Astana's Chris Horner win Tour de White Rock road race

Published July 21, 2008 08:46AM

Jazz Apple’s Lauren Ellis wins the womens race

Chris Horner wrapped up his first trip to BC Superweek by powering away from Matt Shriver and Andrew Pinfold up the final hill to win the Peace Arch News Road Race at the Tour de White Rock on Sunday.

Horner led the three-man breakaway with an attack coming out of a hairpin and up a steep climb on the last of 11 laps around a 10-kilometer circuit. Driven by Horner, the trio stayed away for all six laps of the shorter 3.8-kilometer route before he finally created a gap his last trip up the big backside hill.

“There’s just no reason to finish in a big group,” said Horner. ”It’s dangerous coming into the last corner, and in all honesty the first climb at the back you get a straight run into it, so it’s going to be really hard to get anyone off your wheel, so the best time to do it was after the hairpin because everyone is going to lose speed. We got a good split there and had a perfect group and just punched it.”

After watching the Symmetrics Pro Cycling team dominate BC Superweek by setting Pinfold up for bunch sprints, including criterium wins at the Tour de Gastown Wednesday, the Giro di Burnaby Thursday, and Saturday evening in White Rock, the key for Horner was splitting things up and keeping them apart through the final lap of the tough, hilly, 134-kilometer course.

“It always came down to a field sprint, but Andrew was just so fast,” said Horner of BC Superweek. “I’ve been over in Europe so I’m not familiar with these guys offhand and I was like ‘man, that guy’s fast.’ I thought maybe it was a tactic thing, but they just kept winning and winning. When I looked back I didn’t think it was him , I thought, ‘man he’s coming up the climb with me too, how do I get rid of this guy?’ I was really impressed, he did a fantastic job to do a ride like that for a guy his size.”

Horner also won King of the Mountain, and perhaps just as impressive, the Bend, Oregon, native single-handedly ended Symmetrics’ hopes of a sweep after the locally based team won the first seven races of the $70,000 BC Superweek.

“They have a fantastic team. I hope they find a new sponsor because they have really put together a good team for Canadian cycling. All week they raced really tactically smart. It was a little frustrating for me because of how strong they are, but they come through with the win every time.”

Until Sunday, that is. But Pinfold said there was no shame in losing to Horner, who won three straight USA Cycling NRC Championships from 2002 to 2004 before going overseas.

“I’ve won this road race twice, but I don’t think I’ve ever gone up the hills as fast as I did having to follow those guys around,” said Pinfold, who also won the Tour de Delta Road Race a week earlier in a sprint. “I was starting to cramp a little bit and I’ve had a great week and to be in such great company, I was just happy to be there. These hills are good for me most of the time. There’s a speed above which I cannot go up them, but they’re just short enough that I can grunt myself over them and then I’m fine. The last few times, the hill was just coming too quickly.”

Pinfold finally got dropped on that final lap, finishing third behind Shriver, whose second place finish was also enough to edge Pinfold for the Tour de White Rock Omnium, the second-straight for the Jittery Joe’s rider.

“I was just doing all I could to stay with Horner,” said Shriver, a Pocatello, Idaho, native who also finished second in the Tour de Delta criterium and overall a week earlier. “On the back stretch Chris was hitting it every time and I knew it was going to be down to that last lap and when it went just didn’t have it and came apart. I’m really excited to be up there with him, you try to dig really deep and find that extra gear inside yourself and every time I was hurting really bad — and even on some of the laps before I was really suffering — I just kept telling myself ‘you have to go to a harder gear. I was able to hang until last lap and just couldn’t do it anymore.”

Women’s race

Things were a little easier in the women’s race, as New Zealand’s Lauren Ellis broke away midway through eight laps of the larger, 10-kilometer circuit, and never looked back. The 19-year-old finished in two hours, 44 minutes and 2 seconds — almost a full four minutes ahead of Australian Jazz Apple teammate Ruth Corset, who won a sprint to finish second and claim the Tour de White Rock’s Omnium.

