November 29/11 9:23 am - 2011 CanAmQue Challenge: report and results

Posted by Editoress on 11/29/11
 

National Team member Jean Michel Lachance (Quebec) took the CanAmQue Challenge by lapping the field.

Saturday night at the Forest City Velodrome (London ON) had an electric feel fueled by the sixty-seven racers competing in the 6th Annual Challenge. The evening began with four heats of 40 laps each, with the top six riders from each heat advancing to the 2 semi-final events which would set the field for the 138 lap classic.

There was a solid combination of experience and youth blended into the qualifiers and the random heat placement mixed up the riders even more. The qualifiers usually play a roll in telling who the eventual winner might be. This night was no exception.... Jean Michel Lachance, Benoit Lessier, Martin Veccio and Junior Alex Pinard won their heats and a total of twenty-four riders moved on to the next elimination round.

On to the Semi-Final where the top twenty-four riders were (again) selected randomly for their 60 lap semi. We were starting to see a pattern emerge with the juniors in the field moving to the front to take the top spots in the Semi's, with Alex Pinard (Quebec) and Will Simonds (Ontario) winning their respective races. Many of the more seasoned riders were conserving their energy until it counted. In the first Semi, Scott Lundy dominated and was able to lap the field with the other five riders who would advance to the Final.

The 'last chance' qualifier provided the final two riders an opportunity to make it into the challenge Final. Twelve riders came to the rail to contest the 30 lap dash. The race produced a steady tempo at first and by the halfway point there were six riders left. With two laps to go Eric MacDonald (Ontario) attacked and gained a six bike advantage that he would carry to the line in. The final qualifying spot had a nice battle to the line with Conrad Mrowiec (Ontario) to take the final spot in the CanAmQue Challenge.

Now that qualifying was complete, the 14 riders lined up for the longest race on the FCV calendar.

How the race unfolded:

The CanAmQue Challenge started off with a flurry, several attacks in the first 20 laps quickly thinned out the pack and a group of three riders gained half a lap very quickly, on our 138m Velodrome an advantage of half a lap can be gained within 15 seconds of racing. Aitcheson was the first to roll off the from followed by JML and Martin Veccio (USA), the three rode tempo until there was a reaction from the group and four riders tried to bridge up to the three leaders. That is when the race exploded, with $100.00 bonus for the first rider to lap the field, JML (Lachance) accelerated and took the lap. Aitcheson who is recovering from Mono, blew and had to find refuge in the pack. The only rider to get on even terms with JML was Martin Veccio who also eventually took his lap and the race would play out from there.

Over the next fifty-five laps the spectators were treated to a solid pace with multiple attacks by the ten riders who were down a lap. Veccio was off the front several times with Lachance closing the gap each time. in the battle for 3rd Junior Alex Pinard flexed his musscle by attacking with no reaction from the pack until seven laps to go, that is when several riders including Lorne "Professor" Falkenstein, Will Simonds and Adrian George moved up in the feild to be able top respond to any late race attack. with four to go Pinard still had a sizable lead on the pack, however, things were about to get interesting.

Veccio tried to catch Lachance sleeping and launched a solid attack with less than three to go. Lachance had to counter from half way back in the field.... and counter he did as both riders caught Pinard who had used up all the matches in his pouch and had to struggle for eighth overall. At the same time as Lachance attacked, Will Simonds and Adrian George did the same and both junior riders were able to get on the wheel of Lachance and separate themselves from the pack. In the battle at the front Lachance had a little more in the tank and was able to lay down a solid lap at fifty-eighth kmph on the last lap to pipp Veccio at the line and take the sixth version of the winter classic. The racing was not over as George charged over the top of Simonds to finish on the podium in third with Simonds fourth.

All in all a very sucessful night of racing with average speeds for the 138 affair at 43.422 kph.

Full race results

In other racing action, out of town racer Myriam Burton (Ottawa),and Davis Perez (London) won their first races ever, what a cool way to end a very exciting night of racing.

Next race on the FCV calendar is the FCV Grand Prix on Saturday December 3rd. Racing starts at 7pm.

For more information about recreation and Racing programs at the Forest City Velodrome, please visit the website: www.ForestCityVelodrome.ca

Courtesy Rob Good