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4th TransRockies Challenge - NE
Canada, August 7-13, 2005
Day 1 - August 7: Fernie - Sparwood, 50km / 1303m climbing
Rocky Mountain duo takes early lead
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Stage one of the 2005 TransRockies Challenge lived up the race's epic reputation with an all new layout that, though relatively short, punished the nearly 350 riders with roughly 40km of relentlessly technical, dusty singletrack and 1150 metres of climbing before the finish in the rustic mountain town of Sparwood.
The first day of a stage race like this one is the moment when all the pre-race nerves and speculation disappear and the first measure of who has the fitness, tactics and luck to chase the podium. In the Open Men's category, last year's champion Andreas Hestler of Rocky Mountain Business Objects, and his new partner 2004 Canadian national espoir XC champ Marty rolled to the line, ready to answer the pre-race hype that had made them targets for the rest of the field including last year's runners up, the Race Face Mountain Men Troy Misseghers and Neil Grover.
Mechanicals and flats were common on the rooty, fast singletrack descent, and the dusty conditions caused drivetrain issues for many. The Mountain Men had the misfortune of an early mechanical when Misseghers ripped the sidewall of his tire. Though the repair took a long time, the pair used their local knowledge to put on a stellar fightback to end up in second place at the finish line with a time of 2:31:24. Knowing that they had a gap on their nearest competitors, they were able to nurse Lazarski's ailing drivetrain to the finish in a time of 2:22:07.
"We're really happy with the way the day went," said Hestler. "Though it's only day one and there's nothing even remotely decided yet, having a 9 minute cushion is way more than we hoped and it gives us a tactical advantage for the moment."
Though the Costa Rican pair of 2004 La Ruta des los Conquistadores champion Paolo Cesar Montoya and Marco Pohlond enjoyed the heat which hit 35 degrees Celsius at the finish (95 degrees Fahrenheit), the Rocky Mountain singletrack was a brand new experience. Nonetheless, they hung tough for an excellent third place in 2:36:22 on the day.
In the women's category, Trish Stevenson and Karen Masson of Team Cane Creek/Cannondale grabbed the first honours with a time of 3:15:53 and established a gap of six and a half minutes over Whistler's Hillary Harrison and Nikki Cassell (Team Momentum Training) who finished at 3:22:28. The biggest cheer of the day probably went to the local contingent of Team Elk Valley/Blackstone Christine Misseghers and Kate Aardal. Local knowledge and loads of support gave them the extra boost they needed to hold on for a spot on the podium in a time of 3:34:39.
Racing as Team Rodge and Podge, Ireland's Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens might have fooled a few teams into thinking that they were out for a laugh. If so, they weren't fooled for long. A blistering stage win in 2:48:52 not only gave them the first leaders' jerseys, it was good enough for seventh overall on the day! Their performance wasn't a big surprise as both Seymour and Owens have storied racing resumes including a spot in the 2004 Olympics and countless World Cups. After stage 1, they commented on their first trip to the TransRockies: "It was incredible," said Seymour, "it must have been 40 km of fantastic singletrack with constant ups and downs, and different kinds or riding. Just great."
Coming in second place in a time of Tom Zidek and his partner Samantha Phillips who kept Seymour and Owens in fighting, distance finishing in 2:58:25. Last year's Mixed champ Marg Fedyna teamed up with her new partner Blair Saunders to record an excellent third with a time of 2:59:07.
After the short opening first stage, Stage 2 is a completely different animal at 115 km of primarily double track riding with 1800 metres of vertical. With the heat and exposed nature of the ride, this has the potential to allow a whole different group of teams to step to the forefront.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Spectrum Imaging/www.specimage.com
- the start line in Fernie
- Andreas Hestler (Place Rocky Mountain Business Objects) on the way to first place
- Paolo Cesar Montoya (Place La Ruta des los Conquistadores/Scotiabank) would finish third
- Team Reevax (5th Place)
- The Open Men podium - Troy Misseghers & Neil Grover (Race Face Mountain Men), Andreas Hestler & Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain), and Marco Pohlond & Paolo Cesa Scotiaba Montoya (LA RUTA C.R.)
