Sheppard, McQuaid win BC Bike Stage 2 and retain overall leads

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There's a longstanding, quiet rivalry among the BC Bike Race course directors. It's a challenge to design the stage that gets voted as the racers' favourite. Yesterday racers were thrilled with the course in Nanaimo, especially the last flowing 25km. Today's stage 2 route, in and around the Hamlet of Cumberland, seems to have generated just as much buzz around the finish line aid table.

Course Director Jeremy Grasby knows the trail network in this area like the back of his hand - in fact he's built many of the trails that racers sampled today. The course served up a mix of long climbs, vistas, and tight, turning singletrack for racers.

Kris Sneddon and Barry Wicks (Team Kona) won the stage in the men's duo category with a time of 2:45:04. They continue to lead the overall classification; however, their classification is the one with the most interesting competition.

Sneddon and Wicks have a five-minute lead over the second place South African DCM 1 Team of Branden Stewart and Max Knox. Not only are the DCM boys trying to close the gap with the leaders, but they surely must be feeling the heat from the Rocky Mountain Factory Team of Marty Lazarski and Stefan Widmer, who are hovering just 42 seconds behind in the overall standings. The most seasoned racer knows that with five more days of racing ahead, virtually anything can happen

The first women's duo team was overall leaders Brandi Helstermen & Cathy Zeglinski (Team Northlands Medical Clinic) in 3:38:58.

Among the mixed duo teams, Geoff Kabush & Catharine Pendrel (Rocky Mountain - Maxxis and Team Luna) were first in 3:04:05. As with the other team category leaders, they continue to top the overall classification.

Chris Sheppard (Team Rocky Mountain) put in the fastest time of the day to take the stage win for the solo men in 2:42:58. His time was faster even than the men's duo team winners of Sneddon and Wicks.  Sheppard finished ahead of Jason Sager and Cory Wallace.

Melanie McQuaid (Team Specialized) won the women's race in 3:25:08.  She beat Jennifer Schultz and Katy Curtis to the line.

Both Sheppard and McQuaid wear the race leaders' jerseys.

With three podium appearances under their belts, Team BC Ferries: Coastal Class, comprised of Barry Beck and Bill McMillan have been tearing up the trail. In their category - Epic Veterans 100+ - the next closest team is a whopping 63 minutes behind them. Theirs is an impressive showing for a supposed "old guys" team, which seems to keep getting stronger.

Riders and the BCBR organization alike seem to have found their groove and are settling in to the raceweek "travelling roadshow" format. Race organizers had fairly accurately estimated the finish time for the first riders and a positive turn in the weather likely helped. Racers are all riding hard and will soon experience an adaptation phase as their bodies adjust and strengthen after numerous days and hours in the saddle.

Coming up: Stage 3

Tomorrow will bring a brand new stage for 2010 - Powell River. This is the first race of its kind taking place in Powell River. Though anticipation has been building for this stage, the scenic BC Ferries sailing across to Powell River in the morning will be a relaxing precursor to what promises to be another day in the saddle.

Stage 2 Results

General Classification after stage 2