Jacob Schwingboth and Curtis Jung (Devo) on the podium. Photo bu Heinz Ruckerman. 
Mike Sidic on the podium. Photo by Richard Wooles/CCA. |
National Track Championships Sidic and Schwingboth tear up Track Nationals! Mike Sidic and Jacob Schwinghoth dominated the National Track Championships in Burnaby BC in August. Among the impressive Garneau Evolution results:
GOLD - Elite Men's Points Race (Mike Sidic)
GOLD - Elite Men's Madison (Jacob Schwingboth w/ Olympian Zach Bell)
GOLD - Elite Men's Team Pursuit (Jacob Schwingboth)
SILVER - Elite Men's Team Pursuit (Mike Sidic) |
BC Road Championship GE holds strong at Provincials Garneau Evolution finished their road season with another strong showing at the BC Provincial Road Championships in August. A break of 10 riders separated with 3 GE riders in tow: Dan Skinner, Mike Sidic, and Jason Thompson. The front group lead got up to nearly 3 minutes before in-fighting and attacks brought the gap down. The rolling hilly Atomic course favoured a fast pace and is a favorite for several Garneau Evolution riders. The lead group eventually shattered with 2 laps to go and it was every man for himself. Skinner, Thompson, and Sidic finished with the lead group with Tim Abercrombie leading the peleton on the chase. GE ended the day with 4 top-10 finishes, with Jason Thompson leading with 4th place. |
Jason Thompson rallies the corner with a cheek full of chew. Photo by Kirtus DeFehr. |
Guy rides the lightning. Photo by Greg Descantes. |
Guy Biggar, En Feugo! Biggar dominates 2009 World Police & Fire Games! Garneau Evolution's Guy Biggar tore up the competition at the 2009 World Police & Fire Games in Vancouver in August. Guy, a firefighter for the Delta Fire Department (Delta BC), peaked at the right time to take home the following honours: Gold Medal - Time Trial Gold Medal - Hill Climb Silver Medal - Sprints Bronze Medal - Criterium |
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Abercrombie places 3rd at La Classique Montréal-Québec Louis Garneau! Race Report from Abercrombie: A last minute invitation from the LG Sales director to the La Classique Louis Garneau La Cascades (Montreal-Quebec) was a opportunity I could not pass up. I like long hard races. This race is an epic 242km according the race bible, beginning after and an 8 km neutral start.
When I arrived I realized that I would be riding as a quest rider with Garneau-Club Chaussures-Ogilvy. The Team of young guys was goofing around not unlike the GE boys at an away race. The Team DS, who spoke no understandable English handed me some numbers and a pink bag filled with pink clothes.
It was clear the next morning but the forecast was for rain. 250km in rain scarred me. We piled into the team van and headed a few km's to the start (no need for warmup for race like this). These guys are well supported, but there was no really pre-race meeting. I asked as many questions as possible to get comfortable with the race. It was still dry on the startline. We rolled out of town fast - 40 km/hr. But it was neutral. After 8 km dodging deep manhole covers and road ruts the flag in the lead car went from red to green. A sign said KM 0. I reset my computer and the race started. It went from 40 km/hr to 50 km/hr. Race was on the attacks and the rain began at the same time. I waited out the first 20-30 km in the top 30 riders, trying to get a feel for things, then I moved forward to get into the action. By this time, it was pouring. But it was not cold - it was a humid warm rain. I wished I bit of the trait possessed by Evan Flater: the ability to take in your surroundings while still concentrating on racing. There was a lot of wide open road and highway, some narrow bits through towns. Police escort the whole way. Rolling road closures.
