TS Youth team at Superweek

[Lister Farrar]

Hi all:

Twelve riders from the youth team, Erin, Sarah, Megan, Toria, Ethan, Lockie, Taro, Riley, Jack, Nick, Sage, and Tomas, and alumnus Brenna, along with me and about 5 parent chaperones are in Vancouver for Superweek. This is the first year for a full youth series. Its a single start for u15 and u17 girls, and u15 and first year u17 boys. (But separate results and prizes).

We've rented a house for the duration and I'm enjoying an americano and breakfast sandwich courtesy of Riley's mum Susan as i write this.

The schedule:
July 11 Tour de Delta Ladner Criterium
July 13 Mission Raceway Criterium (longer event: 30-40min)
July 14 UBC Grand Prix Criterium
July 15 Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix Criterium
July 16 Giro di Burnaby Criterium
July 17 Tour de White Rock Criterium
And most of the families are doing this as well. Just in case there's any energy left to burn.
July 19 Valley Gran Fondo

So far all is good. Watched the tour coverage this. At least with those that could get up; most kids are still not living in the TS time zone, if you know what I mean.

First race is this pm at 4:30 in Ladner. Will post an update and photos.

[Lister Farrar]

Good start to the week. 35 starters in the combined boys and girls event, and TS riders won both the boys and girls categories. Riley Pickrell worked for his teammates Lockie fraser and Ethan Pauly in the break, before it all came back together. Then won by a convincing 20 metres with his powerful sprint. Ethan finished 3rd just behind second aced Eric Inkster from Devo.

Sarah Van Dam (kick ass name for a bike racer eh? ('Jean Claude, eat my dust'.) was next defeating all the rest of the boys as well as the girls. And after crashing half way through the race and
Needing the pit to repair brakes before continuing.

The kids also cooked up a plan to send a break from the gun, which almost worked.

Riley's day wasn't over though. He lined up right after the youth race in the cat 3,4 race. Riley showed good positioning, surfing the too 10 all race. I watched the last corner, and he came thorough about 8th, and I thought he'd left it too late.

His mum was about 25 m before the line, and said he was sixth as he passed her. Imagine both our surprise when the announcer called him as second?! Turns out Riley has a cavendish-esque final burst that almost caught the winner, a u19 national track champion named cam fitzmorris of TAG.

In his interview for the crowd by 96 Olympic points race medalist Brian Walton who asked 'What's tripleshot, Riley explained "it's a coffee club with a cycling problem." Lol. Will post the interview when I get it.

[Lister Farrar]

I'm at the delta road race watching the best women in North america. And Anika todd on the front. Adam de Vos got a big spread in the vancouver sun this week. Victoria and TS got some major plugs by the announcer at the crit last night too. Met a tv presenter saying she calculated Victoria had 13 riders in the mens pro race. 8% of the field.

The growth of youth cycling featured too.

Brenna representing too, but held up by a crash last night.

[Lister Farrar]

Rain just started, bunch immediately started to stretch and split. Last night Brenna commented that she fell, even after almost stopping for the crash, because of the slippery surface. Probably oil coming up after such a long period with no rain. Fingers crossed for the riders today.

[Lister Farrar]

30ish in front group. Others catching up.

Frequent attacks, none getting much distance.

Brenna's been gapped. We think dropped riders will be pulled early to keep the rolling closure brief. Bummer.

[Lister Farrar]

One to go for women. Anika on the front. I'm guessing she's working for others on her team.

[Lister Farrar]

Solo break. Cdn national team rider. Rides for optum, can tell by the orange helmet. Maybe lex Albrecht?

[Lister Farrar]

Annie Ewart from vic. Also a global relay sponsored rider who drops in on youth rides to help coach.

[Lister Farrar]

Ewart caught. All together. Crash in a corner. Nat team rider in Orange helmet. One of the optum riders.

[Lister Farrar]

U.S. Shelly olds won, cdn Kirchman second, third a kiwi JoAnne kasenowski (sp?).

[Lister Farrar]

Men up in 30 minutes.

Kirchman off tomorrow to ride the tour de france finale on champs élysées. Hope they add a few days to that for when Erin and Sarah hit that level.

[Lister Farrar]

Riley getting second in the Ladner crit.

[Lister Farrar]

Adam de Vos top male Victoria rider in delta UCI rr. http://tourdedelta.com/wp-content/uploa ... esults.htm Dylan Cunningham in 28th

In the women, Megan Rathwell also 20th, Annie Ewart 25th, Anika 36th. http://tourdedelta.com/wp-content/uploa ... esults.htm

Youth team is racing tomorrow at Mission.

[Roland]

Adam de Vos top male Victoria rider in delta UCI rr. http://tourdedelta.com/wp-content/uploa ... esults.htm Dylan Cunningham in 28th

Isaac Leblanc was in there as well in 18th (two ahead of Adam) He's guest riding for Team NCCH p/b DEC Express instead of Pro City.

[MDAWSON]

great racing by Tripleshot youth, and thanks for the updates Lister, keep them coming....i love it.
Riley appears to be the real deal from what I've seen of the youngster all season, and the results of the whole team are super impressive.

Isaac finishing 18th in the UCI Delta RR is pretty awesome too....I'm sure everyone has seen him out on many a Tripleshot ride, he particularly enjoys the sunday ride and is always talking it up on other club rides! He's worked really hard the last 12 months, and it's paying off!

[Lister Farrar]

Riley is racing cat 3 right now at the UBC Grand Prix. Course is about 1-1.5 km, with a narrow winding climb for a finish straight on stadium road.

Three laps done, all together.

[Lister Farrar]

Break of two. 10 sec lead. Lots of pushing and shoving in bunch.

[Lister Farrar]

Woo hoo! Riley 3rd. In a pack sprint of 30+ riders. 12th out of the last corner. 5th with 50 m to go. Winner was rider from France, second Brendan Armstrong. The winner was u23, armstrong second year u19. His coach approached me at the slaw adds ceremony and asked if Riley "..was really 14?". "Um no, actually, 13, until August.". (bemused look).

More good reports from experienced riders on Riley's riding.

Rest of team rides at 5. Erin, fresh off the plane from Rimouski where she won the u17 overall, rides pro ,1,2 at 6.

[Lister Farrar]

Less than 18 hours after getting off the plane from Rimouski, and her win there, Erin stepped up to her first pro 1,2 race. Didn't even unpack, was digging through her suitcase on the sidewalk for her TS jersey. But rode comfortably midpack on the 1km+ course with a 300 metre narrow winding climb each lap. Still deciding whether to ride Gastown today.

[Lister Farrar]

Here's the YouTube video of the finish. Finishes as Erin crosses the line.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zbpfZ7Mwn ... e=youtu.be