Tag Archive for: Houshang Amiri

Stage wins for Tristan Drews at the Tour de Bloom

Top of the podium after a win in the criterium. Photo by L. Drews

PCC’s Tristan Drews competed in his first stage race last weekend – the Tour De Bloom in Washington. Riding for Glotman Simpson, he won two stages. “With wins in stages 1 and 3 this was good experience and bodes well for the future,” said PCC Head Coach Houshang Amiri.

Here is Tristan’s recap of the race.

The four-stage race kicked off with a windy 58-mile flat stage. I came into this race quite intimidated, especially by the number of strong cyclists that were lined up at the start of the race. Initially I was caught in the back of the peloton constantly fighting for position and it was quite mentally exhausting trying to find my way around the other cyclists. Eventually in the last 5km gaps were opening and I found myself In the front, with five other guys ahead. Holding my position leading into the last straight away, I made sure to get on any wheel that was to attack. I basically kept this idea in my head, and eventually someone did a massive pull in the last 800 metres, which led me into my first ever big win.

The next day was the 8.5-mile time trial, and my plan was to go hard but not reach my absolute limit, the idea of this was to save my legs for the later race. But I started a little too hard at the start and then found myself having trouble pacing in the second half. Not my best result, but I managed to take this as a learning opportunity for the near future.

Coming into the criterium, I had built up some confidence from the first race, my plan was to save my legs till the end, and not get caught behind any crashes since it was wet conditions, and we were going full speed in all the corners.

Towards the end of the crit I proceeded to push my way on the outside and get in a decent position, but on the last two laps everything changed and I couldn’t see any openings. Once we led into the last corner my position remained the same, and all I could do was give my best. After the corner I shifted on my hardest gear and reefed on my bars as hard as I could. As I looked ahead I could see I was making up positions very quickly, then all of a sudden I find myself throwing my bike ahead of me and crossing the line first.

It was a surreal experience knowing that my parents were there to watch. I’ve learned that your mind plays tricks on you, and you can doubt your own strengths.

Finally, the fourth stage concluded with a challenging 75-mile race, culminating into a steep 1.5km climb to the finish. Throughout this race I found my legs were working harder than I needed to. My plan was to stay with the leading pack till the end, which I did. But leading into the climb I got too excited and I blew my legs on the last 300 metres. I’m still proud of how I performed, especially under fatigue. All I can take away from this race is to be patient, especially near the end. 

My first ever stage race was an amazing learning opportunity, but more so the chance to grow my confidence.      

A winner at the Waterville Road Race. Photo by L. Drews.

More podium wins for Tristan Drews

Tristan on the podium at the Wix Brown Circuit race. Photo: L Drews

Congratulations to PCC athlete Tristan Drews who won his second and third races of the season last weekend. He podiumed at the Wix Brown Circuit Race on Saturday in Langley following up on Sunday with another win at the Thornhill Circuit Race in Maple Ridge. This followed a track training session at the Burnaby Velodrome on the Friday.

Last weekend he won the sprint race at the Thunderbird Circuit Race in Langley.

“We used these races to gain experience and for fine tuning his race strategy,” said PCC head coach Houshang Amiri. “This will build a base line for the bigger races Tristan will compete in, in the summer.”

 

Registration Open for February Training Camp

Registration is now open for the final early season training camp from February 16 – 18. Based in Victoria, BC the camp is led by head coach Houshang Amiri.

The camp is placed in the end-mesocycle of the specific preparatory phase and is structured to maximize skills in an athlete’s desired discipline. The three-day camp will include 3-4 hour endurance rides where riders will be evaluated on their aerobic base and power. There will be a presentation, Q & A and a guest speaker.

More information and to register

PCC riders at the BC Track Championships

Tristan Drews on the podium at the BC Track Championships. Photo: PCC

Two PCC riders participated in the BC Track Championships this past weekend at the Burnaby velodrome – Tristan Drews and Amiel Flett-Brown.

This is Tristan’s first year as a junior rider and he started track training late summer in Victoria. In Burnaby he competed in the Scratch race, Points race, Individual Pursuit, Kilo 1000m ITT and the Omnium finishing second in all of them.

Tristan (right) preparing to race. Photo: PCC

“At the track provincial championships there was only three male Junior riders so they ended up racing in the elite male category,” said PCC head coach Houshang Amiri. “While this wasn’t an ideal situation, this did open up a new opportunity to race with the best in BC in track cycling including some National team members. This was a steep learning curve for Tristan with less focus on results, and more on gaining experience and to know the pace and skills he needs to work on in the coming months and years.”

“While navigating the velodrome’s twists and turns, I got a glimpse of the art of track cycling,” Tristan said. “Figuring out how to cut through the wind without losing speed, riding elbow-to-elbow with fellow cyclists in the pack taught me that split decisions in your position can make or break a race. Provincials showed me that strategy is just as vital as raw power.”

Tristan’s next race is the Junior Track Nationals Championship in Sylvan Adams Velodrome, Bromont, Quebec at the end of March 2024.

Amiel Flett-Brown (left) was 2nd in the Points race. Photo: PCC

Amiel had a good event finishing second in the Points race, fifth in the Scratch and seventh in the Omnium.

Registration open for third pre-season training camp

Registration is now open for the third PCC Education and Endurance training camp of the 2023-2024 season. The camp will run from January 19 – 21, 2024 and will be held in Victoria, BC and led by Head Coach Houshang Amiri.

The camp is placed in the mid-mesocycle of the specific preparatory phase and is structured to maximize skills in an athlete’s desired discipline. The three-day camp will include 3-4 hour endurance rides where riders will be evaluated on their aerobic base and power. There will be daily presentations and a guest speaker – to be announced soon.

