Back To News

4th Annual Western Challenge Sets 2020 Off to Roaring Start

The 4th Annual Western Track Challenge held from Friday, January 17th to Sunday, January 19th,  launched 2020 off to a roaring start with three days of fast, competitive, and challenging races for track cyclists and fans in the west. With 47-degree banked corners, the relatively short 200-meter track under the inflated roof of the Burnaby Velodrome provided the ultimate setting for a weekend full of left-turns, fast straightaways, and the reverberating sound of bikes speeding around a wooden track.

2020 Western Track Challenge. Photo by Filip Funk Photography

The 2020 Western Track Challenge attracted cyclists from across BC, Alberta, and neighbouring states south of the border including Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. As the only indoor velodrome in the Pacific Northwest, the Burnaby Velodrome Club has hosted the Western Track Challenge since the event’s inception in 2017. Serving as the regional championship for Western Canada, the event also provides a platform for U19 and U17 racers to hone their fitness in preparation for the Junior Canadian Track Championships in the spring.

In the weekend’s Omnium, the title went to Luke Hubner (Dr. Walker Sports Chiropractic) of Qualicum Beach who took the win in the Junior Men’s category, with local riders Marc Sato (Cannondale pb Fortius) in 2nd, and Evan McBeath (Cannondale pb Fortius) in 3rd. A combined Elite and Junior Women’s field had second-year junior Annabella Stoll-Dansereau (Cannondale pb Fortius) taking the top podium spot, along with Claire Cameron (Instafund) in 2nd, and Micaiah Besler (Glotman Simpson) in 3rd. The Elite Men’s field was led by Riley Pickrell (Red Truck Racing pb Mosaic Homes), followed by Lucas Strain (Independent), and Robert Mayfield (Independent) to round the top three. Andrew Baker (Broadmark Capital) was tops in Master Men’s Omnium, with Uli Mayer (United Velo) in 2nd, and Vincent Marcotte (Langlois Brown Racing) in 3rd. VIEW FULL RACE RESULTS
2020 Western Track Challenge. Photo by Filip Funk

 

2020 Western Track Challenge. Photo by Filip Funk.

 

A huge congratulations to the track cycling community from elite, masters, junior and youth riders, to coaches, parents, fans, volunteers, commissaires, and the race organizers (Burnaby Velodrome Club, Cycling Canada, and Cycling BC), for another fantastic event.

As a special thanks to the participants of the track cycling community, local racer Dylan Davies was on hand at the Western Track Challenge this year not only as a racer but also as a photographer taking on a personal project to showcase the awesome community at the Burnaby Velodrome and the network of track cyclists and supporters that surround it. Thank you, Dylan, for sharing your portrait project with us.

View the Western Challenge Portrait Project Gallery at dylandaviesphoto.com

The Western Track Challenge 2020 Race Results can be found on RaceTiming.ca and race photos are available from Filip Funk Photography. View Race Photo Gallery

The event was also live-streamed on Youtube by the crew from the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome in Redmond, Washington, who came up with a group of riders to take in and broadcast the weekend of racing for all to enjoy.

Day 1, Friday Evening Session

Day 2, Saturday Morning Session

Day 2, Saturday Afternoon Session

Day 2, Saturday Evening Session

Day 3, Sunday Morning Session