- The category leaders after the first day of racing
Results
Open Men 1 Andreas Hestler (Can)/Marty Lazarski (Can) Rocky Mountain Business 2.22.07 2 Troy Misseghers (Can)/Neil Grover (Can) Race Face Mountain Men 9.17 3 Marco Pohlond (CRc)/Paolo Cesa Scotiaba Montoya (CRc) LA RUTA C.R. 14.15 4 Jon Nutbrown (Can)/Kelly Servinski (Can) The Bike Shop 15.12 5 Dominiek Sacrž (Bel)/Peter Paelinck (Bel) REEVAX.be 24.26 6 Erik Crowe (Can)/James Crowe (Can) Crowe Race Face 24.29 7 Hazen Simson (Can)/Ryan Draper (Can) Rebound Cycle.com 28.33 8 Craig Phillips (NZl)/Jason Hill (NZl) Dual Shocked Kiwis 29.49 9 Dallas Morris (Can)/Mike McKee (Can) Wildcat Well Ops - Dead 30.40 10 Scott Holmes (Can)/Peter Glassford (Can) Mad River Designs 31.41 11 Mike Cabigon (Can)/Ryan McGimpsey (Can) Pedalhead Bicycle Works 31.46 12 Mario Correa (USA)/Fraser Atkinson (Can) Fresh Air Experience 32.24 13 Jim Pearson (Can)/John Fokkema (Can) Aviawest / VEGA 1 32.52 14 John Gibson (Can)/Mike Seniuk (Can) Kona-NRG Enterprises 37.40 15 Jason Sandquist (Can)/Normon Thibault (Can) Frontrunners 37.56 16 Henry Horrocks (USA)/Keven Gillest (USA) Laser-Laser.com 41.55 17 Jay Shockey (Can)/Peter Stevenson (Can) Team Experience Cycling 44.18 18 Steve Gaffrey (Can)/Shane Beslor (Can) Opus / OGC 44.19 19 Jeff Neilson (Can)/Evan Weselake (Can) Enerplus 46.18 20 David Sutherland (Can)/Leighton Poidevin (Can) Apex Stoneworks 46.24 21 Ross Phillips (Can)/Jonah Clark (Can) Midnight Sun 49.16 22 Michel Bujold (Can)/Jean-Franç Bruneau (Can) Rocky - Spech 50.42 23 Troy Lemens (Can)/Joel Simard (Can) Iron Horse/Sport Check 51.29 24 Marcus Dagenais (Can)/Mark Burger (Can) Team Diabetes 53.29 25 Michael Piker (USA)/Greg Bigler (USA) I Need a Beer 56.28 26 Trent Basarsky (Can)/Paul Thompson (Can) Nirvana 56.33 27 Andre Maceachern (Can)/Greg Connor (Can) Team Cystic Fibrosis 57.50 28 Ewan Thorburn (GBr)/James Sanford (GBr) Fat Tread Bikes / CR.UK 58.41 29 Paul Kelly (Can)/Piers Touzel (Aus) China Ensemble 58.47 30 Andre Schnellinger (USA)/Ryan Larocque (USA) Bike Alley 59.32 31 Jim Clapperton (Can)/Chris McQueen (Can) Solo-Constellation Energy 1.01.09 32 Klaus Dalichow (GER)/Peter Duesing (GER) LTU Bike Team 1.09.06 33 Brad Hunter (Can)/Ben Smith (Can) Epic Ride 1.09.14 34 Ro Van Den Heuvel (Ned)/Anthony Roelofs (Ned) The Dutch Lion 1.12.31 35 Christopher Seago (RSA)/Don Shewan (NZl) Need Oxygen 1.12.57 36 Paul Done (Can)/Jeff Sears (Can) TransRockies / The Bike S 1.13.19 37 Paul Cockshott (GBr)/Bart Hallmark (GBr) The Pom & Limey 1.17.21 38 David Preston (GBr)/Chris Herraghty (GBr) Team