BC Cup hits the interior finally!!

Well after a race free weekend last weekend with some awesome MTB rides under the blue skies and sun I was ready for some more cx racing. Catharine Pendral had her BC Cup CX race in Kamloops yesterday. Other than thew ridiculously strong winds it was a great day. Costumes were flowing in the wind, our cookie medals were being ate on the podium and there was even a kids race!! With a total of 4 people in the elite race..it was interesting, along with a big battle for the podium. It was pretty dissapointing that not many coastal racers showed. As interior people drive down all fall long and the coastal people can't drive up once...sad I know. Thanks to the ones who did.

Anyway after Keith Wilson won his race, Catharine won her we needed to keep the win within the interior riders, and that meant myself or Matt Hewitt. We started somewhat fast and I wanted a clear shot at the barriers to have my first superman hopping experience. I was worried because Our favourite cross dressing Matt Hewitt was on my a*s the first couple laps, until he opted for a wheel change..why would be do that when he was so close.. I have always have motivation when someone is chasing to try and get further away, but when you have a cross dresser chasing at your behind I always seem to have a little more energy to try and distance myself...

After our first couple lap battle I was riding solo in the front, trying to have a good time and give some kids some high fives along the way. As well as throw out some uber sweet cx bike tweaks in the BMX track. As well as getting heckled by Keith Wilson, telling me his wife was riding faster. Probably true, but fine with me as shes has one of them multi coloured rainbow looking jerseys, shes supposed to be pretty fast.

As you see my forward akward podium pose here, there was a certain tight crotchle region in this suit, as it was a kids one. So I was trying to be a decent human being and not show my certain areas to everyone.

Some of the little tearing up the course! this guy is going to be making the big bucks in 20 years!

Hey buddy where's you bike!? I guess is doesn't matter, he's having fun and were having fun watching!

After a sweet single track ride yesterday with some friends I got the pleasure of driving home to a nice f 350 in the ditch. No one no skids and bloody bandages led me to believe something was fishy. Did some future police investigating and came to the assumption that the driver was a moron.

I had another holy Evan day today. Massage, coffee, chiro, clothes shopping, car work and tv. Refreshed and ready for another good week of good training and work.

Race Clean, Own Your Victory

You just can't say it enough. As an athlete trying to make it in a sport as clean as one can be, it just puts a smile on my face when hearing of other athletes getting caught for doping. Lets just call them Dopers not athletes, because they are taking short cuts and making the rest of the cycling world look bad. But as you can see it will come back to bite them in the A**.


http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=18624

Big Local Weekend

After a pretty relaxing weekend after Fort Collins I was feeling now half decent. Hopped on the big bike for a couple sweet mountain bike rides this week. It's definitely cold now, it went from shorts and jerseys to leg warmers and long sleeve's pretty quick.

Saturday was the 2nd annual Le Tour De Okanagan Spinathon, which is a charity spinathon for http://rally4life.org/ It's for a great cause so there was no way I wasn't going to be there. Pinnacle Elite Athlete was nice enough to sponsor it and let everyone use their gym. We had bikes hooked up to power tacx trainers and 4 stages lined up. With 4 man teams it was set to be a good battle. With one member from our team bailing I stepped up and rode two stages, so that was 2X50 min races on a trainer totaling 2:15. So my trainer riding went from 0-massive amounts pretty quick. Luckily it was pretty fun out there so I enjoyed every minute. We had lots of money raised so it was a success! I came out of that pretty tired, but i rested up for the big CX race the next day.

Sunday turned into another Okanagan bluebird day, other than the freezing cold morning temperatures it was a great day. Organizers really stepped up and brought one of the best CX races into the interior yet. With an awesome course, coffee, live band and tons of spectators it was the best reaction yet from crowds and racers. We all had a pretty fun time out there, had pop tart, dill pickle and bacon hand outs at the top of the run up. And some good heckling forsure. I had some good legs today and was able to take the win, Mrs Catharine Pendral took the womens as well. I won a plate sized cookie, which I started eating right away..

Fort Collins USGP Rounds 3&4

Well I have now completed my first US Grand Prix weekend of Cyclo-Cross. Couldn't of done it without Maxxis-Rocky Mountain mechanics Gary and James. Not used to having a trailer, let alone one that's heated. As well as 2 pit people. Did my first bike change during the Saturday race as the nice mud started to turn into nutella halfway through..

I flew into Boulder Thursday and stayed the mechanics house. Geoff arrived Friday morning and we got out for a spin at the local bike park. Did some sweet laps on their CX course and contemplated laps of the 4X course, but we thought all the "cool" young dirt jumpers would make fun of us. So we rode the mini non see-able 4X course and tried a mini wall ride on the CX bikes..

