BC Bike Race
Riders Treated to Sunshine Coast Gold: Half-way Mark is Behind the Riders
News Release/Harlan Price / 05.07.2012
Stage four of the BC Bike Race began by boat or floatplane over the spectacular Jervis Inlet and finished with grass under the riders' feet in a field only blocks from the ocean. It was a refreshing finish after completing the days longest stage. Riders were able to grab a meal at the catered food truck and flop onto the green carpet exchanging stories of the day. Crossing the threshold of the halfway point in a seven-day stage race changes the atmosphere and a mixture of joy and calm is washing over the riders.
Variety and climbing distinguished the course as riders left from the BC Ferries Earl's Cove terminal and immediately climbed towards the Sunshine Coast Trail. It was a great day of ducking in and out of trail that varied from roller coaster dual-track, to ripping high-speed berms in forest-cuts, to singletrack lined with ancient old growth forests. The previous days of rain made perfect corners where it was usually dry and loose. Ribbons of dirt pierced that special green canopy that riders have become intimate with, in the BC rain forests.
The Racing
By day four, riders from 1st to 500th are settling into their own grooves and discovering themselves riding with similar people every day. The media is talking about who's leading the pack but the riders are finding themselves engaging with the riders closest to them. New friendships and fun rivalries have begun to develop as hours are spent sharing hand built trails deep in the BC forests. Those are the other races within the race and one of the unheralded parts of stage racing.
Men's Solo Epic
As predicted, day four was a game changer. After three stages the top three men were separated by only 2 seconds, so it was inevitable that on the queen stage someone would be looking to send a message COD. Team Kona rider Barry Wicks wasted no time at the post office and sent it in the first kilometer.
Soon after the start, Rocky Mountain Factory Team rider, Chris Sheppard was caught off-guard. "I looked down at my wheel and when I looked up they (Wicks and teammate Cory Wallace) were 10 seconds up the road."
After pulling for his teammate, yesterday's stage winner Wallace flatted early and Wicks continued on with a blistering pace. By the time Sheppard and Specialized rider Neil Kindree caught Wicks, both had burned any reserves they might have had to counter later attacks. Wicks and Kindree dropped Sheppard on the final climb. Kindree was next to lose contact; this time on the descent to home base when he bobbled once then blew a turn. Wicks took the opportunity to slice through the ribbons of brown all the way home. Kindree finished a minute and a half back while Sheppard took a four-minute stake to the heart.
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