One of the MIVA members, John Hannon, has a GPS on his bike and measured the altitude change between start and 15km turn for the Nanaimo River Road time trial course. The elevation change is 105 metres or 346.5 feet. This makes Don Gilmore's sub-20 minute record all the more remarkable!
I was up on the course this afternoon renewing the markings. It's really cold up there (4deg. C.() and very windy with rain squalls. In view of this I am cancelling tonight's race. I will go out there around 6pm to check on anyone who did not get the news off the web site or by email. Our next event is the Boxwood Criterium on Sunday which will go, rain or shine. Peter McCaffery,
President Mid Island Velo Association
Thursday's initial 15km time trial on Nanaimo River Road is 6.30pm. Any volunteers (we need a couple more) will get 5 points towards their series total. This is the same as if you came 7th.
Anyone wanting photos from Sunday's criterium can obtain high resolution ones from the club for a small fee. email pakamac@gmail.com.
The awful weather (driving rain and a strong NW wind) kept most away today, but those who did come to ride were from as far away as Victoria and Comox.
In the kid's event, James Rodney, seven years old, was the only entrant, so he and dad Tony rode the two laps just for experience. He completed the double circuit of Boxwood in a very creditable 8' 26”.
As the numbers were small, the two novice riders combined with the “big guys” and completed 15minutes in the afternoon downpour. Charlene Hay, was just edged by son, Brodie, in 20' 47”
In the main event, of 40 minutes plus five laps, the intermediate duo of Ray Wagner riding for Comox CC. And Phil Birrer, MIVA's treasurer, riding in his first ever road race, combined with the expert quintette of Tom Malocznski and Alex Hui of Pro City Racing, Doug Merrick of Comox CC. Russ Hays' Aaron Dusseault and Independent Patrick Paquette.
Triathlete Birrer was strong but lost several lengths each time the bunch sprinted out of the sharp top corner of the circuit and rode most of the race as a time tria, finishing well over a lap down.
The rest of the starters stayed pretty much together and, although Wagner and each of the expert riders attempted lone breakaways during the race, with a lap to go, they were all together.
The expected sprint from Alex Hui did not materialise and, at the line, it was strong man Malocznski just edging out surprise second Paquette, with Dusseault finishing a close third.
Winning the intermediate event was Comox' Wagner who finished fourth overall. Kyle's photos here.
A big thank you to volunteers Dave Kenny, John Hannon, Kyle Waring, Iain Hay and Gary Vermette who braved the awful conditions to set up and take down the course and marshal.
The final event in MIVA's weekend criterium series will be on Sunday 17th. Of April when Environment Canada assures us we will be blessed with blue skies and mild temperatures.