The Epic comes to a close

After four consecutive days of unseasonable cold and rain, riders left Blairmore, Alberta, for the final stage of the 2009 TransRockies with the finish line in Fernie squarely in their sights. The euphoria of completion added an extra level of excitement to the morning, as did an extra hour’s sleep. A later start was made possible by slightly shorter and flatter route than those of the previous three days, which had seen most riders on course for at least seven hours a day in tough conditions.

At 75km long with 1,300 metres of climbing, stage 7 looked like a mere blip compared to the 300km and 6,700 metres of climbing they’d overcome in the previous three stages. It would still mean nearly four hours on course for the winners and much longer for most of the field thanks to conditions that remained slick after the wettest edition in eight years of TransRockies riding.

The leading group of riders stayed together through the first two feed stations before the leading Rocky Mountain Factory Team duo of Stefan Widmer and Marty Lazarski dropped the hammer, determined to celebrate their GC win with a solo ride down Victoria St. in Fernie. They had been the fastest team on the singletrack all week and again, they were able to open a sizeable lead on the technical sections and rolled into the finish alone for another impressive stage win.

Next across the line was Pete Turnbull of the United Kingdom, who has been riding solo since his partner was forced to pull out on day 1 with a serious virus. Though only teams are eligible for prizing, Pete has been in the action all week pushing the leaders and being one of the top finishers every day.

Even though the GC gaps were often very big, riders did not treat this as a ceremonial ride to the finish. Pushing for a podium finish on the last day, the Bow Cycles/Specialized duo of Ryan Correy and Brian Bain overcame a broken chain on one of the singletrack sections. Correy used his elite running skills to get to the bottom then Bain took over towing his chain-less teammate to the line to hold onto third place on the day as Team visitPA.com breathed down their necks.

In the Mixed 80+ category, Pat Doyle and Trish Grajczyk of Team Deadgoat took the suspense out of things early with a dominant ride and a sweep of all seven stages. Doyle was one of two competitors who was completing their fifth TransRockies and was honoured with a commemorative belt buckle that will go nicely with the pile of leaders' jerseys he's got. The other five-time TransRockies finisher was Dean Irvine of North Vancouver who finished third in the Open Mixed division.

Team Cox of Norway held on to their gap to win the 100+ division, while the Czechmasters did the same in 80+ and Team Terrascape/Trek Toronto won the Open Mixed division. The latter two pairs had diced with the leading teams all week in win their respective categories. Finally, event host Nipika Mountain Resort also put their name on top of the standings as their Open Women’s team of Magi and Kate Scallion held off a hard challenge from the Velobella/Vanderkitten team to win the gold.

In every category and from front to back, riders made heroic and repeated efforts to get to the end of each stage. The TransRockies is considered to be the most difficult and epic mountain bike stage race and this was the most difficult edition of the TransRockies yet. The machined aluminum finisher medals will be only the smallest part of the reward that the competitors take home after overcoming the worst that the Rockies could throw at them over seven days, 532km and 14,300 metres of climbing.

