Virtual BC Cup Season 2 Concludes with Dramatic but Friendly Finish
The third and final race of the BC Cup Virtual Race Series treated RGT virtual racers and race fans to the much-beloved Stanley Park to Squamish route along 65km of the Sea to Sky highway and 1,641meters of elevation gain on the BC coastline.
The Cat B group got things off to a fast start out of Stanley Park and into West Vancouver as the Cat B series leader, Andy Kroll, from Wisconsin, USA, was challenged and ultimately bested by Marcin Kryzwonos who won the race just under a minute ahead of Kroll. Kroll’s 2nd place finish, however, would be enough to earn him the overall series win. Brian Vandergriend finished in 3rd place on the day.
In the Cat C group, Shane Alfreds, who has done the GranFondo Whistler twice is quite familiar with the demands of the Sea to Sky route to Squamish. Alfreds would take the win convincingly ahead of Lee Zavarise in 2nd & Paul Bennett in 3rd. With the win in the final race, Alfreds secures the overall series win in Cat C.
The Open Women’s race saw the usual suspects who have battled it out all series long. Claire Cameron completed the hat-trick and took her third win in three races to seal the deal on the day and in the overall series. Deb Parker earned a 2nd place finish and Renate Blushke in 3rd in the final.
Reigning Virtual BC Cup champion, Matt Usborne, was in a head to head battle with Jaymi Dumper and on his way to potentially continuing an undefeated streak in the series but a devastating “techanical” (a technical mechanical) with about 10km left stopped Usborne in his tracks. As he tried to sort out what went wrong with his connection to the game, onlookers watched Dumper surge ahead for a commanding lead. But like a true gentleman and to the surprise of many, Dumper eased up on the pedals and waited for Usborne to catch up as the two rode together towards the finish line. Dumper would take the win with a final sprint uncontested by Usborne who returned the gentlemanly gesture. With a 2nd place in the final and two previous first-place finishes, Usborne takes the overall win in Cat A of the Virtual BC Cup series season 2.
Congratulations and a big thank you to everyone who signed up for the races, tuned in to the live broadcast, and made season 2 of the Virtual BC Cup as much fun as it could be.
Special thanks to Echelon Racing Promotions for helping us deliver another spectacular season of virtual racing, our race commentators Brad Sohner and Ryan Cousineau for keeping us all thoroughly entertained in each and every race, TLBVelo Photography (Tammy Brimner) for capturing the action as only she can, and to all our partners and sponsors.
We hope you enjoyed Season 2 of the BC Cup Virtual Series. For more virtual racing action, be sure to catch the first-ever Canadian National eSports Championships this weekend, March 12-13, 2022, on RGT Cycling.
2022 BC Cup Virtual Race 3 Vancouver to Squamish – Results
Cat A
1st Jaymi Dumper
2nd Matt Usborne
3rd Mike Gavelis
Full results at https://rgtdb.com/events/142388
Cat B
1st Marcin Kryzwonos
2nd Andy Kroll
3rd Brian Vandegriend
Full results at https://rgtdb.com/events/142390
Cat C
1st Shane Alfreds
2nd Lee Zavarise
3rd Paul Bennett
Full results at https://rgtdb.com/events/142392
Open Women
1st Claire Cameron
2nd Debra Parker
3rd Renate Bluschke
Full Results https://rgtdb.com/events/142393
Watch race #3 Vancouver to Squamish:
Photos by TLBVelo Photography
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