This past weekend saw the cycling hot-bed of Victoria BC host the 2014 BC Road and Criterium Championships.
Under sunny skies, and ideal racing conditions, the province’s top racers took to the streets to battle for the prestigious Provincial Championship Jersey.
May 31 had the Russ Hay’s Road Race be the course for the BC Road Championships. The 10 km circuit in the scenic rural area of Metchosin, Victoria, provided great racing for all who came.
In the Elite Women’s category, it was Megan Rathwell, IRC Rumble, who prevailed in a break of 3 riders to win the up-hill sprint to take her second consecutive BC Championship road racing title. Cody Canning, riding for the host team Accent Inns/Russ Hay’s p/b Scotiabank won the bunch sprint for the victory in the Elite Men’s category. The Master 40+ male winner was Mick Bryson, Oak Bay Bikes – Victoria Wheelers.
The BC Criterium Championships followed the next day in the historic downtown of Victoria at the Bastion Square criterium. The more than perfect weather made the streets dry and fast which provided the thousands of spectators some of the most entertaining racing in years.
The first championship race saw the Master 40+ men fight it out on the technical circuit in a strong group made-up of Category 3 and Junior riders. It was the aggressive racing of Richard Wooles, Cycling BC, which eventually put him on the top step of the podium to be crowned BC Champ.
The Elite Women’s Championship race proved to be an explosive, all-out war, with only 13 of the 32 starters finishing the race. With some of the fastest lap-times ever recorded for the Elite Women’s race at Bastion Square, these 13 strong finished in an up-hill sprint with Denise Ramsden, Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies taking victory and the Championship Jersey.
In the Elite Men’s race, a group of three riders broke away and ended up lapping the field. This group of three, Dillan Davies, Accent Inns/Russ Hay’s p/b Scotiabank, Frederico Marchiori, HR Block, and Michael van de Ham, Trek Red Truck, were left to duel it out for the win, with Dillan Davies taking victory and the BC Criterium Championships.
Cycling BC would like to thank the Cameron Law Cycling Series and its sponsors, organizers and volunteers for providing a world class venue for our 2014 Provincial Road and Criterium Championships.