Results

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Open men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Stefan Widmer & Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mtn Factory Team)3:47:37
2João Marinho & José Silva (Team Amarante Bike Zone - Onbike)0:09:26
3Ryan Correy & Brian Bain (Bow Cycle / Specialized)0:23:06
4Tom Smets & Tom Luyten (Green Force - T2)0:23:29
5Ray Adams & Ryan Leech (visitPA.com)0:23:50
6Pascal De Meulanear & Ives Verbruggen (Born2bike Team)0:28:15
7Andrew Fairhurst & Jeff Smith (Team Crowsnest Pass)0:39:34
8Johan Erlandsson & Per Andreas Norseng (Rye)0:39:52
9Dean Etienne & Jeremy Trask (Gears and Beers)0:54:26
10Javier Lopez & Luciano Sanchez (Caribbean Motors Kia Puerto Rico)0:58:16
11Ross Farrell & Trevor Innes (Tasmania)0:59:55
12Nicholas Ringwood & Philip Richmond (Team Hayland)1:00:05
13Pierre Boivin & David Gauvreau (Couloir Racing)1:01:08
14Rob Russell & Matt Russell (DOA)1:02:45
15Westley Richards & Roger Violette (Tonik Cycling)1:05:44
16David Jones & Kurt Shanski (The Fishermen)1:06:30
17Netzer Quan & Carlos Sanchez (elretodelquetzal.com)1:09:40
18Ryan Leibel & Shane MacNaughton (Biking Skillz or Stapleford Billz)1:09:57
19Stuart Dewar & Robert Cameron (Chemical Crew)1:18:37
20Paul Cockshott & Bart Hallmark (The Pom & Limey)1:25:06
21Chris Smith & David Warren (Wrecsam Tri)1:25:26
22Peter Reijmer & Raymond Brummelhuis (Kooyman Techniek 2)1:26:19
23Patrick Stewart & Shaun Stewart (The Pigs Back)1:31:44
24Ian Owen & Jim Gaffney (Oneplanet Adventure)1:34:45
25James Moyle & Matthew Kitchin (Matt and Moyle)1:40:48
26Luis Manuel Gonzalez & Rene Lopez (Dominican Republic)1:49:50
27Jan Hnizdo & Wayne Brunyee (RSA 1)1:52:48
28Per Oskar Jr. Ternsten & Jan Erik Søvig (midlife madness)1:54:03
29Maximilian Schmeding & Ulf Neumann (Berlin Turtles)1:54:53
30Ken Hurd & Sheldon Smart (Bikeridr)2:05:33
31Matthew Wilkie & Kevan Wilkie (Team Elkford)2:08:40
32Schalk Greyling & Johannes Koen (Maplotters)2:16:47
33Mark Crook & Daniel Flynn (Tally Ho)2:16:57
34Andrew Williams & Garret Sowchuk (Incyclophobiacs)2:19:07
35Shaun Ellis & Mike Radakovic (Vino Fino)2:21:42
36Richard Batteram & Reinoud Wolter (Rocky Riders)2:27:22
37Kris Binder & Stephan (Challenge 09)2:31:23
38Michael Spoerri & Tobias Jakob (Zahnknirscher & Zahnknisterer)2:42:04
39Bruce Cockburn & Wayne MacFarlane (Achilles Heels)2:54:45
40Frans Cronje & Oestergaard (FJ No Fear)3:14:40
41Rob Sedgwick & Antony Britten (Team INstall)3:47:18
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Open women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Magi Scallion & Kate Scallion (Team Nipika)5:26:36
2Erika Krumpelman & Shannon Holden (Velo Bella/ Vanderkitten)0:18:55
3Giselle Weybrecht & Angelique Van Oort (TEC2)4:07:26
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80+ men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Milan Spolc & Martin Horak (Czechmasters)4:06:58
2Sergio Vairetto & Ettore Bollati (Dream Team)0:03:51
3Thane Wright & Dax Massey (Breck Epic)0:19:29
4Daniel Cyr & Conrad Audet (Dalbix)0:40:50
5Erno Dongen & Jeroen Kerkhof (EDO Rham team)0:50:27
6Helder Carvalho & Joao Mendes (Team Arruda)0:52:33
