By Mike Gravelle, Skookum Cycle and Ski
The Stoked to Get Spanked bike race was a huge success this year. With racer numbers up 25% from last year, the event is becoming well known on the cycling circuit throughout BC and Alberta. Many elite athletes made the trip to Revelstoke. Canadian Olympic Team member Catharine Pendrel and U.S.A. Marathon Bike Team member Sonya Looney took part, attracting others in their category who were using this race as a training run for the BC Bike race this week and for the Single Track 6 race which has its final day in Revelstoke on here July 31.
The Stoked to Get Spanked race is a very demanding, two lap, 38km course, which lives up to part of its name, “get spanked”. By including a one lap race category though, the race is oriented to include all abilities and levels of riders, a truly family event.
This year also included a timed downhill section, which was a big hit and gave riders a small respite from the suffering.
“This is one of the best races for the average rider who is willing to put out the 19km, but also a fantastically exhausting two lap section for the elite racer” said a racer from Canmore. “So much single track on real tacky soil with minimal dust, fun gradual ups, and plenty of fast twisty technical down section.”
The Men’s Elite Race was won by Matt Hadley in a time of 2 hrs 10 mins. He placed ahead of Rafael Krezalek 2:17 and Paul Berry at 2:22.
Catharine Pendrel won the Women’s Elite race, and came second overall, with a time of 2 hrs 15 mins. Behind her came Sonya Looney at 2:32 and Stacey Smith at 2:36.
In the Male Sport category David Sinclair 1:16, Rylan Kappler 1:17, and Thom Madlung 1:18 took the first three places, while Emily Unterberger 1:22, Laura Hepburn 1:31, and Sarah Vincent 1:34 took the podium spots in the women’s race.
Full results can be found at www.zone4.ca.