Whitehorse cyclists were goosebumpy with chattering teeth following the Carcross Cut-off Time Trial on the Alaska Highway Wednesday.
But chilly temps and spots of rain didn’t seem to slow some cyclists with Yukon’s VeloNorth Cycling Club, which hosted the race.
In fact, club president Elijah Buffalo set a personal best time on the 17.5-kilometre course.
“I think the rain took the wind away; the rain activated as a wind-stop,” said Buffalo. “I felt pretty good out there.”
Buffalo finished first with a time of 25:20, just 1:36 from the course record set by Troy Henry in 2009.
“I tried to keep to the game plan and not starting too hard. I guess it worked out.”
Preston Blackie placed second at 28:47 and Chris Rider pedalled to third at 30:01.
Junior rider Shea Hoffman, who will be representing the Yukon at the Canada Summer Games in August, placed fourth with a time of 30:04.
Jillian Chown, last year’s women’s winner of the Tour de Whitehorse, was the only female racer. She placed sixth overall out of the 10 racers with a time of 31:13.
VeloNorth has one more race scheduled before the start of the Tour de Whitehorse at the end of June.
However, the road race scheduled for June 2 might require a change of location. Check VeloNorth’s Facebook page for updates.
“We’re thinking about changing the venue because it was supposed to be in Miles Canyon but the road is all torn up,” said Buffalo. “So we’re looking at doing it at another venue, like the North Klondike Highway.”
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com