TransRockies VII
Trail Sprint Proves Popular
News Release. Photos by By Dan Hudson courtesy TransRockies. / 14.08.2008
Designed by landowner Lyle Wilson, today's trail was a big hit with weary riders and the spectacular singletrack was a much-needed reward after two grueling days coming down from the Purcell mountain range and up and over the formidable western slopes of the Rocky Mountain range. Much of today's trail was cut especially for TransRockies by Wilson, and the pride of workmanship and desire to create something both scenic and challenging paid off, as many riders were overheard expressing a desire to return in the future with friends and family.
Highlights of today's stage included incredible remote Rocky Mountain singletrack and the return of summer temperatures after two wet days and an equal number of cold nights. The stage was also lauded for the best scenery of the past three days, as the trail had riders cruising singletrack high on the sandy ridge above the aquamarine Kootenay River.
After a stage which was neutralized due to a huge off-course excursion by many of the leading teams, Stage 3’s time trial was a chance to start moving around the standing again. Despite a strong challenge from second-placed riders Kris Sneddon and Max Plaxton, the Italian duo of Johnny Cattaneo and Marzio Deho won their second stage with a slim 36-second margin over the local challengers, finishing with the fastest time on the day of 2:20:40. Stefan Widmer and Marty Lazarski rounded out the top 3 on the day and held onto the last podium spot in the overall with a very strong 2:24:03 time.
In the Open Mixed division, last year’s champs Wendy Simms and Normom Thibeault of Frontrunners/Kona crushed all comers again with a 15-minute win over Team Clif Bar Pro Katerina Nash and her partner Steve Wallace. After only two stages, the Kona duo already has a nearly half-hour lead in the overall.
SleepMonsters
