenging course, it was excellent to see these athletes treat each other with such respect. They set an example that the rest of the peloton should strive to match! Congratulations to all of you!

Photo courtesy of Finn Petersen
The next start of the day featured a large combined field of Elite Open B (Categories 4/5), Open Masters Men, and the U17M Alberta Provincial Youth RR Championship, racing 10 laps of the 5.3km course. As expected, it was primarily a race of attrition as several riders would be splintered off the back of the race each time up the Campione Cycles Climb until the race stabilized with a main group of 8-10 riders out of approximately 35 starters. As the main pack settled in Open Masters rider Stephen Kenny (Speed Theory) executed a perfectly timed solo attack, quickly getting down to business and establishing a lead of 30 seconds while the main group tried to figure out how to react. As the race wore on Kenny grew his lead as the chasers were sporadically working together to reel him in. With a couple of laps to go it was pretty clear that Kenny wasn’t coming back barring a mechanical or issues with the heat, and the pack began to race for second place. In the end the Speed Theory rider won by a commanding 1:04 margin, a tremendous feat given the conditions and the length of time he was out on his own.

The U17 Provincial Championship finish was tight with Graham Courtney (Synergy Racing) taking the win over Mac Garvin (CMC/Bow Cycle) and Kris Dahl (CMC/Bow Cycle), all finishing with a time of 1:26:10.

Open Masters, and the overall win for the field, was taken by Stephen Kenny (Speed Theory) after his epic solo move. Blaine Richter (ERTC/Revolution Cycle, -1:56) and Yuri Lipkov (Bicisport, -1:59) rounded out the top 3.

Open B saw Torrian Watson (Bicisport) taking the the win over Christopher McCue (CMC/Bow Cycle) and Tom Charlton (CMC/Bow Cycle).

The Open Women and JR Women Provincial RR Championship combined field was won by the aggressive riding of Nik Volger (Independent) who came all the way from Revelstoke BC to exert her will over the field. Second in the Open Women was Tori Fahey (Deadgoat, -7:09), with third place going to Sandra Yaworski (Speed Theory, -8:20).

The JR Women Provincial Championship saw Samantha Grover (Juventus CC) winning over Jessica Kissel (Bicisport, -3:00) and Lauren Lankester (CMC/Bow Cycle, -6:41). The U17 Women’s Provincial Championship was won by Caeli Barron (Synergy Racing) over Alison Beveridge (Bicisport, -1 lap) and Gina Kissel (Synergy Racing, -1 lap).

The main event of the day was the Elite Open A race (Categories 1/2/3). Alberta’s own Team H&R Block was extremely well represented in the field with 11 riders, and were clearly looking to exert their strength over a field that included strong riders such as Jamie Sparling (Trek Red Truck, p/b Mosaic Homes), Dan and Jon Wood (ERTC/Revolution Cycle), Dan Skinner (Total Restoration), and Shawn Bunnin (Bicisport) to name just a few.

From the start Team H&R Block started sending riders up the road until a break of 3 containing 2 of their own riders (Mark MacDonald and Chris Devries), along with Jamie Sparling (Trek Red Truck, p/b Mosaic Homes). The break hovered at 30-45 seconds for several laps, and looked to be almost getting absorbed more than once until Sparling would move to the front and start riding some strong tempo with MacDonald. As the race came into the final few laps the combination of the heat and difficulty of the repeated trips up the Campione Cycles Climb caught up with MacDonald as he dropped back to the main field. On the final lap it was Dan Wood (ERTC/Revolution Cycle) bridging to the 2 leaders as they headed up the climb. Devries took the sprint out over Sparling and Wood (both S.T.) and the field was led home by Shawn Bunnin (Bicisport) and MacDonald (both at 0:05).