Cancer Research U 1.17.25 39 Ed Welwood (Can)/Graeme Tuck (Can) Aviawest / VEGA 2 1.17.56 40 Urs Senn (Swi)/Daniel Senn (Swi) Sennebuebe / Lungenliga 1.18.56 41 Fraser Ross (Can)/Gary Brown (Can) Informed 1.23.52 42 Lester Pardoe (Can)/Alan Tennery (USA) Team TransFatty 1.24.08 43 Alex Meehan (GBr)/Keith Bailey (GBr) Slim Chance 1.24.30 44 Alexander Wyss (Swi)/Andreas Brack (Swi) Rockstars Feat 1.27.50 45 Dr. David Burwash (Can)/Tim Girvin (Can) Enter Your Name Here 1.27.52 46 Trent Marshall (Can)/Jody Ponto (Can) The Ron and Wayne Sho 1.28.04 47 Simon Despatie (Can)/Eric Gagné (Can) Francs Coureurs/Vélo Plei 1.28.28 48 Mark Banham (GBr)/Pete Sutton (GBr) Team 59 Commando 49 Gary Bavis (Can)/Michael Krauss (Can) Lifesavers 1.32.44 50 Paul Reyburn (RSA)/Clive Edward Kirsten (RSA) Eazy 1.36.29 51 David Foltz (Can)/Gilbert Leclerc (Can) 4 Wheels Good 2 Wheels 1.39.07 52 Gary Walthers (Can)/Niall McGrath (Can) Walthers Warriors 1.42.00 53 John Oberlin (Can)/Charles-Philipp Miron (Can) Outdoor Approach 1.42.06 54 Steve Mathezer (Can)/Tanner Debruyne (Can) Numb 1.42.07 55 Rotem Ravon (Isr)/Niv Peles (Isr) Pegasos 1.45.54 56 Michael Jacoby (Can)/Karl Yeh (Can) Weapons of Mass Destruc 1.45.55 57 Geoff Lindsay (Can)/Brian Uhlmann (Can) The RVC Mound Pounder 1.58.44 58 Chris Durand (Can)/William Fenton (Can) Essex Flatlanders 2.05.41 59 Bret Dickey (USA)/Fran Cote (USA) Micromedia Productions In 2.08.43 60 Ron Andrews (Can)/Dustin Andrews (Can) F & S 2.12.15 61 Tom Porter (Can)/Lance Buffit (Can) Back in the Saddle Again 2.12.37 62 Dan Higginson (GBr)/Nick Hartwell (GBr) Fat Chance 2.19.30 63 Dan Wray (Can)/Ken Oertle (USA) Half Assed 2.33.49 64 Chris McGregor (Can)/Pete (Aus) Kangaroo Grizzly O'DWYER 2.38.08 65 Jarod Garrington (GBr)/Colin Spencer (GBr) Not too Sure 2.57.23 66 Paul Gibbons (GBr)/John Garrett (GBr) Chickpea 2.57.24 67 Robin Larcombe (GBr)/Lindsay McCrae (GBr) Fat Hare 2.59.29 68 Ian Hamilton (Can)/Gary Tait (Can) 40 Below 3.10.21 69 Mark Schwartz (Can)/Scott Boyd (Can) Lynx Brand Fence 3.10.22 70 Bruce Ramsay (Can)/David Leach (Can) Dirt Peddlers 3.15.48 71 Ross Ethier (Can)/Matthew Trulio (USA) Hiccup Hell 3.39.59 72 Patrick Beauchamp (Can)/Fleming Kaastrup (Can) Where we going? 