The first major break came at about 60 km in. We had one guy up there. He punctured and came back. He told me we had no one up there and that we needed to pull it back. Then race neutralized and we went across a massive dam, on the other side a 1km hill. I punched it over the top of the hill the two of us went clear. So me and he Brazilian National Team member bridged up to the breakaway. We rode at 50 km/hr for 10 minutes or so. We flew by the neutral feed zone. I was a little concerned that I should have grabbed something. Oh well. We hit the caravan and there was relief from the wind. When we got to the break, they were dicking around and had no organization. I regretted the huge effort to get there. Oh well. 10 km or so km later we were caught. But the pack was fragmented and there were bridgers and chasers all over the road. The next break major break went at about 160km. Myself and another Garneau guy went. The same dynamic in this break group: no body wanted to work with anyone else. This one did have lots of Planet Energy riders, however. They seemed to be the most marked Team. Miraculously the gap began to grow to a maximum of 2.30 min as given by a motto. That seemed to give the break confidence and pace lines started to cooperate. At about 200 km or 210 km two guys broke free from this break. I went with two others and we bridged. We were now five together - all on different Teams, we all pulled equally and quickly put a minute into the break group. With 20 km to go I thought this was looking pretty good. The road got tight and windy. Our Team car approached us. I got another bottle. He indicated to me with a hand motion that the road was about to get steep. This is good - we are getting close. The hill was really steep. But nobody could attack because we kept slipping the rear tires. The top of the hill and a sign said 5 km. The first attack. We all came together and nobody was dropped. We proceed around a circut around the Garneau Factory. 4km to go and another attack. We all came together. 3km to go and I attack. We we lost one guy I think. 1km to go and it slows up. We are going to the line together in a sprint. I am going in third wheel. The Specialized rider opens up the sprint and holds on to it. I come around number two rider and was not quite able to get there, just a foot short. The other two are behind.
After 5 hours 39 minutes, we get off the bikes. Average of 45km/hr. Totally saturated. Totally tired. Totally hungry. Totally happy. I had a lot of luck to be there and not have any mechanicals or crashes. There were lots of both in the race. Louis Garneau congratulates me on a good result for me and for Garneau. I'm stoked. I think I found my niche: 5 hour plus races. Too bad I have to go all the way to Quebec! In any case I will be going back for sure.
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uis Garnea
u.Sports section of Le Journal de Quebec. Tim, at left, sprints for 3rd place. 
Sports section of Le Journal de Quebec. Tim, at left, sprints for 3rd place. 
Story in Le Journal de Quebec. Garneau Evolution's Tim Abercrombie at left.
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Sidic takes 3rd at Yaletown Grend Prix Canada Day - July 1 2009 - Mike Sidic finished third in a very strong field at the Yaletown Grandprix on July 1st. An early break-away left Jelly Belly pro rider Will Routley and Trek Red Truck's Nick Hamilton out in front of the pack. Halfway though the race, Sidic put in a huge solo effort to try and single handedly close the gap on the leaders. He stayed away from the pack for the remainder of the race and finished a very strong 3rd place.
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Andrew Kyle wins Sidney Crit Garneau Evolution continues its late season domination as Andrew Kyle wins the Sidney Twilight Criterium. The Team dominated the front of the race, sending several riders on break-aways. Finally, midway through the race, Andrew, or AK-47 as he's known to teammates, broke free with another rider. Andrew pushed the pace and was able to shake the rider for the solo victory! Paul Beard finished strong as well with a 4th place. |
Andrew basking in the glory. Photo by Duane Martindale.