Calgary’s Steph Roorda of Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler barely beat Sarah Bamberger of Cheerwine Pro Cycling for third place, leaving the San Francisco native to settle for the Queen of the Mountain award.

For Ellis, a two-time Junior World Championship individual pursuit medalist in her first year of road racing, the plan was originally to set up Corset for the Omnium. But that changed when she opened up a gap on the field.

“A group of us got a small break after the climb and we were just driving it and I just went to the front and drove it on the downhill and got a call from Susy [Pryde, Jazz Apple’s riding director] saying I’ve got a gap, and just drive it, drive it, drive it. So I went as hard as I could and got the gap. It wasn’t planned, but it’s great when you’ve got a gap and it sticks.”

With radio trouble making it hard to be sure how far out in front she was, Ellis never stopped driving, continuously improving on her big lead.

“[Not knowing] was hard but it just made me determined to drive it harder and harder,” said Ellis, New Zealand’s 2008 Elite Points Race Champion.

Corset’s ability to keep driving it was made all the more impressive by how she finished Friday night’s hillclimb — on her back being treated by medical staff after cramping and collapsing shortly after her second trip up the grueling 700-meter, 16 % grade ascent up from the beach.

“I went too hard the first climb,” said Corset, who was eight seconds faster than anyone else the first time up, then had to go up again, head to head with four other riders. “I went as hard as I could from the bottom and I shouldn’t have done that because my legs just seized up at the top. I couldn’t feel my legs at all, they just collapsed under me and spasmed, and cramped and I was in heaps of pain. My teammates massaged me that night and we did a recovery ride the next morning and I was fine.”

Corset recovered to finish second at the criterium on Saturday, losing a photo-finish sprint to Cheerwine’s Kelly Benjamin, and was right back at it on Sunday morning. The 31-year-old, in just her third year of competitive cycling, finished BC Superweek by adding to a total that already included the Tour de Delta Prologue and overall titles (and second in the road race and criterium there), as well as third place behind Benjamin and Canadian Olympian Gina Grain at the criteriums in both Gastown and Burnaby.

Not bad for a 31-year-old mother of two who is in just her third season of cycling — and on her first international tour with the developmental Jazz Apple Team led by Pryde, a two-time New Zealand Olympian.

“I didn’t expect to do that well, it’s been a really good week,” she said.