Photo courtesy of Finn Petersen

Congratulations to all riders from the Midweek Mayhem Cycling Association! It was a tough course and a tough day, and it was great to see fast, fierce, and safe racing in all events. Thanks also for your cooperation in creating a great impression on the local community; it will really help us in securing this new race course again for next year. Another word of thanks to Campione Cycles (http://www.campionecycles.com/) for sponsoring the Campione Climb, and to the RCMP for providing traffic safety and control services. Their presence on the roads contributed to a safe day. Thanks also to the Olympic Oval Youth Cycling Development Program parents for putting on a fantastic meal for all participants as part of the “Dinner & Bike Race” event. We look forward to seeing you all out there next year!

Full results will be posted shortly at http://www.midweek-mayhem.ca/bearspawopen/results.xls, as well as on the Alberta Bicycle Association website at http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/

THE BEARSPAW OPEN - Schedule, Fee and Body Number Details

The Midweek Mayhem Cycling Association would like to note that start times for The Bearspaw Open, presented with The RCMP – A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary, U15M/F and Open B/U17M/Open Masters events have been pushed back with the cancellation of the Open Citizens event. U15M/F race is now scheduled to start at 3:00 Open B/U17M/Open Masters race is now scheduled to start at 4:15. As we recognize that the previously published earlier start times were creating difficulties for many people to attend the event, Midweek Mayhem is waiving the $10 late registration surcharge until race day. Please note, however, that riders signing up on race day are not guaranteed a meal with entry. Please enter as early as possible to make sure you get the meal, and to minimize administrative overhead on race day! Please refer to http://midweek-mayhem.ca/bearspawopen/schedule.html for any further schedule updates and sign-on/staging times. Finally, please also note that The Bearspaw Open, presented with The RCMP – A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary, will be providing custom body numbers for the race. We would ask however, that you attach your ABA frame plates in order to help us cross-reference in the event of problems reading the body numbers with the photo-finish camera. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at midweekracing@gmail.com with any questions.

AN ADDITION TO CALGARY BIKE WEEK - Le Plus Grand De'fi de Bicycle du Monde

Yet another new addition to Calgary Bike Week has appeared on the horizon~~
Le Plus Grand De'fi de Bicycle du Monde (The World's Greatest Bicycle Challenge)
DATE: Friday, August 8th 5:30-7:30....
LOCATION: The field behind Hillhurst/Sunnyside Community Centre
COST: Free
A bicycle-oriented challenge in the form of a wildly punishing and possibly illegally-fun obstacle course that will send riders through a gauntlet of pylons, baby-duck crossings (rubber of course), pop can-crushings, possible muggers, dismount-and-jump-over-thing things, and frighteningly much more. And, mais oui, the course it is an all-french theme.
The Goodlife will be providing assistance in the form of a stock of bikes on site for the event, for those who wish to play but are wheel-less.
Add this to your schedule to fill, COMPLETELY, your Calgary Bike Week!!!!

THE BEARSPAW OPEN ***Schedule***

The schedule for The Bearspaw Open is SET!! Details are up at: http://www.midweek-mayhem.ca/bearspawopen/schedule.html

***Volunteers Needed - Provincial ITT Championship, Sunday, August 10***

The Provincial ITT Championships are confirmed to "go" in Canmore, on Sunday, August 9th - but we need the help of volunteers to make the race actually HAPPEN! If you're planning to accompany the "cyclist in your life" to this event, or if you'd simply enjoy spending some time cheering on competitors along the scenic race course, please consider doing so from a position as a volunteer! We need 8 to 10 people for the following tasks:
  • start line "whip"
  • start line "holder"
  • "on course" volunteers, to assist with cyclists' safety along the route (two)
  • "turn-around" marshals (three - these are absolutely essential roles)
  • "other" duties - to be determined (two)

We would require your expertise from approx 8:15am to noon; you will be supplied with vests/signs/snacks (good ones!!!).

We ask that you have access to a vehicle for on-course positions (we'll aim to car-pool as much as possible - and we'll give you snacks, too!)

If you're willing to volunteer your time, please contact Carol at cmayne@shaw.ca as soon as possible!!

Thank you, in advance, for volunteering

for the Provincial ITT Championships,

the final event of the Calgary Bike Week series!!

We're excited to see who will be on the podium!!