6.37.52 73 Andrew Jordan (USA)/Jason Duckworth (GBr) Anglo-American Arrangem 74 Phil Hoilett (Can)/David Woodfine (Can) Wild Rock 75 Harry Petersen DNK/Jeff Cote (Can) Northern Spheres 7.37.52 DNF Alistair Lovell (GBr)/Stefan Goodwin (GBr) Combat Dento's Open Mixed 1 Robin Seymour (Irl)/Tarja Owens (Irl) Podge and Rodge 2.48.52 2 Samantha Phillips (Can)/Tom Zidek (USA) The Bike Shop / Bike Cafe 9.33 3 Blair Saunders (Can)/Marg Fedyna (Can) Team Adidas Roll-Up-The 10.15 4 Louise Kobin (USA)/Eric Warkentin (USA) Team X-Fusion / Adidas 20.40 5 Jessica Demars (Can)/Robert Blanchard (Can) Ride On 28.30 6 Margie Smith (Can)/Steve Johnson (Aus) Wilson Mountain Sports / 34.17 7 Todd McFadden (USA)/Diana Hill (USA) Team H2O 42.16 8 Alison Gannett (USA)/Jason Trimm (USA) Travel Alberta / Bicycle Sp 42.33 9 Cyd Fraser (Can)/Craig Bartlett (Can) Troubled Beavers 45.48 10 Jay Petervary (USA)/Tracey Petervary (USA) Fitzgerald's Bicycles 46.48 11 Janice Tower (USA)/JJ Tower (USA) Tower of Power 1.15.35 12 Barbekka Hurtt (USA)/Steven Riley (USA) Spin Rover 1.35.00 13 Danielle Fisher (Can)/Steve Schippanoski (Can) Testrogen 1.42.00 14 Wolfgang Hopf (GER)/Claudia Lesti (GER) The Teachers 1.42.50 15 Dale Bartrom (Can)/Jennette Allum (Can) The Third Eye (Helmet Ca 1.54.58 16 Shawn Collison (Can)/Kristen Johnson (Can) The Skids 1.55.03 17 Ross Robertson (Can)/Jean Boyd (Can) Caribou Resource 2.56.13 Open Women 1 Trish Stevenson (USA)/Karen Masson (Aus) Cane Creek/Cannondale 3.15.53 2 Hillary Harrison (USA)/Nikki Cassel (Can) Momentum Training 6.35 3 Christin Misseghers (Can)/Kate Aardal (Nor) Blackstone Elk Valley 18.46 4 Caroli Van Den Bulk (Ned)/Monica Nelson (Can) Power2Be 38.57 5 Donna Macintosh (Can)/Lori Coverdale (Can) Dirt Divas 2.50.57 6 Syl Desmond-Hoare (Can)/Jacquelin Hutchison (Can) Team Crusaders KCCFA 4.44.06 100+ Open Gender 1 Craig Peacock (Aus)/Kerry Ryan (Aus) Aussie Ratz 3.12.47 2 Steve Worland (GBr)/Keith Bontrager (USA) What Mountain Bike UK 7.06 3 Lindsay Gauld (Can)/Don Sissons (Can) Olympia Prairie Boys 18.36 4 Roy Kregosky (Can)/Peter Avis (Can) Arrowsmith Centurions 26.42 5 Rick Sederberg (USA)/Andrew Combs (USA) Rockin' Pops 33.16 6 Barry Dalziel (Can)/Stuart Dalziel (Can) Where Dee El Are We 55.48 7 Donald Macgregor (Can)/John Schneider (RSA) Cowichan Wannabees 1.14.13 8 William Combs (USA)/Doug Radandt (USA) Suffering Old Dogs 1.49.21 9 Jim Forbes (Can)/Al Mickelson (Can) Tragically Fit Racing Team 2.22.49 10 Richard Woodbury (USA)/Laurie Woodbury (USA) Woodbury 4.47.12 80+ Men 1 James Shellard (Can)/David Kvick (Swi) Haywood Securities 2.53.27 2 Pat Doyle (Can)/Paul Newitt (Can) Pedal Magazine 2.27 3 Randy Richmond (Can)/Sandy Mitchell (Can) Cat Power 2.33 4 John Groeneveld (Can)/Jason Soto (Can) Bruno's Bar & Grill DE 5.00 5 André Hendrickx (Bel)/Nico Vanaken (Bel) United Bikers Belgium 14.11 6 Nathan Simms (USA)/William Simms (USA) SBMT 16.57 7 Bill Benson (Can)/Todd