Italian team hangs onto the lead with one stage left.
From: www.transrockies.com
There was no rest for the wicked today, as TransRockies traversed the Continental Divide in a grueling 103 kilometer stage punctuated by periods of long, steep climbing. With only two days left of competition, teams saddled up under a blue sky already knowing the day would be technically punishing, but unaware what the toll would be for a picture-perfect morning. Temperatures climbing above 30 C, combined with the length and difficulty of the route, saw several teams drop out of competition throughout the day and those that made it to the finish line were feeling a little worse for wear. Still, the theme of the day was definitely "No Pain, No Gain" and those that pushed through were rewarded with the realization that the most difficult days of TransRockies VII are behind them. Though difficult, the course had something for everyone and offered riders a chance to cruise some epic trails that TransRockies was forced to bypass in 2007 due to wildfires.
With Stage 7 on the horizon it's quiet in Tent City tonight, as thoughts and dreams turn to tomorrow's celebratory finish in Fernie - but only after 80 kilometers of riding, and over 2101 meters of elevation.
OPEN MEN
After losing a large chunk of padding in their overall time during Stage 5, Italian cyclists Johnny Cattaneo and Marzio Deho careened across the finish line in 4:42:09 today, pushing their overall lead going into Stage 7 to nearly half an hour. Barring any major mechanical disasters on Saturday it's likely the pair will walk away TransRockies champions on their first attempt. Prior multi-time TransRockies winner Andreas Hestler and his teammate Chris Sheppard appeared to hit their stride today, coming in 2nd place, 12 minutes off the leaders, but still sitting just off the podium in 4th place overall.
"It was a hard, 104 kilometer day," said Hestler at the finish line. "Though I'm actually feeling better today (than previous days)." According to Hestler, the top teams rode fairly close together until the second checkpoint, at which time the top riders pulled away and began to spread out the field. "I'm a little older now," he quipped. "But I tend, when I warm up, to get better and better."
Sheppard and Hestler have 20 years of racing against each other behind them, but this year's TransRockies represents the first opportunity the pair have had to team up. "He's a hard-headed athlete," said Sheppard, "and I'm learning a lot from him." Both Hestler and Sheppard are impressed by the larger field of competition in the Open Men category this year, attributing it to TransRockies' steadily growing profile as an international event. "Overall, in the top 10, this is the most competitive TransRockies yet," Hestler said.
Open Women: It appears that powerhouse duo Carey Lowery and Lisa Randall (USA) are poised to take the trophy in the Open Women category this year, as the team has a more than 2-hour lead time going into Stage 7. Undefeated thus far in their category, their next closest competition is Canadians Amy Guidinger and Meghan Osborne, who have swept 2nd place in every stage thus far.
Scooping 3rd place today were Teri Majer and Shelley Mattson (CAN). Overall leaders are Lowery and Randall in 1st place, Guidinger and Osborne in 2nd and Angie Bryans and Inga Ivany (CAN) in third.
OPEN MIXED RESULTS
In a category with teams playing musical podium, today's stage was critical for teams looking to eke out a spot in the top three come Saturday.
First place today went to defending champions Wendy Simms and Normon Thibault, who have easily swept the top spot all week long and will likely be taking home the trophy once again, though neither believe Stage 7 will be a cakewalk. "The last day is always so mentally challenging," said Simms upon crossing the finish line. "And last year (Stage 7) was shorter, so we don't know what to expect."
Simms' and Thibault's closest competition this week suffered a setback today when Steven Wallace crashed and broke his thumb. After being checked by medics, Wallace and his teammate Katerina Nash were given the green light to go ahead and finish the stage, but had to settle for 3rd place behind Dallas Morris and Mical Dyck.
"They were super strong today," Simms said of Wallace and Nash before the crash. Overall, David Harris and Lynda Wallenfels (USA) sit in 3rd place behind Simms and Thibault, and Wallace and Nash.
STAGE SEVEN--THE FINAL CONFLICT
Stage 7 into spectacular Fernie this year is much more than a wafer thin after-dinner mint of a stage. With almost 90km of riding and over 2100 m of climbing this is a main course of riding which no team can underestimate on their way to the finish.
There are no huge passes but lots of smaller bumps and one recrossing of the Continental Divide will add up to another long hot day in the saddle before the final roll down Main Street in Fernie and the celebrations which will follow.