7Mark Butschler & Keith Nicoll (Tinhorn Creek Crush Club)1:03:54
8Tom McKee & Darcy Verhun (River Valley Cycle)1:16:49
9Brendan Morgan & Arthur Sombrowski (Park Place Pedal Pushers)1:19:56
10Gary Bruce Turner & Hallgeir Bakken (Old Guys Rule)1:34:42
11Mark Smith & Philippe Leroy (Team BVI)1:34:55
12Pat Gilmar & Franck Gimard (Fernie Blackstone)1:40:04
13Scott Allan & Phil Roadley (Prairie Storm)1:54:14
14Stephen Bourne & Wayne Aussem (Team Warthog)1:59:22
15Christian Arsenault & Mario Poirier (Le Pedalier)2:01:57
16Tony Timberlake & Ian Grist (Cyclelife Dunstable UK)2:08:05
17Mark Millichip & Richard Lloyd (Team Darkside-Fubar)2:20:54
18Erik Van Oort & Richard Mills (TEC)2:21:37
19Mark Groome & Rob Williams (Head Cases)2:23:35
20Allan Knabe & Dennis Knabe (Are we nearly there Yet?)2:31:02
21Santiago Ramirez & Juan Carlos lopez (Trope Shago)2:34:44
22Sean Bell & Jeremy Tomalin-Reeves (Un For Deux)2:38:39
23Wesley Arthur & Dan Janzen (No Return)2:42:21
24Gary Stirrup & Ian Kaye (North Wales Monkeys)3:35:29
25James Cullen & Kevin Howlett (Team AFG Ireland)3:59:48
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Open mixed
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jeff Neilson & Mical Dyck (Terrascape/Trek Toronto)4:13:05
2Xavier Vermeeren & Mieke Deroo (Team Detrog-Granville Men)0:07:50
3Kristof Schoonbaert & Sofie De Wulf (Detroggranville 3)0:16:19
4Dean Irvine & Alena Irvine (Steed Cycles)0:29:46
5Rolf Reimann & Ingrid Hohermuth (Swisslys)1:21:49
6David Randall & Victoria Randall (Bavarian Brits)1:33:25
7Charlotte Ireland & Tim Collinson (Grizzlers)1:50:46
8Giuseppe Salerno & Milena Bettocchi (Ruote Quadre Tandem)2:08:54
9Viktor Sundberg & Sylvia Kammerer (Sweden - Italy)2:14:23
10Thomas Schneeberger & Andrea Kyburz (TooBee)2:26:29
11Chris Jeske & Chantal Requier (Done Tri-ing)2:37:12
12Simon Hirota & Christina Hirota (Two Wide Fields)2:37:57
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80+ mixed
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Pat Doyle & Trish Grajczyk (Deadgoat Racing)4:55:56
2Margo Downey & Craig Gillett (Harland Hammers)1:04:46
3Tanya Martin & Ray Vermette (Team Loupgarou)1:27:35
4Marion Hemmerling & Hansjoerg Bosler (Bavarian Bears)1:56:29
5Janet Jones & Bruce Jones (Two Jones)2:01:20
6Derek Higgins & Charmaine Lingard (Team Charek)2:02:43
7Rick Metzger & Alison Metzger (Like Father, Like Daughter)2:03:47
8Nick Meek & Martha Tullberg (Chalet la Foret)3:10:53
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100+
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1David Sudbury & Robin Willard (Derailleur Noir)4:42:21
2Hans-Tore Støen & Gisle Langslet (Team Cox)0:05:21
3Garth Patterson & Gary Goplen (Bike Doctor)0:25:10
4Kurt Anderau & Judith Locher (Poco Loco)0:45:32
5Andy Hodgson & Steve Salt (World Famous Team Salty Balls)0:59:55
6George King & Jerome Salvador (Team Comanche)1:04:41
7John Engelberts & Ben Engelberts (Booster Juice)1:20:37
8Bryan Sveinson & Ross Maylor (Qball & Lefty)1:39:30
9Jane Hilt & Richard VanGytenbeek (Aktermacti)1:56:30
10Don Martin & Gerald Martin (Brothers in Arms)2:25:55