Saturday was a slow morning with coffee shop interwebbing followed by the drive to Fort Collins from Boulder. We heard it snowed overnight in Denver and was sleeting in Boulder. I was hoping for snow on the ground but I settled for rain and mud. We arrived to a beautiful course layout on the side of a hill(racer's garmins showed about 950 ft of climbing each race). The trailer was warm. I sort of did a junior move this weekend and brought clothes for winter conditions, just not clothes for wet winter conditions. Made pre-riding, changing, riding, racing, changing kinds tough. Lots of layers proved best against the wet and mud. I wouldn't call Sunday my best race so far this CX season. Set my sights high after a 9th at Starcrossed..since then things have seemed to not be as good. I would have called Saturday my perfect race consitions, but with not snap in the legs and no massive horse power that meant slow riding in the mud. I had to settle for 20th and 4th U23. I really wanted to be on the U23 podiums..but I failed there..I guess riding in your 38t small ring all race doesn't say 'fast'.

Saturday night was a tough clean up with our bath tub looking like someone dumped a wheels barrow of dirt it. I had the blow dryer just sitting in my shoes for long periods of time to dry off. Dinner out seemed to fill my belly well and good sleep led to me waking up feeling pretty dam decent. Another coffee shop morning, with a whole foods visit and beer run for post race. Had to get Geoff to buy beer for me, sucks being legal for almost 2 year in Canada and then going to the states seems like I'm still in high school. Showed up at the course with it looking like a crew came and paved it. 100% opposite conditions for both days. I would have thought I would sh*t the bed even worse Sunday but I had better legs and actually used my big rings which meant I was going faster. I started to feel better near the end, almost wished for the first time in my life the race would have 1 more lap. Finished a way better day for 16th, I missed 3rd U23 by a matter of feet at the finish, and 2nd U23 was only 20 sec away. Balls. Came close to the goals but still empty handed. Good weekend of knowledge put into my head as well as some more motivation. Although I now get to go home and tell me friends that Sunday I made a whopping 29 dollars...they couldn't even make it an even $30 for my dignity. After a pretty quick clean up and watching Barry Wicks do a reverse donut to burnout and spary mud all over the Kona trailer in a Gran Marquis we were off to Boulder. Settled for pink burgers for Thanksgiving dinner. Had the nice 4:45 AM wake up, bonus was I finished my 10 HR travel by 3 PM.

Had some days back at work, followed by a wicked long travel bike ride in the rain. Trails were minty! This week focus is some good food and some sweet downhill trails.

-Gossip Girl

Found another sweet cheering shot from MTB Worlds. This was the start of how I lost my voice for a couple days..

Racing with the Big Boys

Just hanging out in the Vancouver waiting to head on down to Denver Colorado for some USGP action with Mr Geoff Kabush and Gary Wolff.http://www.usgpcyclocross.com I thought I would just jump into some big CX races this fall and see what happens. I've already enjoyed it and seeing now what I can do with it.

Last time I updated I was just getting ready for a big weekend of local CX/MTB racing. Saturday was the local CX race, which is a apart of Catharine Pendral's interior 'cross series. Event was great, and Jeff Plant the course designer put in a ton of man hours and bobcat hours making sure the course was 100% dialed as can be. I didn't hear one complaint all day, just saw smiles. Especially when their names were called the most waited prizes of the day, The pie's. After that I decided that eating a pizza at 2:30 in the afternoon was a sufficient enough of food for the rest of the day, even though there was a 4 hour enduro MTB the next morning. Race went well, I was able to take the W infront of Kamloopian Mr Keith Wilson. I was also able to turn a little hill top roller into a sweet spot for a boosting CX bike tweaks..

Sunday came quick and so did the bonk...Funny enough on Saturday I was talking with Mrs. Pendrals husband Keith Wilson and he was giving me tips on how to create and conquer the perfect bonk, I was thrilled to get these tips I had never experienced the full blown bonk. I was up early and out the door early to get to the event to help if needed and get our Bike Barn team area all set up. I was hoping to get in a solid 4 hrs hard ride today, and hopefully not dig myself a big whole of fatigue. But immediately there were guys sticking my wheel and staying there, I don't like riding in groups so I was made a couple little efforts to get out alone, I was really trying to just get away from Axel Merckx, as I was talking some smack before hand. Him and his wife came away with the mixed team win. I carried on along for the first 4 laps and all I sudden I thought hey its 2:15 into 4 hrs and I eaten and drank like its a 1:30 XC race..and ridden a pace for like a 2.5 hr race..Then the body started shutting down and I tried to eat cookies, drink red bull for wings and takes gels for a quick boost until all the other food kicked in. I lost the lead while eating and drinking in the feed zone. And started lap 5 and then Boom! the bonk came knocking, I slowed down and tried to not cramp up. Then all of a sudden I found myself walking the steep hills, then walking the flats and then almost having to walk the downhills. I was full on into the bonk zone and pain cave at this time of 2:45. I was doing steady 30 min laps and then my 5th, which turned into my final, was 50 min..I just so made it back to the team tent and decided for a sit down. Not being able to eat because my gut was like a washing machine with jet fuel in, I just laid there and tried to soak in and enjoy the bonk as much as possible. After an hour of this I decided it was time for the self-assisted throw up so that I could eat! After successfully accomplishing the emptying of my stomach I had a nice bowl of rice and started to get back to real life. Then I opted for the double cheesburger with mushrooms. This seemed to solve all my problems, as within a half hour I was back to normal, a shame I know. Not the best personal day, but the event, the smiles, the kids, the families it was amazing. I was truly glad to be apart of such a great event. Hopefully its a go for next year!

