When the B.C. Cyclocross Championships first came to Squamish last fall, the weather was cold, clear and crisp.
That wasn’t the case this time around, as riders pedalled their way through a course at Squamish Days Loggers Sports Ground full of puddles, some of which seemed more like small ponds, during Saturday’s races.
The sport is a hybrid race that offers more challenging surfaces than road races that are far flatter than mountain bike racing. Cyclocross includes obstacles on the terrain that force riders to dismount from their bikes momentarily. The Squamish track included steps to climb, but the water was deep enough to force some riders to dismount and carry their bike for short stretches.
As far as conditions go, the heavy rain probably was more suitable for the mountain bikers, including locals from Team Squamish, as road racers might be less familiar with the muck.
“We like to think that it’s more of a mountain bike course, whereas the roadies aren’t used to the slop,” Team Squamish coach Mike Charuk said.
On Saturday, regular Team Squamish members Hunter Verner and Nick Kleban competed in the junior men’s category in the fourth and final race.
The cyclocross event marked a return to racing for the riders whose last event in Verner’s case would have been the local Just Another Bike Race in September, though they continue to train through the year in the gym and on the bike.
“You’re still in race mode, but you haven’t been training as much,” Verner said.
The cyclocross races are a bit of an adjustment for riders used to tackling the trails around Squamish.
“They’re a lot shorter and quicker than mountain bike races,” Verner said.
He did compete in a couple of other cyclocross events this season but typically focusses on mountain biking. For Verner, a highlight this year was winning the U19 category for the final Test of Metal race in June, while teammate Kleban took top junior sport and third overall in September’s Just Another Bike Race, the event that closed out the Test of Metal series.
On Saturday, Verner finished in fourth while Kleban had to leave the race following difficulties with his bike.
As for what is coming up for Team Squamish, Charuk will be getting the team ready for an indoor event in Abbotsford this weekend as well as outdoor racing at Sumas Mountain. In Abbotsford, the group is also working with Olympic BMX coach Adam Muys.
For Team Squamish, the cyclocross is just part of the year’s training.
“It gets you up early in the morning and on the weekend,” Charuk said.
For other results among local riders, Rachel Mirvish was sixth among women’s master 40-49.
Andrew Gunn finished 11th and Nathanael Fournier 24th in the men’s master 30-39 class, and Mike Murphy finished 25th in the master 40-49 class, while Brad Collins did not finish. Evan Power was 12th in the single-speed category and Rod Jenkins was fourth in the masters 60-plus. Cameron Fielding was 12th among boys U17. Remi Gauvin rode in the elite men’s race but did not finish.
The winners of the elite races were Victoria’s Mical Dyck for the women and North Vancouver’s Craig Richey for the men.
