Yaletown Criterium

Start of Women's Elite Criterium

Elitewave riders took to the streets of Yaletown in Vancouver over the weekend. Alena Radomsky (Team Giant), Dan Skinner (Total Restoration) and Sarah Stewart (Symmetrics) were all part of the action.

Elitewave sponsor, Stephen Kim of the Bike Gallery waits for the racing to begin.

The event was held in the yuppy surroundings of Yaletown and featured a tight chicane turn that dealt it's fair share of good crashes. Prior to the Women's Elite Race, the course hosted a cruiser race in celebration of Canada Day and the conclusion of Bike month. The lady pictured below was one of the racers in the cruiser event. The dress was the actual one she wore to her high school graduation.

Cruiser Bike Race at Yaletown

Once the real racing began, it was a tough event. In the Elite women's race, it was a tough fight between Team Giant, Symmetrics and Express Copy's Gina Grain. After the winning break was formed with Marnie Hambleton and Sarah Stewart (both Symmetrics), Jenny Trew, Leah Guleon, Lisa Howard (all Giant), and Grain it became a tactical race.

The Winning Break (Trew at front, Stewart, Guloin, Howard, Grain, Hambleton)

In the end it all came down to the second last turn. With Jenny Trew and Marnie Hambleton in winning position, Gina Grain swept from the inside of the turn to take the lead in a place where only one line was possible. At the line it was Grain, Trew and Hambleton respectively.

Sarah Stewart was active throughout the race for her new team - Symmetrics. Her job was to stay with Marnie to the finish and to launch a big attack with two laps to go. She was successful in both of these tasks and also helped to keep control of the race when Leah Guloin put in a threatening surge with 3 laps to go. If Leah had gotten away, the race would have been over for the sprinters.

Stewart leads Jenny Trew and Gina Grain into the chicane. Photo by Mac MacDell.

Alena Radomsky was in the second half of the split and was forced to play a tactical role for her Giant teammates. Unable to attack until the break was not in danger of being caught, she rode in the second group without having to put in much effort. When her team manager finally gave her the word over the race radio, she was off and put in a huge solo effort for the last six laps of the race - finishing 7th overall.

Lisa Tasa (Trek) and Alena Radomsky (Giant) try to escape the second group.

In the Elite Men's race it was an all Symmetrics show with Continental Champion Svein Tuft and Andrew Pinfold lapping everyone to take the win. Pinfold nudged out Tuft at the line to take the event.

Tuft and Pinfold hit hyperspace.

Dan Skinner continues to improve his skills in Criterium racing - making it to the end of this hard charging and techincal race. Dan was part of the third group on the road which included powerhouse riders from a variety of teams and Ironman World Champion Peter Reid.

Peter Reid (2nd) and Dan Skinner (4th)

All in all, it was a great day of racing for all of the Elitewave riders. It was a great preview of the action coming to BC Superweek.

Dan Skinner and Sarah Stewart Hanging After the Race.