Yukon’s VeloNorth Cycling Club had its largest turnout since 2009 for the season opening Carcross Cut-off Time Trial on Wednesday.
A total of 24 cyclists took part in the 17-kilometre race on the Alaska Highway, up from 21 last year and 17 in 2010.
Providing a boost in numbers was an increase in junior riders, with about 10 taking part. The juniors are working towards placements on VeloNorth’s development team, headed by coach Trena Irving, with next year’s Canada Summer Games being the long-term goal.
“My goal is just to get as many youth involved as possible,” said Irving. “This summer I have a busy schedule planned. I’m going to take them to three meets in Alaska, like the Tour of Fairbanks, Tour of Anchorage and the Tour of Juneau.”
Wednesday’s “ice-breaker” was the first of about 13 events planned by VeloNorth for this season. One noteworthy change for this summer is the timing of the Tour de Whitehorse. For the last few years, the Tour took place over the Canada Day long weekend, but the stage race has been pushed back two weeks to July 13-15.
“I think we just wanted to move it away from a long weekend, try to garner more participation,” said in-coming VeloNorth president Elijah Buffalo. “We still have a Canada Day criterium that we are planning.”
Though not directly associated with VeloNorth, Irving is organizing a Yukon High School Road Championships to take place May 24 on the Hamilton Boulevard extension.
“I’m going to make two categories, one for kids with mountain bikes that don’t have road bikes, and one for kids for with road bikes,” said Irving.
For more information on the high school race, contact Irving at trena.irving@yesnet.yk.ca.
Wednesday’s results
Expert men
1st Elijah Buffalo - 27:01
2nd Judd Deuling - 27:32
3rd Anthony Delorenzo - 28:45
4th Glenn Iceton - 28:46
5th Ross Phillips - 29:15
6th Evan Wise - 30:22
7th Bill Curtis - DNF
Expert women
1st Kerrie Paterson - 29:45
2nd Trena Irving - 33:39
Sport men
1st Geof Harries - 30:52
2nd Shea Hoffman - 32:35
3rd Phil Hoffman - 33:07
4th Rod D’Albramo - 36:49
Sport women
1st Jennifer Curtis - 33:01
2nd Erin Oliver Beebe - 33:59
3rd Michelle Rigoni - 34:07
4th Christine Todd - 34:24
Novice men
1st Reid Seal - 34:39
2nd Calden Hoefs - 40:15
3rd David Jackson - 40:47
4th Caleb McPherson - 43:13
5th Mathew Knaack - 45:17
6th Cameron Salvin - 47:02
7th Brace Lemphers - 50:25
VeloNorth season schedule
April 25 - Carcross Cut-off Time Trial
May 6 - Yukon River Road Race
May 12 - North Klondike
Road Race
May 16 - Miles Canyon
Time Trial
May 20 - Skagway Hill Climb
May 26 - Jakes Corner Road
Race
May 30 - North Klondike
Time Trial
June 6 - Carcross Cut-off
Time Trial
July 1 - Canada Day Criterium
July 13-15 - Tour de Whitehorse
August 1 - Porter Creek
Time Trial
August 15 - Yukon Time
Trial Championships
August 29 - Last Gasp
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com