Bianca's Canada Cup #2 Report

Bianca raced her first pro/elite Canada Cup in Mont Tremblant last weekend, where she finished 11th overall, and was the third U23 woman. Here is her race report.

Arriving in Quebec on Thursday, I was pretty excited to get on the Mont Trembant course the following day. It would not be my first time riding the course, but I remember loving it! I had raced the exact same course last year only I was a junior. This year would be different, much different. Their were many more women in my category this year, most of them being older, more experienced riders. This made me extremely nervous, it was to be my first elite race at the Canada Cup level. After the pre ride I was relieved to find out the course hadn't changed a bit, other than it being in much better condition than last year due to much less rain in the previous days.

Before I knew it, it was race day. As soon as I arrived at the race I recognized lots of girls from last year, they were also juniors and had made the jump with me to elite.Most of the girls though were definitely not new to the elite category and this was a bit intimidating! Looking around on the start line I had no idea of where in the pack I was going to fit into at the end. This race was going to be longer and more intense than I was used to. Right off the start the women were aggressive and pushed hard. Starting is not a strength of mine so I found the pace tough.

Eventually everyone sorted themselves out and we headed into the single track. Not sure what position I was holding I settled in. Right from the start I could tell I was having an off day. I struggled to keep my balance and my legs just didn't want to go. Somewhat discouraged by what I was feeling in addition to a whole new pack of girls I cant say I was having a ton of fun. Even though I had a tough time keeping my head in the race I managed to keep riding.

Not even half way into the race I was thrown another curve ball, I went down on a bridge which caused the cable in my rear derailleur to slip out. Now I had no gears in the back except for the hardest one. I wasn't sure what to do. I could just suck it up and push through it till the end of the race or visit the tech zone. After realizing how much pushing such a hard gear was sapping my already tired legs I chose to stop in the tech zone. For the first time ever I found myself standing in the tech zone watching all the women I worked hard to pass during the race ride right past me as I was standing still (literally!). After what seemed like an eternity my bike was ready to go. Still not able to shift properly, it would be good enough to at least finish the race.

After three more laps I crossed the finish line, exhausted and pretty happy to be done the race. Personally, I was not happy with my performance. There were many things that I feel I could have done differently. For one, I could have done a much better job of hydrating! I came across the line only to find I had a pounding headache due to the long race in the heat and a lack of water. This was definitely not the best race of my life, but hey, everyone has a bad race once in a while all you can do it learn from them and move on.

Bianca

Canada Cup #2 - Mont Tremblant QC

Photo by www.cyclingdirt.org Catherine Vipond (4th), Caroline Villeneuve (3rd), Emily Batty (1st), Karine Travaillaud (2nd), Jean Ann McKirdy (5th)

Last Saturday all three members of Local Ride Women's MTB Team were ripping it up in Mont Tremblant. It was the driest and fastest course in memorable Mont Tremblant history, with only the long descent at the end of the lap having significant mud on it. The race was riddled with mechanical issues for many riders, as the rooty, rocky descending at the end of the lap caused many riders to pit. The elite women raced five laps.

After an intense start and an aggressive first three laps of riding in second place, Jean Ann had to settle for fifth after dealing with an untimely flat. Sandra rode in in a solid 9th. Bianca finished 11th in her first Canada Cup in the pro/elite category.

Next Sunday the team will be competing in round three of the Canada Cup, as it moves to Hardwood Hills Ontario.

Sandra making her way up the long gravel climb. Photo by Marek Lazarski.

LOCAL RIDE RACING Update

Local Ride at the Races

Jean Ann and Sandra 4th and 5th in Canada Cup #1

Canada Cup #1 kicked off in Baie Saint Paul QC this Sunday, and both members of Local Ride Racing's Women's MTB Team in attendance were on the podium. Jean Ann finished 4th, with Sandra close behind in 5th.

After what appeared to be heavy rain the night before, the course was actually relatively dry and in good condition. Sunshine, wind and the morning races dried the track out for our 12pm start.

The race start seemed reasonable, after the intense World Cup starts a couple of weeks ago. Emily, Catherine, Amanda, Sandra and Jean Ann all hit the singletrack together, but after about half a lap the order of the top four was established. Sandra picked off a couple of riders in the first half of the race to reach her 5th position, after a mechanical issue in the first lap.

Next Saturday all three members of the team will be racing Canada Cup #2 in Mont Tremblant QC.

Double Good News

1. It is raining in Baie Saint Paul QC...which means that the Canada Cup #1 tomorrow will be a muddy one. Lots of slick roots and rocks should make the race an interesting one. Elite women are doing 4 laps, men 5 laps.

Previews:
Pedalmag.com
Cyclingdirt.org

2. New kits are in!!! They just arrived at the shop on Wednesday from Sugoi, and are beautiful. We can't wait to race in them. Unfortunately they did not make it all the way to Quebec for Sandra and Jean Ann in Canada Cup #1, but we should be sporting them next weekend. One more race in the retro kit, then bye bye brick...Check them out.

Bianca Wins the Rat Race, Jean Ann 2nd in O-Cup #2

Last weekend Local Ride Elite Women's MTB Team was ripping it up back in Canada. Bianca won the Rat Race BC Cup in Gibson BC, while Jean Ann mixed it up by racing the O-Cup, put on by Chiko Racing in Albion Hills ON.

Jean Ann placed 2nd in a competitive field of riders, behind Emily Batty and just ahead of Catherine Vipond. Meanwhile Bianca wowed herself and the team, with her first pro race win, in her first pro race ever. Check out Bianca's race report below, as well as some photos from the Ontario Cup.

