July 3/98 11:00 am - Report from Canmore

Posted by Editor on 07/3/98
 

News From Canmore

The first day of amateur racing was yesterday. Complete results are HERE. I walked the course yesterday afternoon - very tough. The 8 kilometre circuit goes right into a climb after the start. A short descent follows, then the main two kilometre climb. The climb isn't too technical, except for one section of about 18% just before the top. A long downhill ends the first loop (about 5.5 kilometres), before the riders head away from the Start/Finish area for a second (flatter) loop. The section that is causing the most discussion is a chute on the downhill, about 4.5 kilometres into the circuit. Besides being about 25%, it is covered in a carpet of roots and vines - just to finish it off, there is an abrupt left at the bottom. We had trouble walking it in semi-dry conditions; if it gets wet it will become unwalkable, let alone rideable. The word is that the riders are very impressed with the course (and praying that it won't rain).

Today is the rest of the amateur races (morning) and pro training (afternoon). Tomorrow at noon (local time) the women race, with the men on Sunday. We will be heading out on the course this afternoon to try and get some feedback from the riders.

Last night the Canmore Downtown Criterium was held. None of the top riders competed, but a bunch of the team mechanics whooped it up, and a masked man wearing a cape (and nothing else) took a cruise on the course. La Pezzo was out, signing autographs. She was wearing a black and silver lame outfit, topped off with one of the red Roots caps that the Olympic team wore in Nagano.