Trail Bikes junior cyclists from the Comox Valley Cycling Club competed in the Race The Ridge Stage Race in Maple Ridge on April 27-28. The event is one of the few that caters to junior cyclist of all levels.
All racers competed in a road race and time trial on the Saturday and a criterium in downtown Maple Ridge on Sunday.
Grade 10 Isfeld students Gillian Ellsay and Kia van der Vliet, and Grade 7 Valley View student Isaac van der Vliet competed against other junior riders from the mainland and Vancouver Island. Both categories were well represented, which made interesting and competitive races.
12-year-old Isaac raced strongly, immediately showing what he is made of, winning both races on Saturday. Isaac's competitors challenged him in Sunday's criterium, trying to gain some time from him to take the overall win. After repeated attacks from Victorian Triple Shot teammates Ethan Pauly and Lockie Fraser, Isaac was able to keep his competitors from gaining any time on him, taking fourth in the criterium and first overall.
Gillian and Kia raced well in the category 3/4 women against some strong riders including Maple Ridge junior Maggie Coles-Lister, Triple Shot rider Anika Todd, and Victoria Academy of Cycling junior women. Gillian took fourth in the road race, second in the time trial and after an unfortunate crash, 12th in the criterium, to gain a third place overall. Kia surprised herself, competing well with 11th in the road race, fourth in the time trial and fourth in the criterium, to take eighth overall.
Each of the Trail Bikes juniors enjoyed the experience of racing with competitors their own age at a B.C. event. With a reasonable number of riders present the Comox Valley racers had some good competition.
– Comox Valley Cycling Club