BIANCA'S RACE REPORT

This year I decided to do the Rat Race on the Sunshine Coast, this would be my first race in the pro/elite category. On top of being in a new category, I hadn't pre-ridden the course, this made me nervous! The whole day started off a little bit rough. Arriving at the race site with not to much time to spare I went to sign up (I missed the cut off by half an hour the night before!) only to find out that my license would not allow me to race pro. About to race in the open citizen category, Steve Lund came to the rescue and upgraded my license. So all was good again! With no time to spare, I hopped on the trainer to do my usual pre race warm up. Not even having the time to finish my warm up it was time to head to the start line. Even though there were only about five other women, they were pretty intimidating... they were older, all in full team kits and no doubt more experienced racers! But to my surprise (and relief!) it wasnt long till I was in the lead. I was so excited to be leading my first pro race! My legs were feeling great and I was confident that I could maintain my position till the end. Not far into the last lap, my chain broke! I didn't really know what to do, I'd never had a mechanical during a race before and I had no idea how far back the other racers were! I knew how to fix a chain, but I want sure if I had the time. I decided to just continue thinking the rest of the lap was mostly downhill. I was kind of right... there was quite a bit of descending, but way more to run than I would have liked! :p

Eventually I crossed the finish line, surprisingly still in the lead! I thought for sure I would drop back at least a couple positions. The best part of the whole experience had to have been the podium, pros get to win money!!! After an exhausting, but great day it was time to catch the ferry back home. I couldn't wait to tell my parents about everything that happened that day, their were some rough patches, but I loved every minute of it!

Bianca

ONTARIO CUP PHOTOS - by Marek Lazarski

Racing on the Other Side of the Pond - Jean Ann's Report

My first time racing the World Cups in Europe has been a positive and fun experience. Mountain bike racing is a bit of a different thing here. Races take place in town centers. People bus in from all over to watch the races, and cheer on their favorite pros. It is a spectacle, festival, and a lot of fun. The fields are deep, and racers are challenged to race hard for every single position, from start to finish.

Not only was the racing amazing, but being a part of Team Canada was also a special opportunity. The teammates, coach and mechanic were all super positive. We had a fun time with the adventure, beyond just the racing.

World Cup #2: Offenburg Germany
Jean Ann McKirdy 54
Sandra Walter 75

Word Cup #3: Houffalize Belgium
Jean Ann McKirdy 52
Sandra Walter 70

Full results here

Canadian World Cup Team in Offenburg Germany, for World Cup #2.
From left to right: Dan Proux (Coach), Marie Claude Suprenant, Jean Ann McKirdy, Sandra Walter, Mical Dyck, Adam Morka.

The race starts were one of the biggest challenges. The women's field had around 100 starters and the men's over 200! We were both starting mid pack, and the challenge was to make up some places before being funneled into a narrow piece of singletrack where a traffic jam inevitably occurs.

The race courses were rooty, spectator friendly, and always had at least a few very steep chutes. Racing was particularly exciting, as there was always a group of competitors nearby, ready to challenge or be challenged. Here Sandra pedals her way up one of the rooty climbs in Offenburg Germany.

The fans were great. The venues were packed with spectators, beer and waffle stands abounded, and people would line the dirt track encouraging all competitors along the way with horns and bells. Some even wore costumes. Sandra poses between two of the pinkest fans.

The "A" Team
Left is Dan Proux: coach and chauffeur, feeder, manager, all round good guy.
Right is Scott Kelly: mechanic and of course also chauffeur and everything between.
Both quick with a good joke.

Our bikes, lined up, tuned up, and ready to go, Houffalize Belgium.

Besides getting to race some world class events, we also had the chance to see some beautiful places. This is the farm country we were staying in just outside of Houffalize. I loved the quiet roads, hilly farmland and beautiful forest scenery of Belgium.

Local Ride water bottle on the go.

Sandra and I enjoying a good recovery ride in the Belgian countryside. I hope to be back next year!

Bianca's Sea Otter Report

This year my family decided to drive down to California for the Sea Otter. Last year we flew down, so I wasn't sure what I thought about the whole idea. Driving meant sitting in the motor home for about seventeen hours with my family...yikes. It wasnt so bad though, the whole drive turned out to be a lot of fun! It was also a great opportunity to catch up on any sleep I may have been lacking!

After about a day and a half of driving we finally arrived in Monterey, California and I couldnt wait to get on the course! Within hours of registration being open I signed in, got my plate and off to pre ride the course I went. The course was exactly the same as last year, an amazing 19 mile loop full of amazing scenery, sandy descents and some great climbs! Even though the terrain is way different from what Im used to riding here in BC, I loved every bit of it. After riding the course a few times in the days leading up to the race, I was ready to race it.

Soon it was race day, and it started early! I was one of the lucky ones who got a 9am start time. While sitting on the trainer doing my pre race warm up I looked around at all the other racers trying to figure out who I'd be racing. Being my first year in the u23 category I had no idea what I was in for, I was nervous! But soon after the start those butterflies went away and were replaced with adrenaline, I was in the lead! I wasn't really sure if Id be able to stay in front, but that's exactly what I did. Coming down the tarmac of the Laguna Seca track in the lead was an amazing feeling, what a great race! Comparing my times with the elite womens who raced later that day I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I could have walked away with a top ten finish had I raced in that category, what a huge confidence booster! This race could not have gone better for me, what a great way to kick off the race season!

Bianca