Information and Registration

 

Perfect conditions for November training camp

The first 2024 pre-season training camp took place in Victoria last week. The three-day camp featured three four-hour endurance rides where riders were evaluated on their aerobic base and power. The rides included hill climbs and a time trial with a focus on technique and sharpening cycling skills. There was also a group lunch and a training presentation.

“The camp was a perfect way to start the 2023-24 cycling season with dry weather for the three days,” said head coach Houshang Amiri.

“The PCC training camps are incredible valuable and have pushed me forward into being a better cyclist,” said Lauren Babineau, who regularly attend the camps. “It is a pleasure learning under Houshang’s leadership, knowledge and attention-to-detail. He created an environment where all of the participants felt comfortable to be in the group; this means everyone was able to challenge themselves yet still be vulnerable and realize where their weaknesses lie. Beyond the athletic focus of the camp, I appreciate Houshang’s kindheartedness, millions of stories he shares and, most importantly…his great sense of humour.”

The next camp is December 1 – 3. Deadline to apply is November 25.

Apply here

 

Registration open for second pre-season PCC Training Camp

Registration is now open for the second 2024 pre-season Endurance Road and Education Camp at PCC from December 1 -3. The camp will be held in Victoria, BC and led by Head Coach Houshang Amiri.

The focus will be to prepare athletes for the upcoming season in a vibrant, stimulating group training setting. The three-day camp will establish fitness levels and identify skills needed for an athlete’s desired discipline. It will include 3-4 hour endurance rides where riders will be evaluated on their aerobic base and power.

Information & Registration

 

Two PCC athletes crowned Provincial Champions

Holly on a prime lap. PCC photo.

It was a great day for PCC on Sunday when two athletes were crowned 2023 BC Provincial Criterium Champions. National Criterium Champion Holly Simonson won the elite women’s race and Kimberly Chen was the victor in the U19 race.

Kimberly (front left) in the second peloton in the final stages of the race. PCC photo

The 35 lap race, part of the Victoria Grand Prix, was held on a perfect sunny day in the Inner Harbour in Victoria. Holly, Kimberly and PCC teammate Brenna Pauly had strong races.

Brenna leading the peloton. PCC photo

Holly won most of the prime laps, Brenna led the pack for a good part of the race and Kimberly looked solid in front of the second peloton. In the final lap Holly sprinted to the finish and Brenna was just pipped to a podium and finished fourth.

At the start line. PCC Photo

Kimberly Chen – U19 BC Provincial Criterium Champion. Photo: Kevin Chen

Holly Simonson crowned Criterium Champion

Photo credit: Dale Berg

After years of dedication, first as a junior and then as an elite cyclist, Holly Simonson won her first national title on Monday at the 2023 Nationals in the criterium. She and her teammate Emily Flynn had been racing crits for the LA Sweat team in the US for the past month in preparation for the Nationals.

“I had the chance to do the first part of Tour of America’s Dairyland, which was invaluable race experience and a place where I gained a lot of confidence through rolling in breaks with National and Pan Am champions,” Holly said.

Holly with teammate Emily Flynn. Photo credit: Gregoire Crevier

The Nationals were held in Edmonton and the criterium had a stacked field, Holly said. “It was a hard race but Emily and I worked so well together and animated the race, trusting each other and never giving up.”

“Emily spent time in a solo breakaway, which I then countered, and we had some other good attacks while also patrolling and covering other dangerous moves. After a late race prime I came back from near implosion, dangling near the back, and saw an opportunity to attack. I knew I had to go and didn’t hesitate. A few other women got on me fast and luckily were just as motivated to make a break stick. With five laps to go and the gap growing, it started to sink in that I could win. I knew I had to go early in the sprint, so I opened it up out of corner three and was able to hold it to the line.”

Holly sprinting to the finish. Photo credit: Gregoire Crevier

Holly is not only grateful for the support of her teammate but her coach, Houshang Amiri. “Many years of hard work and dreaming, and the belief of others, have led to this moment. I can’t thank my coach Houshang enough for his never wavering belief in me, and his expertise and guidance over the last eight years.”

National Criterium Champion

“I coached Holly from early Junior’s years and was always amazed how hard and smart she can race,” said Houshang. “Her hard work, commitment, motivation and ability to focus on the training process and push the boundaries shows in her results.”

PCC Athletes podium at Hatzic

Caleb Bender (centre) and Amiel Flett-Brown (right)

Two PCC athletes podiumed on Sunday at the Hatzic Valley Road Race in Mission, BC. Caleb Bender (Team California) won the elite race while Amiel Flett-Brown (Pathfinders Project) came third. The 116km race was ideal for fine tuning the athletes for the Canadian Road Nationals Championship later on this week Edmonton, Alberta.

Bender won the race with a final uphill push that gave him a one minute, 50 second lead from the main peloton. Flett-Brown was chasing the two leaders and was gaining time on them but ran out of the distance.

It was a long day for the two athletes and head coach Houshang Amiri, leaving PCC offices at Saanich Commonwealth Place at 5:45 am to take the ferry, returning at 8:30 pm. “But it was worth doing it,” said Amiri. “They both gained some good experience practicing their race skill tactics and dealing with challenging weather. It was very wet and raining and for first half and then sunny and warm for the second half of the race.”

Eight PCC coached riders are planning to race at the Canadian Road Nationals.

 

Pacific Cycling Centre

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) provides coaching and training services for Elite, Masters, and Junior athletes in road, mountain bike, track, and cyclo-cross.

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