Local Ride Racing – Spring Update

The sun is out, the flowers are blooming and spring racing is well underway with Local Ride leading the charge. Early on, Rich Macchein was LR’s go to guy. He had strong performances with a couple of wins in the Spring Series and a 4th place in the challenging Walla Walla road race. Not to be shown up by Local Ride’s newest rider, Zach Young and Jean Ann McKirdy put on their racing shoes for the Team’s first 2 big events of the year; Barry’s Roubaix, and Race the Ridge.

This may be old news now, but the team can’t stop smiling about Jean Ann’s solo victory at Barry’s Roubaix. With the pack weakened by the insistent pace making of Sandra Walter, the competition had no response when Jean Ann attacked half way through the last lap and powered herself to the top step of the podium. She’d later prove that it was no fluke at the 8th edition of Race the Ridge.

Race the Ridge presented by Local Ride Bike Shop, is proud to be considered one of the toughest stage races in BC, and this year was no different with the Thornhill Road Race and the Golden Ears Time Trial on Day 1. These 2 challenging events paved the way for day 2 and the race’s premier event, the Downtown Core Criterium. In the heart of Maple Ridge the “crit” provides an exciting finale for the weekend that is great for spectators and fun for racers alike. Race the Ridge was a great success and the Team would like to thank the volunteers, racers, sponsors, spectators, and finally Barry Lyster for all his time and effort organizing the race.

JAM in Crit

Race the Ridge and the Cat ½ women – Jean Ann and Rachel Canning toed the line for the brick and blue. The road race saw all attempted breakaways covered and brought back by the strength of Total Restoration and Westwood Cannondale, setting up a sprint for the line. Jean Ann showed her improving ability to finish by snagging second place behind Might Rider Jenny Lehman. In the TT, former Local Rider and World Cup gold medalist Laura Brown powered to the victory, crushing the competition by over a minute. This meant the only chance for Jean Ann to win the overall was to lap the field in the crit, and she tried. With Rachel covering the early moves, Jean Ann rested until the perfect time to strike, attacking just after the first prime lap. She never looked back. By the end 3 riders had bridge. Jean Ann “the Animal” McKirdy proved to be smartest and strongest of the bunch by pouncing when the group hesitated on the back side of the course. She held on for the next 500 meters winning the crit in convincing fashion. Unfortunately the 20 bonus seconds were not enough as she finished 4 seconds off the podium in 6th position.

Race the Ridge and the Cat ¾ men – Local Ride had a strong 5 rider team including Rich, Zach, Ryan Newsome, Ryan Jeans and Brett Wakefield. Zach was a lucky rider in that he was a relative unknown in the field. Some untimely crashes and flat tires had prevented him from doing well in the early season, so with the pack concerned with other riders like Rich, Zach was able to sneak away with 3 person move on lap 1. That move quickly dwindle to 2 and the chasing pack never brought them back. Zach won the sprint against his breakaway companion Dave Stephens for his first ever road race win. A solid 6th place TT effort had Zach sitting second overall with a 2 minute cushion on 3rd. The Crit went smoothly, as Rich rode aggressively, and Ryan played the role of protector in the pack. Unfortunately Zach was unable to contest the sprint because of a flat in the last 5 laps. Thankfully stage race rules allowed him to finish with the same time as the pack, maintaining his 2nd overall.

Other Race the Ridge notables – Maggie Coles-Lyster dominated the U17 girls, winning all three stages and the overall. Pete Whalen enjoyed some real racing in the U17 boys category and finish 7th. Jeanine Ball rode to 5th place in the ¾ women while Mike Berkenpas finished 28th in the ½ men’s pack.

This past weekend Local Ride Racing was at it again at 2 different venues. Saturday was the first BC Cup mountain bike race of the season on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. The ferry trip was well worth it with for Local Ride as 4 riders grabbed 3 wins and a top ten. Jean Ann won the Elite women, Jeanine hit the top step in Master Women, Steve Devantier won the senior men and Ryan Newsome placed 7th in the ultra competitive master men category. All in all a fun and successful race. Sunday saw toe spiked mountain bike shoes switched to aero helmets and skinsuits for Escape Velocity’s Warp Speed Time Trial. The highlight of the race? That’s a tough one, Paul Craig pinning on a number is up there, but the tandem team of Mike and Rich takes the cake. Congrats to all the riders- Pete, Maggie, Rich, Mike, Rachel, Zach and Paul.