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Open men final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Stefan Widmer & Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mtn Factory Team)29:01:02
2João Marinho & José Silva (Team Amarante Bike Zone - Onbike)1:14:13
3Ray Adams & Ryan Leech (visitPA.com)3:36:00
4Ryan Correy & Brian Bain (Bow Cycle / Specialized)4:55:45
5Pascal De Meulanear & Ives Verbruggen (Born2bike Team)6:20:36
6Tom Smets & Tom Luyten (Green Force - T2)6:26:18
7Johan Erlandsson & Per Andreas Norseng (Rye)7:08:35
8Dean Etienne & Jeremy Trask (Gears and Beers)7:26:04
9Andrew Fairhurst & Jeff Smith (Team Crowsnest Pass)8:00:46
10Pierre Boivin & David Gauvreau (Couloir Racing)8:08:51
11Netzer Quan & Carlos Sanchez (elretodelquetzal.com)9:14:41
12Javier Lopez & Luciano Sanchez (Caribbean Motors Kia Puerto Rico)10:06:41
13Ryan Leibel & Shane MacNaughton (Biking Skillz or Stapleford Billz)10:24:25
14Nicholas Ringwood & Philip Richmond (Team Hayland)10:55:17
15Westley Richards & Roger Violette (Tonik Cycling)11:13:44
16Stuart Dewar & Robert Cameron (Chemical Crew)11:49:49
17Rob Russell & Matt Russell (DOA)12:17:13
18Paul Cockshott & Bart Hallmark (The Pom & Limey)12:37:30
19Ross Farrell & Trevor Innes (Tasmania)13:14:47
20Per Oskar Jr. Ternsten & Jan Erik Søvig (midlife madness)13:39:56
21David Jones & Kurt Shanski (The Fishermen)14:26:21
22Chris Smith & David Warren (Wrecsam Tri)14:59:29
23Ian Owen & Jim Gaffney (Oneplanet Adventure)15:04:02
24Luis Manuel Gonzalez & Rene Lopez (Dominican Republic)15:31:19
25Patrick Stewart & Shaun Stewart (The Pigs Back)16:04:22
26Jan Hnizdo & Wayne Brunyee (RSA 1)16:21:55
27Peter Reijmer & Raymond Brummelhuis (Kooyman Techniek 2)16:48:47
28Maximilian Schmeding & Ulf Neumann (Berlin Turtles)16:56:53
29Matthew Wilkie & Kevan Wilkie (Team Elkford)16:57:36
30Richard Batteram & Reinoud Wolter (Rocky Riders)17:53:43
31Mark Crook & Daniel Flynn (Tally Ho)17:58:13
32Schalk Greyling & Johannes Koen (Maplotters)18:47:31
33James Moyle & Matthew Kitchin (Matt and Moyle)19:06:08
34Ken Hurd & Sheldon Smart (Bikeridr)19:55:36
35Michael Spoerri & Tobias Jakob (Zahnknirscher & Zahnknisterer)20:48:54
36Kris Binder & Stephan (Challenge 09)22:32:28
37Andrew Williams & Garret Sowchuk (Incyclophobiacs)22:55:37
38Shaun Ellis & Mike Radakovic (Vino Fino)23:22:37
39Bruce Cockburn & Wayne MacFarlane (Achilles Heels)26:55:58
40Frans Cronje & Oestergaard (FJ No Fear)28:54:06
41Rob Sedgwick & Antony Britten (Team INstall)30:54:06
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Open women final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Magi Scallion & Kate Scallion (Team Nipika)42:15:17
2Erika Krumpelman & Shannon Holden (Velo Bella/ Vanderkitten)2:05:42
3Giselle Weybrecht & Angelique Van Oort (TEC2)30:37:34
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80+ men final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Milan Spolc & Martin Horak (Czechmasters)30:41:10
2Thane Wright & Dax Massey (Breck Epic)2:01:59
3Sergio Vairetto & Ettore Bollati (Dream Team)3:45:09
4Daniel Cyr & Conrad Audet (Dalbix)8:13:57
5Mark Butschler & Keith Nicoll (Tinhorn Creek Crush Club)9:41:03
6Erno Dongen & Jeroen Kerkhof (EDO Rham team)9:54:01
