PCC Athletes at BC Road Provincials
Iain Hay on the podium (right). PCC photo
Two PCC coached athletes raced in the BC Provincial Road Race Championships in Abbotsford last weekend: Iain Hay (Masters C Category) and Johnno Forsyth (U19 Junior Category).
It was a great day for racing, with excellent roads and a quiet area. However, it was windy, and the wind direction changed after nearly every corner, which really tested the riders’ experience. The Masters C race was fast, and this group caught and passed the U19 men’s 20 plus ride peloton, despite the U19 race had a six-minutes head start!
There was a crash on the final lap, approximately 300 metres before the finish line, in the junior women’s category. Officials had to neutralize several categories, including Masters C and U19 men, to allow riders to pass the crash site, as there were several bikes in the middle of the road. Immediately after this, the race resumed with a final sprint to the finish. Iain finished 3rd and Johnno in mid pack.
“The 87 km road race was a flat course but strong winds made for a challenging race,” said Iain. “Thirty plus riders lined up for the start and the attacks started on the first lap. Many breakaway attempts during the race but the only break to stick was the one made going into last lap. I was able to make the break and sprint for third place. My main racing objective for this year is the National Championships in Calgary.”