As two 麻豆社国产men made it to the top three in the BC Bike Race, a Quebecois rider received silver as the only Canadian woman to make the podium in the solo ladies鈥� division.聽
Taking the gold was 麻豆社国产resident Geoff Kabush, who recently moved to town in November.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a hard week of riding,鈥� said the 40-year-old. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 ever usually ride seven days of single track in a row, so racing seven days is definitely hard.鈥�
Kabush said the race was very close, as for the first four days there was about 35 seconds of separation between him and the man who eventually won silver, Stephen Ettinger, an American racer.
鈥淗e definitely pushed me all week,鈥� Kabush added.
Indeed, the final times indicate that this was the case.
Kabush clocked in at 15 hours, five minutes and 45 seconds. Ettinger was close behind at 15 hours, 10 minutes and 40 seconds.
Kabush also mentioned he managed to avoid any crashes or mechanical failures. Simple problems such as flat tires happen frequently on races such as this, and can often spell the difference gold and silver.
鈥淭he singletrack in B.C. is really special,鈥� he said. 鈥淪eems like the trails are increasing every year and getting better and better.鈥�
Quinn Moberg, who was raised in Squamish, managed to land third place overall with a time of 15 hours, 43 minutes and 21 seconds.
For 23-year-old Moberg, the highlight of the race was during the sixth day, which is when the bikers were taking on trails in Squamish.
鈥淩acing at home is always special,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n front of people that support me 鈥� family and friends.鈥�
He said the fast pace of the race and the caliber of the cyclists was a challenge.
鈥淭here was never an easy moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was always full gas.鈥�
But the men weren鈥檛 the only riders going full speed ahead.
Quebec rider Maghalie Rochette snagged silver in the solo women鈥檚 division with a time of 17 hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds, making her the only Canadian female to reach the podium in that category of the race.
While 24-year-old noted that the race was challenging, there was something different about the event 鈥� its vibe.
鈥淭hey call it kind of the summer camp for adults and I think that鈥檚 really what it is,鈥� said Rochette with a chuckle. 鈥淵ou really create bonds with people that kind of remind you of summer camp when you were a kid.鈥�
But that didn鈥檛 prevent fellow cyclists from competing hard against each other.
Perhaps the biggest battle for Rochette was with her teammate Katerina Nash.
鈥淚t was just really fun riding with her out there and pushing each other and battling out on the different courses,鈥� said Rochette.
Nash, a racer from the Czech Republic, managed to clinch the gold medal in the solo women鈥檚 division.
鈥淭here was a strong competition in the women鈥檚 field,鈥� said the 39-year-old. 鈥淲e kind of had a tight battle.鈥�
She said one of the most trying parts of the race was during the 麻豆社国产stage, where she blew a tire about 15 minutes into the ride.
The whole ordeal made her lose seven minutes, which cut down her lead to about 12 seconds at the start of the final day.
It didn鈥檛 keep her from getting a winning time, which was 17 hours, 39 minutes and 58 seconds, allowing her to beat Rochette and Dutch rider Hielke Elferink, who got third place at 18 hours, 48 minutes and 23 seconds.
But aside from winning, there were other highlights for Nash.
One memorable moment was midway through the race, during the portion of the event taking place on the Sunshine Coast.
Nash remembers gathering around with fellow riders and relaxing and having a good time.
鈥淓ven though we鈥檙e competing during the day, we鈥檙e all friends at the end of the day,鈥� she said.