Photo Gallery

Results

Men’s road race results:
1. Chris Horner, (Bend OR), Astana Cycling Team
2. Matt Shriver, (Pocatello ID), Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling
3. Andrew Pinfold, (North Vancouver BC), Symmetrics Cycling
4. Francois Parisien, (Repentigny QC), Team Race Pro
5. Will Routley, (Whistler BC), Symmetrics Cycling
6. Christian Meier, (Langley BC), Symmetrics Cycling
7. Scott Zwizanski, (Sausalito CA), Bissell Pro Cycling Team
8. Derrick St John, (Ottawa ON), Jet Fuel Coffee Cycling
9. Kiel Reijnen, (Boulder CO), Team Waste Management
10. Evan Elken, (Portland OR), Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling
11. Rob Britton, (Victoria BC), Trek Red Truck Racing P/b Mosaic
12. Cory Forrest, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
13. Brad Kerr, (Regina SK), Total Restoration Cycling Team
14. Garrett Peltonen, (Boulder CO), Bissell Pro Cycling Team
15. Mathew Bell, (Montreal QC), Calyon Pro Cycling Team
16. Jared Barrilleaux, (Novato CA), Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling
17. Chris Devries, (Kelowna/Calgary), Team H&r Block
18. Ryan Anderson, (unknown), Symmetrics Cycling
19. Cyrus Kangarloo, (Kelowna BC), Team H&r Block
36. Trent Wilson, (Sydney AUS), Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling
37. Tim Henry, (Roswell GA), Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling
38. Chris Mcneil, (Calgary AB), Team H&r Block
39. Trevor Connor, (Victoria BC), Chris Cookies/swan Cycles
40. Dave Vukets, (Waterloo ON), Trek Red Truck Racing P/b Mosaic
41. Alistair Howard, (Victoria BC), Kona-Adobe
42. Curtis Dearden, (Mill Bay BC), Dearden Construction Services
20. Kevin Noiles, (Lr Sackville NS), Trek Red Truck Racing P/b Mosaic
21. Marcel Aarden, (Victoria BC), Kona-Adobe
22. Ryan Taylor, (Charlottetown PEI), Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team
23. Nic Hamilton, (Calgary AB), Team Aviawest
24. Hugh Trenchard, (Victoria BC), Shwalbe Cc
25. Dan Macdonald, (Penticton BC), Kona-Adobe
26. Nathan Macdonald, (Coquitlam BC), Trek Red Truck Racing P/b Mosaic
27. Sean Mazich, (Yuma AZ), Team Waste Management
28. Roman Kilun, (Oakland CA), Health Net Pro Cycling Team
29. Carson Miller, (Bend OR), Rubicon-Orbea
30. Jonathan Gormick, (Vancouver BC), Kona-Adobe
31. Stevie Cullinan, (Paradise Valley AZ), Team Waste Management
32. Ron Jensen, (Buckeye AZ), Team Waste Management
33. Jonathan Page, (Vancouver BC), Escape Velocity
34. Eric Wohlberg, (Sunnyvale CA), Symmetrics Cycling
35. Jeff Sherstobitoff, (Whistler BC), Symmetrics Cycling
DNF. Cody Stevenson, (Wentworth Falls AUS), Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling
DNF. Kirk O’bee, (North Vancouver BC), Health Net Pro Cycling Team
DNF. Kyle Gritters, (Mission Viejo CA), Health Net Pro Cycling Team
DNF. Morgan Schmitt, (Seattle WA), Bissell Pro Cycling Team
DNF. Mike Sayers, (Sacramento CA), Bmc Pro Cycling Team
DNF. Matt Potma, (Coquitlam BC), Kona-Adobe
DNF. Jon Parrish, (Chandler AZ), Team Waste Management
DNF. Grant Van Horn, (Bakersfield CA), Team Waste Management
DNF. Kyle Ward, (Tucson AZ), Team Waste Management
DNF. Trevor Haaheim, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
DNF. Tim Sherstobitoff, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
DNF. Owen Harrison, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
DNF. Dan Skinner, (Salmon Arm BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
DNF. Sean Williams, (Vernon BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
DNF. Matthew Guse, (Montreal QC), Calyon Pro Cycling Team
DNF. Mathieu Roy, (St Cuthbert QC), Calyon Pro Cycling Team
DNF. Dave Brooks, (Regina SK), Trek Red Truck Racing P/b Mosaic
DNF. Logan Hunn, (Auckland NZ), Rubicon-Orbea
DNF. Shaun Morris, (Gold Coast AUS), Rubicon-Orbea
DNF. Roman Van Uden, (Auckland NZ), Rubicon-Orbea
DNF. Allen Krughoff, (Boulder CO), Team Rio Grande Cycling
