Hanson, Rowney win big as Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix returns

American Ken Hanson won a bunch sprint at the 2012 Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix, outracing Vancouver's Ryan Anderson and Australia's Tommy Nankervis down the final stretch to claim the $15,000 winner's check as the historic race returned after a four-year absence.

The men raced 50-laps of the 1.2-kilometer circuit through historic Gastown, winding through crowds estimated at over 35,000 and over the same cobblestones as cycling greats Lance Armstrong, Alex Stieda and Canadian Olympians like Brian Walton and Alison Sydor.

After more than an hour, it came down to the last few hundred meters. The group finally caught Canadian strongman Svein Tuft's last-lap breakaway attempt after the final corner, and after a perfect leadout from his Optum Pro Cyling teammate Alex Candelario, Hanson pumped his fists as he surged across the finish line. Hanson, Anderson, riding for Steve Bauer's SpiderTech team, and Nankervis, who races for the Competitive Cycling team run by three-time Olympian and two-time Gastown winner Gord Fraser, all finished the 60-kilometer race in one hour, 16 minutes and 20.86 seconds.

Australian Loren Rowney, riding for the Specialized Lululemon women's team, also won the 30-lap women's race in a bunch sprint, surging to the line ahead of veteran Americans Laura Van Gilder of Mellow Mushroom, and Nicky Wangsgard of Primal MapMyRide.

Rowney, who normally races with Canadian Olympic great Clara Hughes on the Specialized Lululemon team, claimed the $8,000 top prize after finishing the 36-kilometer race in 53 minutes and 25.13 seconds.

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