Words: Terry McKall
Last Saturday Bear Mountain hosted the first Canada Cup XC race of 2016. For those of us not likely to end up on, near, or in sight of the podium, it’s not often a Canada Cup is close enough to justify traveling to. So it was great to have the chance to race at that level not just close to home, but right here in Victoria.
Having Canada Cup #1 as the first race of the year, however, was a bit more intimidating. At any season opener, there’s always a little nagging uncertainty that riding will translate to racing; that your lungs won’t totally implode two minutes into the race. Toeing the line for the first time this year beside … ok, several rows back from the guys Canada sends to World Cups only amplified that nervousness. More exciting, it was also my first chance to race the new Felt Edict 3 from Broad Street Cycles. This bike’s been very fun to ride, and I was eager to see how it would feel in a nerdier, racier setting.
An added source of nervousness was that the only other Canada Cup I’ve started, last August in Whistler, I didn’t even complete the opening lap before falling hard enough to necessitate a quick visit to Whistler’s hospital nursing a minor concussion. Falling likely had nothing to do with the name of the race but, like any mildly/obsessively superstitious athlete with their ‘lucky’ socks/gloves/whatever, having my only serious crash on a mountain bike as my only other Canada Cup experience was definitely on my mind leading up to the race. I really wanted to prove to myself that I could finish a Canada Cup.
Before the Elite race, Parker and I showed up to watch the Open and Masters races, as well as the Elite Women’s race. This was Steve’s first mountain bike race after switching over from road, so we were pretty excited to cheer/heckle him on course. With multiple fields on course at the same time, it was hard to tell where Grandy was placing, but he came around grinning every lap, sliding through the last corner to the finish.
Parker and I lined up at the back end of the Men’s field for the Elite Men’s start, either because we wanted a tactical vantage point over the entire field, or because neither of us have any points of any kind. The start was a bit hectic as everyone sloshed their way through the saturated driving range greens. We both managed to move up a few places in the field before hitting the steep gravel climb leading to the flow trail. At which point, I had the pleasure of being ‘that guy’ when the person infront of me slowed forcing me to unclip, run a step or two awkwardly on top of my bike, and hold up the rest of the field behind me. There were more than a couple audible grumbles. Thankfully we made contact with the group before the end of the flow trail, so I didn’t feel too awkward about that.
After the high pace of the start things mostly sorted out within a lap or two, and I was mostly riding on my own, or with one or two other guys. Some passing me, some I caught. Parker lacked a bit of luck, and flatted out just after passing the pit area. The second half of the race is where I really started to notice the difference the Felt Edict was making in my race. Having full suspension definitely made the rougher sections smoother, leaving me with more energy further into the race. The suspension also really helped keep me more in control of the bike in the last two laps when I maybe wasn’t making the best line choices anymore. The Edict also let me do silly things, like take this drop every lap:
📷 Mariska Richters IG/Twitter: @mariskar)
In the end, that was one of the hardest bike races I’ve ever done. I finished 6 laps, totally drained. Making the race much, much easier were all the people lining the course. Victoria has an amazing cycling community, and it was really awesome to see, or at least hear so many people out cheering/heckling around the course. Smooth Jazz in the woods being one of the standout highlights! Also, a huge thanks to Matt Hornland from Brodie/Mighty Riders, who hung out in the feed area so Parker and I could take bottles mid-race and feel cool like the fast guys.
📷 Matt Hornland, multi-tasking wizard documents a feed in progress
After 10 years away, its great to have Canada Cup racing back on the Island. Getting the chance to see Canada and the World’s best race, and train on your home trails gives you a crazy appreciation for just how hard they’re charging. Seeing how they raced a course, then getting to ride that course, seeing them around in the woods and on @canmtbteam’s IG has really pushed what I thought was possible on an XC bike. Hopefully we’ll see it return for years to come!
Big thanks also to Jay Wallace and Mariska Richters for sending us photo’s from the race! They both have a bunch of great shots up from the Canada Cup, check them out at:
📷 Jay Wallace – Island Images (IG @jaywalrus)
📷 Mariska Richters (IG/Twitter: @mariskar)