DNF. Ryan Hamity, (Boulder CO), Team Rio Grande Cycling
DNF. Taylor Shelden, (Breckenridge CO), Team Rio Grande Cycling
DNF. Brad Bingham, (Boulder CO), Team Rio Grande Cycling
DNF. John Perkins, (Vancouver BC), Glotman Simpson Racing
DNF. Chris Worsfold, (White Rock BC), Glotman Simpson Racing
DNF. Maurice Worsfold, (White Rock BC), Glotman Simpson Racing
DNF. Tom Last, (Bakewell UK), Kinesis Uk
DNF. Josh James, (Vancouver BC), Kinesis Uk
DNF. Shane Savage, (Vancouver BC), Mighty Cycling
DNF. Michael Rothengatter, (Coquitlam BC), Escape Velocity
DNF. Aaron Schooler, (Edmonton AB), Team H&r Block
DNF. Anthony Steenbergen, (Calgary AB), Team H&r Block
DNF. Michael Sencenbaugh, (Aberdeen WA), Fanatik Bike Co
DNF. Bryce Fegley, (Bellingham WA), Fanatik Bike Co.
DNF. Russell Stead, (Burnaby BC), La Bicicletta
DNF. David Gillam, (Mt. Moriah NFLD), Cycle Solutions
DNF. Kyle Fry, (Pass Lake ON), Cycle Solutions/angry Johnny’s Racing
DNF. Jesse James Collins, (Calgary AB), Bicisport Gruppo Sportivo Campione
DNF. Aaron Chappell, (Sherwood Park AB), Ertc
DNF. Shaun Adamson, (Edmonton AB), Juventus
DNF. Joe Wessel, (Kelowna BC), Kelowna Cycle Opus Sd23
DNF. Geoff Macdonald, (Grande Prairie AB), Ertc/revolution Cycle
DNF. Andrew Roche, (Ramsey BC), Pinarello
DNF. Matthew O’hagan, (Revelstoke BC), Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team
DNF. Sebastian Salas, (Colombia), Campione-Ratcliff Racing Team
DNF. Stephen Ferris, (Fort St. John BC), Ertc/revolution Cycle
DNF. Stewart Bowmer, (Bellingham WA), Fanatik Bike Co.
DNF. Jamie Sparling, (Calgary AB), Trek Red Truck Racing P/b Mosaic
DNF. Phil Elsasser, (Bellingham WA), First Rate Mortgage Cycling Team
DNF. Quinn Keogh, (Eugene OR), Independent
DNF. Cam Evans, (Vancouver BC), Symmetrics Cycling
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Women’s road race results:
TITLE
1. Lauren Ellis, (Heinz NZ), Jazz Apple Cycling Team
2. Ruth Corset, (Condon NZ), Jazz Apple Cycling Team
3. Steph Roorda, (Calgary AB), Giant Bicycles/team Whistler Canada
4. Sarah Bamberger, (San Francisco CA), Cheerwine Pro Cycling
5. Marie-Claude Gagnon, (Vancouver BC), Glotman Simpson
6. Sarah Stewart, (Richmond BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
7. Natasha Elliott., (Belleville ON), Emd Serono/stevens
8. Heather Kay, (Sherwood Park AB), Ertc/revolution Cycle
9. Yukie Nakamura, (Japan), Team Kenda Tire
10. Megan Rathwell, (Victoria BC), Team H&r Block
11. Kristine Brynjolfson, (Delta BC), Team Coastal
12. Gillian Moody, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
13. Susannah Pryde, (Auckland NZ), Jazz Apple Cycling Team
14. Jessica Hannah, (Lake Country BC), Giant Bicycles/team Whistler Canada
15. Marisa Russell, (Chandler AZ), Procon/fnba
16. Moriah Macgregor, (Vancouver BC), Giant Bicycles/team Whistler Canada
17. Stacey Spencer, (Garibaldi Highlands BC), Different Bikes
18. Karen Watson, (Oshawa ON), Glotman Simpson
19. Jennifer Schulz, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
20. Leslie Vice, (North Vancouver BC), Glotman Simpson
21. Margaret Pugh, (Vancouver BC), Chicks Cycling Club
22. Kelsey Miller, (North Vancouver BC), Wedgewood Cycling Team
23. Jaymie Mcgowan, (Victoria BC), Oak Bay Bikes
24. Shoshauna Laxson, (Langley BC), Team Whistler
25. Amy Herlinveaux, (Sidney BC), Dearden Construction
26. Dana Lis, (Vancouver BC), Chicks Cycling Club
DNF. Kelly Benjamin, (Kansas City MI), Cheerwine Pro Cycling
DNF. Hannah Banks, (Brisbane AUS), Valueact Capital
DNF. Laura Brown, (Calgary AB), Giant Bicycles/team Whistler Canada
DNF. Monica Nelson, (Kelowna BC), Total Restoration Cycling Team
DNF. Jennifer Tabbernor, (Whistler BC), Team Whistler
DNF. Alyssa Weninger, (Unity SK), Sask/bcw
DNF. Rachel Mcbride, (Vancouver BC), West Point Cycles
DNF. Gillian Carleton, (Victoria BC), Organic Athlete
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