Local riders managed to crack the Top 3 in at least some of the events during the Squamish Cyclocross race on Sunday.
The event was a way to bring the sport to Squamish, said Jeremy Seamans of the Vancouver Cyclocross Coalition, which organized the race.
“Cyclocross started as a way for European road professionals in the early 1900s to stay fit in the offseason. It has since grown to become the most popular fall sport in a number of European countries, but has only just began to take hold in North America,” wrote Seamans in an email to The Chief.
“Cyclocross involves racing on what amounts to a modified road bike with knobby tires on courses containing grass, mud, sand and a variety of obstacles. Typically the races loop around a three-kilometre course and last for 30 minutes to an hour. Because the races are so short, it makes it possible to have a number of different categories with different start times for novice through expert, for men and women and those under 10 to over 60 years old. All the different categories make it much less intimidating for people to get into the sport.”
The former golf course on the Polygon lands made for a perfect site, he said, as previously there hadn’t been an appropriate venue for the sport in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
“The rain made for muddy conditions, making things that much more slippery and challenging,” wrote Seamans.
“The [Vancouver Cyclocross Coalition] has had incredibly positive feedback about this year’s event and hopes to return to the venue again next year.”
He added that the organization would like to thank its sponsors.
Intermediate Women
Marin Lowe — Team Squamish
Erin Copeland — Independent — Squamish
Madeleine Pollock — Devo
Novice Women:
Sidney Swierenga - U13
Christy Drever - Physiofocus - Squamish!
Lavinia Macociciuc - Icebreaker
Masters Women:
Anne-Marie Gagon - LIV Cycling
Jenniffer Sheel - Lotus Cycling Club
Jennifer Finkenbine - Steed Cycles
Elite Women:
Elle Bush - TaG Cycling - U19
Anne Ouellet - Fluvog's Crit Nasty
Elizabeth Gin - DEVO Cannondale Fortius - U19
Novice Men
Emile Vogel-Nakamura — TaG Cycling Race Team — Vancouver
Ryan Tasker — Independent
James Rankin — Independent
Master B Men
Chris Bishop — Steed Cycles — North Vancouver
Shawn Pettersen — Steed Cycles — Vancouver
Michael Dew — Independent
Intermediate Open
Christopher Bradbury — Musette/Enroute — Vancouver
Eric Goodwin — Independent — Squamish
Matthew Hendriks — Todd’s Cycling Club — Vancouver
Elite Men
Craig Richey — Garneau Easton p/b Transitions Life Care — North Vancouver
Cody Scott — Giant Canada — North Vancouver
Garrett Kryt — Mighty Cycling — Vancouver
***Please note this story has been updated to include more detailed women's results as they've become available.