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| BC Superweek Highlights
Garneau Evolution Earns Team GC at Tour de Delta! The Garneau Evolution team won the Team General Classification at the Tour de Delta. Team GE rode very stongly in the three stage event. Highlights include Jesse Reams' 2nd in the Prologue. Jesse beat a very strong field includingTour de France rider Dominique Rollin and many North American pros. Another strong performances came from Tim Abercrombies bid for glory in a solo breakaway with 2 laps remaining in the challenging road race. Tour de White Rock: Reams wins $1200 Prime! Up and coming Jesse Reams blasted to a $1200 Prime in the Tour de White Rock Crit on Saturday. Jesse showed his exposive power by beating Canadian Olympian and fellow Yukon-er Zack Bell. In the Peace Arch Road Race, Jason Thompson and Andrew Kyle made the break in the grueling hills. The group, included some of the stongest riders in Canada, was often pushed by the GE duo. In the end, Thompson finished 8th with Kyle picking up a 10th. Great results in a very difficult stage. |
Garneau Evolution at Tour de Delta. Photo by Greg Descantes, www.descantes.com 
Abercrombie breaks free. Photo by Greg Descantes, www.descantes.com 
Jesse Reams inches out Olympian Zak Bell for the prime. Photo by Greg Descantes, www.descantes.com |
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Jason Thompon keeps a leash on the lead group. Photo by Greg Descantes, www.descantes.com
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Race the Sunshine Coast 2009 Team Evolution again attempted the Race the Sunshine Coast Challenge on June 27. The Challenge: the BC Ferries "Circle Tour," on the bike in one day, 290 km. The riders raised more than $1500 for BC Childrens Hospital Foundation. The Foundation provides outreach, education, and advocacy of children's health issues. BC Childrens Hospital Foundation Special MVP honours go to EV club members Steve Guenther for raising nearly $500 and Jeni Wolowic for the homemade cookies and muffins. Mmmm....cookies... For more information on the Race, visit the "Schedule" page at the top. |
5:30 AM - The perilous group shrugs off sleep for the Challenge |
Evolution Results at K-Town! 
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Race report from 2nd place finisher Tim Abercrombie, "It was hot on Sunday morning and the weather was looking to be a factor. As it turned out, there was decent cloud cover for the majority of the race, and only really heated up at the last two laps. The RR went ballistic from the gun. As I anticipated Trek had several guys who were the only to attack like crazy. There was always a group off the front. Sometime large groups of 10 -15 riders. There as a ton of strategy from all teams (more than in any race I can remember), with regard to sitting on moves. Our strategy was to have Guy [Biggar], Jason and Paul [Beard] at the front of the race going with everything and sitting on, saving Dan and myself. We executed exceptionally well with our five riders. Guy rode his heart out, Paul and Jason were in several moves - often together. We forced Trek to chase several times.
Dan [Skinner] and I stayed with the selection that grouped and regrouped over the tops of the hills. Despite tons of attacking in the last two laps, in the end, it was a selection group of about 10 going into the line together. With about 700 m to go Dan told me to get smart and look who was sitting very last in the line of 10 riders. It was [Westside champ] Justin Kerr waiting to launch to the line. I went back and sat on him. When he went, I went. We went one - two with a Trek rider closing in fast on me. Skinner was a close fourth. |
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Outstanding GE Results at Canadian Nationals! Race report from 8th place finisher Mike Sidic, "Going into the Canadian National Time Trial I was unsure what to expect. With so many professional riders. the likes of Svein Tuft, Christian Meier, Charles Dionne, Zach Bell, Will Routley, I could go on.... Preriding the course was key for me and I did it several times to get used to the corners and the many hills. The days till the start ticked away and then all of a sudden I was starting. It was one of the few time trials I've done that had a start ramp. Speeding down the first straight away I was frustrated to see my speedometer's magnet came loose. That really sucked for me as I had no record as to where I was time wise. So having started I just put this out of my mind and rode hard. The weather that day was sunny and hot but it was still a difficult 40km. I hit the half way turnaround and before I knew it the race was over. Speeding to the finish line and catching my breath, I had no idea how I did. I felt good but the calibre of riders at Nationals is very high. My coach Jeremy came up to me later and said I rode to a surprising 8th place. It was a good day. One of my better Time Trials and has given me renewed confidence for this falls BC Provincial Time Trial. Mike Sidic - 8th place Time Trial Jesse Reams - 7th place Time Trial (U23) |
Abercrombie 2nd at Westside Classi c!
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Team Evolution had a very strong showing at the 2009 Westside Classic in Vancouver. GE had 4 members in the 12-man break away pack. Team captain Tim Abercrombie got nipped at the line to finish second with newcomer Jesse Reams placing 4th. Read the Province newspaper article: GE in the Province |
