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June 23, 2004

Lunenburg Road Cup #4 Report

Lunenburg Road Race – The Lunenburg Bike Barn

By Jamie Lamb

A more picturesque road race would have been impossible in Nova Scotia as 87 racers gathered at the Riverport coast to test their legs and tactical savvy on the mostly flat to rolling 28km course.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky when the senior 2 men rolled off the line at 12 o’clock. Al Heubach as traditionally organized a great race and this year was no disappointment with Preme laps in every category. A break rolled off the front in the first 5 km containing Chris Graham (Hub Cycle), Pierre Nie (Cyclesmith), Brian Barkhouse, (Campeche) and Eric McIntyre (Hub Cycle). The chase was started in the second lap by Christian Meier (Espoire Laval) and PEI rider Max Keeler (Dalvay Taylors). This was controlled by Jamie Lamb (Cyclesmith/Powerbar) who was riding for his team. The Chase brought the break back about 5km before the 2nd Preme, which saw Nie (Cyclesmith) attack again to take his 2nd Preme. Meier and crew brought Pierre back again just before the main climb of the race. The pack rode an easy pace before the next Preme motivated attack went off containing Mark Foster (Cyclesmith), Nie, (cyclesmith) and Chris Graham (Hub Cycle). This was again brought back by Meier and chasers after Pierre took the last preme. Lamb (Cyclesmith-Powerbar) attacked into the head/cross wind section between the climb and the finish taking Chad Lennon (Hub Cycle) with him. The break was short lived however and Meier’s efforts brought the pack together again for the flat section into the finish. Lamb attacked again this time taking Meier and Craig Degier (Cyclesmith) with him. The 3 worked hard but were chased furiously by Rory Gonsalves (Sportwheels) and the Hub Cycle Team. Once the trio were caught Craig Degier attacked gained about a minute on the flat section with 28km to go. Meier again initiated the chase with Lamb gate keeping the pack. Gradually the chasers lost interest in working with Meier to chase the Cyclesmith rider and the pack shed its thoughts of catching Degier. Craig soloed in to victory with 30 seconds to spare while Gonsalves won the field sprint to take 2nd place. Lamb had a wheel to wheel battle with Lorenzo Caterini (Hub Cycle) but Lorezo won by half a wheel to take 3rd. Christian Meier held off Michel Leger (NB – Bungays Bike shop) for 5th place.
Meier was by far the hardest working rider of the day spending nearly his entire race on the front.

In the Senior Women’s pack Andrea Moritz (Bicycles Plus) broke away and in a display of power put 16 minutes between herself and 2nd place rider Sherri Goodwin of Sea Level Cycling. Jennifer Hoyt (Cyclesmith) was just 7 seconds behind Sherri and finished 3nd Margaret Roberts, aka Daisy, of Hub Cycle had a great race to take 4th. Cynthia Fry (Bicycles Plus) finished ahead of Lisa McInnis to take 5th.

In the Junior men’s attacks started right off the line with Geoff O’tool (Cyclesmith) initiating an early break only to be sidelined by a mechanical. This race would prove to be a battle of the Marks as Mark Pennel and Marc Trussler, both of the Cyclesmith Cycling Club, tested each other on the climbs breaking away on the last lap. They battled right to the line with mountain-diesel Pennell leading out the sprint but the explosive Trussler came around with a few meters to go and took the win by a wheel length.
Stephen Keeping (Cyclesmith) of nearby Bridgewater had a good race to place 3rd, just a few seconds back. Garrett McLeod (Valley Stove and Cycle) had some difficulties early in the race and chased solo most of the time to finish 4th, ahead of Hub Cycle rider Liam Atkinson.

The Masters field was huge and sported a guest appearance by Finish rider Tuomo Ahasalmi who broke away early in and stayed away nearly until the finish. Scott Bonnell (Valley Stove and Cycle) racked up another victory in the masters A field sprint and was followed by Andrew MacDonald of Cyclesmith, Derrick Muse of Sea Level Cycling, Kevin Besner of the metro cycling club, and Chris MacKenzie of Sea Level Cycling.
In the Masters B category Peter Mcleod (Valley Stove and Cycle) took the victory in his field sprint over Gerard Walsh (Bicycles Plus), David Brown (Valley Stove and Cycle), Tuomo Ahasalmi (Mellun), and Doug McDougall (Sea Level).

In the Senior 4 pack Matt White of Bicycles plus took the win over Trevor Morrissey and Chris Swift (Bicycles Plus). Chris Price (Cyclesmith) was diverted from victory by an untimely flat and slow change. Perhaps now he’ll get some new tires, train a couple times, and appear back in the 2/3 pack.. TJ Worden-Rogers of the Lunenburg Bike Barn finshed 5th.

In Under 17 men Adrien Comeau broke away from Kyle Gallant and soloed in for another win to add to his impressive resume.

In the Novice category Caley Nihill rode to victory 3 minutes ahead of 2nd place finsher Jeanne Ju.

Overall it was a great day with lots of good times had at a classic race in the Nova Scotian scene. Nothing like looking out over the ocean while suffering over the bar. Thanks go out to all the volunteers, the Lunenburg RCMP, Cathy Dunbar and Scott Walton, the Lunenburg Bike Barn, The Knot Pub, and of course Al Heubach for organizing this great event.