7Brendan Morgan & Arthur Sombrowski (Park Place Pedal Pushers)10:56:19
8Helder Carvalho & Joao Mendes (Team Arruda)11:53:24
9Scott Allan & Phil Roadley (Prairie Storm)13:33:52
10Gary Bruce Turner & Hallgeir Bakken (Old Guys Rule)13:47:10
11Pat Gilmar & Franck Gimard (Fernie Blackstone)14:19:21
12Mark Smith & Philippe Leroy (Team BVI)15:31:10
13Stephen Bourne & Wayne Aussem (Team Warthog)16:14:52
14Tom McKee & Darcy Verhun (River Valley Cycle)16:40:37
15Erik Van Oort & Richard Mills (TEC)18:27:56
16Santiago Ramirez & Juan Carlos lopez (Trope Shago)18:56:42
17Mark Groome & Rob Williams (Head Cases)20:48:02
18Christian Arsenault & Mario Poirier (Le Pedalier)22:19:35
19Tony Timberlake & Ian Grist (Cyclelife Dunstable UK)22:25:05
20Mark Millichip & Richard Lloyd (Team Darkside-Fubar)22:53:58
21Allan Knabe & Dennis Knabe (Are we nearly there Yet?)23:04:36
22Wesley Arthur & Dan Janzen (No Return)23:38:43
23Sean Bell & Jeremy Tomalin-Reeves (Un For Deux)24:19:48
24Gary Stirrup & Ian Kaye (North Wales Monkeys)30:34:14
25James Cullen & Kevin Howlett (Team AFG Ireland)36:37:36
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Open mixed final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jeff Neilson & Mical Dyck (Terrascape/Trek Toronto)32:49:05
2Xavier Vermeeren & Mieke Deroo (Team Detrog-Granville Men)2:08:11
3Dean Irvine & Alena Irvine (Steed Cycles)3:30:57
4Kristof Schoonbaert & Sofie De Wulf (Detroggranville 3)3:59:03
5Rolf Reimann & Ingrid Hohermuth (Swisslys)9:16:15
6David Randall & Victoria Randall (Bavarian Brits)13:23:37
7Thomas Schneeberger & Andrea Kyburz (TooBee)14:37:37
8Charlotte Ireland & Tim Collinson (Grizzlers)16:21:17
9Chris Jeske & Chantal Requier (Done Tri-ing)19:45:17
10Viktor Sundberg & Sylvia Kammerer (Sweden - Italy)20:34:09
11Giuseppe Salerno & Milena Bettocchi (Ruote Quadre Tandem)20:53:15
12Simon Hirota & Christina Hirota (Two Wide Fields)21:37:57
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80+ mixed final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Pat Doyle & Trish Grajczyk (Deadgoat Racing)36:58:42
2Margo Downey & Craig Gillett (Harland Hammers)8:17:22
3Tanya Martin & Ray Vermette (Team Loupgarou)12:58:51
4Derek Higgins & Charmaine Lingard (Team Charek)18:38:02
5Marion Hemmerling & Hansjoerg Bosler (Bavarian Bears)19:40:13
6Rick Metzger & Alison Metzger (Like Father, Like Daughter)20:26:55
7Nick Meek & Martha Tullberg (Chalet la Foret)21:52:34
8Janet Jones & Bruce Jones (Two Jones)23:31:28
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100+ final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Hans-Tore Støen & Gisle Langslet (Team Cox)38:29:25
2David Sudbury & Robin Willard (Derailleur Noir)0:31:16
3Garth Patterson & Gary Goplen (Bike Doctor)1:42:26
4Kurt Anderau & Judith Locher (Poco Loco)2:39:00
5George King & Jerome Salvador (Team Comanche)9:31:56
6Jane Hilt & Richard VanGytenbeek (Aktermacti)11:25:45
7Andy Hodgson & Steve Salt (World Famous Team Salty Balls)13:52:05
8John Engelberts & Ben Engelberts (Booster Juice)14:18:29
9Bryan Sveinson & Ross Maylor (Qball & Lefty)17:38:40
10Don Martin & Gerald Martin (Brothers in Arms)21:53:40

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