Race organizers made the decision to push back the race this year by a few weeks for the hopes of better weather, and it paid off! Riders toed the line in bright sunshine with a cool breeze, but no rain or snow in the forecast!
There was quite the elite presence at the race this year with top riders such as US National Cyclo-cross Champion Jeremy Powers and Luna Pro Chix Maghalie Rochette, but our Pedal Power Racers made their presence known:)
Results Paris to Ancaster:
Tim Gale - 56th Overall
Phil Kaikkonen - 121st Overall
Kate Kaikkonen - 8th Women 30-39 Age Category and 19th woman overall
Here is a race report from our top overall rider Tim Gale for the P2A Distance:
"At P2A it's so important to get a good start and this year I was finally able to get somewhere in the first 10 rows. In typical P2A fashion it was a mad sprint to the rail trail where everything then calmed down. There was still a bit of jockeying but I had managed to get into about the front 40 or 50 riders so I wasn't too worried, I was right where I wanted to be. The usual frantic scramble ensued up the gravel climb after a hard right hander off the rail trail. I went wide on the left and ran past more than a few riders, hopped back on and found myself right behind Jeremy Power, US National Cyclocross Champion. I thought that was a little strange as I figured he would be right at the front and I wasn't there yet... Looked like he was just out for a Sunday ride. I kept working my way up the field, working with a few guys along the way until I found myself with the front group which was larger than I'd seen before, had to be 30-40 guys. All was going well until just before we turned onto the first muddy section of trail. Two riders had apparently collided into each other and in an attempt to get around them I went off course and found myself in a huge hole and over the bars. No big deal right, but when I hopped back on I found the chain had come off and it wouldn't go back on with the usual up-shifting. I stopped at the side of the trail and finally after a 40ish rider (passing me) struggle I was back in business. But I had some work to do. I worked hard to pass people, working with a few others and after a couple farmer's fields, dirt roads and rail trail I found myself back in a group with J-Pow again, and couldn't see any other groups up the road. It was more than just a little surreal to be riding in a group with such a huge cycling star (in my books) check out behindthebarriers.tv and you'll see what I mean. But at the same time I was annoyed with where my mistake had landed me... not in the front group where I wanted to be. My legs were feeling really good, in this group I wasn't working all that hard, but all my attempt to get a rotation going were foiled by one Belgian dude who seemed to be working for the two pro women in the group, Maghalie Rochette and Ellen Van Loy. He would just sit on the front and pull, but not very fast. I tried to make a break from the group on a few occasions but no one would come with me, and there was simply no point in riding on my own. Our group slowly grew as we picked up the odd rider that got dropped from the front group. Eventually we made it to power line mudslide where I followed Powers in but that was the last I saw of him. Somewhere I am hoping there is a photo of him flying down mudslide with me in the background halfway over my bars yelling "No!!" right before hitting the slop. I got up, hands covered in mud and ran the rest of the mudslide. I've never liked riding in mud, and probably never will... After the mudslide I managed to get by a couple people before the finish. Up the final climb I managed to get past my friend John Cauchi (we had both been in the group with Powers) only to have both legs cramp as I was cresting the hill he was able to get back by me and I finished just behind him in 56th place. Despite 2 mistakes that cost me dearly, my legs felt good and that was re-assuring after a long and uncertain off season. And it was great getting to jam with J-Pow!!"
~Tim Gale
Results St. George to Ancaster:
Andrea Bacik - First Women OVERALL!! First in Age Category 50-59!
Here is a quick race report from our SG2A winner, Andrea:
"The whole day was a blast... the weather cooperated and the conditions were better than I expected. It has been 3-4 years since I last did this race so I was quite anxious about it.
I rode with Maureen O'Hare and she helped to clam my nerves by warning me about the potential crashes at the start and telling me it was best to stay on the left side of the road. Fortunately, there were no crashes and for the most part the rest of the race was uneventful that way. Moe and I rode the race together, she encouraged me on the climbs and I encouraged her on the single track and the mud pits. It was in the last mud pit that I picked up my bike in cyclocross style and took off. I managed to breeze through the pit well, but when I got to the last hill just before the finish my legs cramped up and it was all I had to get to the finish.All in all it was a super time and a great day."
~Andrea