Martin (Can) Rhinofitness.ca 18.50 8 Alan Ludtke (USA)/Dan McCarthy (USA) Hooked 19.30 9 John Ramsden (Can)/Dean Irvine (Can) Dark Horse Racing 19.43 10 David Ford (Can)/Gerry McCuaig (Can) Dead Goat Racing - Retre 37.40 11 Rick Lewis (Can)/Mike Stiles (Can) Team P4 37.44 12 Thomas Vial (USA)/Dave Craven (USA) Pedalphiles 38.37 13 Bruce Kelsch (Can)/Michael Colwill (Can) Blazing Saddles 41.10 14 Jeff Bandura (Can)/Steve Caulker (Can) 4EverFit 41.16 15 Grant Lamont (Can)/John Blok (Can) Epic Pique Brothers 46.17 16 Jim Hendry (Can)/Joey Cowan (Can) Still Married Racing 46.27 17 Rich Dillen (USA)/James Thompson (Can) 28 Speeds 47.11 18 John Rozell (Can)/Jeremy Wex (Can) Holy Gasp 49.33 19 Brian Culbert (Can)/Trent Winstone (Can) Race For Miracles 52.38 20 Peter Brown (GBr)/Frank Newcombe (GBr) Innersanctum 52.41 21 Marty Halprin (Can)/Dave Barclay (Can) Team Esquire Watch 1.01.20 22 Pet Van Der Velden (Ned)/Menno Brouwer (Ned) Team Holland 1.14.28 23 Roman Urbina (CRc)/Roy Wallack (USA) La Ruta Bike for Life 1.18.47 24 Grant Los (Can)/Al Reid (Can) Outlaws 1.33.16 25 Michael Hale (USA)/Rob Vissers (Can) Carpe Pesce 1 1.33.26 26 James Larson (USA)/Damon Anagnos (USA) Carpe Pesce II 1.33.27 27 Jim Seethram (Can)/Simon Parker (Aus) Paribus/Orissa 1.37.18 28 Dieter Sartisson (Can)/Paul Wood (Can) Lunatic Fringe 1.41.28 29 Chris Watt (Can)/George Andrew Paul (Can) Team Jegima 1.45.21 30 Chris Klapatiuk (Can)/Monte McKelvie (Can) Whiskey Pedallers 1.50.26 31 Heinz Markmeyer (Can)/Jim Gibbs (Can) Jagemeister 2.42.10 32 Charles Ryan (USA)/Norman Weinberg (USA) Cats 2.44.37 33 Alexandre Yatsina (Ukr)/David Milner (Can) Timberliners 2.48.45 34 Cam Thomas (Can)/Derek Fidler (Can) Fidas 3.08.02 80+ Mixed 1 David Boyd (USA)/Patti Plagmann (USA) Bike Lane Houston 3.19.19 2 Greg Thompson (Can)/Jeanie Godfrey (Can) Team Travel Alberta 26.42 3 Gregg Mellon (Can)/Dale Mellon (Can) Comfortably Numb 45.01 4 Pete Verheyde (Can)/Kim Verheyde (Can) The Lab Ltd 52.43 5 Jaclynn Derosier (USA)/Dean Derosier (USA) Mr. Eveready and the Ener 1.04.57 6 Gary Hill (GBr)/Carrie Carruthers (GBr) UK Double Dutch Pancake 1.07.36 7 Andre Blais (Can)/Louise Blais (Can) Live Life Large 1.19.03 8 Andy Carter (GBr)/Sioelan Tjoa (Ned) Lakesphysio 1.19.36 9 Carolyn Soules (Can)/Mandy Clark (Can) The Sprockettes 1.24.40 10 Marshall Cant (Can)/Tricia Davis (USA) Syncros 1.38.52 11 Bill Campbell (Can)/Jane Campbell (Can) Resort TV Couch Potatoe 1.44.58 12 Mark Halwa (Can)/Lori Halwa (Can) Always Right - Always Wr 1.46.55 13 Guy Dutil (Can)/Laura Silbernagel (Can) Synergy 2.22.47