After a week of some junior style recovery movies(i.e. nothing..)Moving some heavy furniture, trying to sleep at 6,000 in prep for Fort Collins, later nights, early morning drive to the race, 20 min warm up and 1 lap on course I was ready for a great day! I was still convinced in pre-ride that I was ready to kill it. But after lap 1 when I couldn't even follow a simple move I knew I was done for. I just tried to ride and get back on that front group for the first 4-5 laps and after I knew that was never going to happen I just settled and tried to smile for people and pretend I was didn't want to throw my bike. Tyler Trace once again 3 years in a row took the convincing win with Andrew Pinfold not too far off. Kevin Noiles in third Kevin Calhoun in and 4th and myself taking the final podium spot. I was pretty pissed with having to drive 7.5 hrs in total that day for a 1 race of shitting the absolute bed. After driving a friend back to UBC I was on my way home, opting for some better recovery food and some stretching before/during/after the race I'm hoping to come around for this weekend, it's a big trip, big races and lots on the line. Need some show myself this weekend for sure. After the most rain I've ever seen in the Okanagan in 1 week I should be rested, as that meant a couple easy days on the trainer and some good cooking!

Out for now

-eg

Fall time = Fun time!

First day of fall and 29 degrees!? Yep that's why we live in the Okanagan, can't get enough of this place.

Well MTB season and has now transformed into Cyclo-Cross season. My other love in the sport of two wheeled pedal bikes..next comes the adult trikes. I took little rest time after my trip home from Worlds, but it turned out to just be a 'get over the jet-lag and learn to mount and dismount my CX bike again'. I had a unreal package show in the mail from my team Rocky Mountain Bicycles www.bikes.com and in there was this:

We on the Factory RMB team are luckily enough to have the best sponsors in the world with Shimano drivetrain and wheelshttp://www.shimano.com/, Easton cockpit(because you need something good to grab-a-hold ofhttp://www.eastoncycling.com/en-us/road/) and Maxxis tires to keep me uphttp://www.maxxis.com/ and of course Fi'zi:k saddles to get my special place safe.http://www.fizik.it/

I made the decision for 1st CX race of the year to be Starcrossed, and Rapha-Focus GP, two UCI C2 races. Definitely the right decision as I surprised myself with a 9th on Day 1 and not quite as stellar 13th on Day 2. I was beyond pleased with the weekend, as I now know with some real training I can be right up there. Fox Racing Shox, one of our other wicked sponsors, put up a nice race report: http://www.foxracingshox.com/news.php?m=bike&id=1271&ref=newspageThe highlight of the weekend was taking the holeshot in Starcrossed ahead of Bart Wellens, Rob Peeters, Ryan Trebon, Jon Page, Todd Wells etc...! And if you watch the video you can see I almost didn't make the first turn!: http://wn.com/2011_Starcrossed_CX__Full_Race_Recap__Part_1 I had a little bit of an explosion after that and it took me a while to recovery and fall back in the field and then caught the 2nd wind and rode back in for 9th. I've gotten close to mastering my 2nd stomach, where I can really push the human food eating limits. So now I just need to apply some of that to racing.

Decided to take 'cross a little more seriously this year, so I have booked for the Fort Collins USGP on Oct 8th-9th. Exciting, as it seems to be the most MTB style course according to Mr Kabush. Just need to find some way to deal with breathing up in the sky. And now its internet official according to Evan Mcneely http://www.evanmcneely.blogspot.com/ we have decided to grow mullets and moustaches for 'cross Nationals, so look out for a Moustache/Mullet attack from Evan2, that is Evan Squared incase you didn't didn't get it..

I've enjoyed getting back to work at, the bestest place in the world, The Bike Barn. One of my great supporters that is gracious enough to give me a job when I am at home. We have a great crew at the shop, we even have them aussie's around to keep it light. We are currently planning our Movember ideas.. We also have also have a big deal triathlete, Jeff Symonds, you may have head of him. He just got 3rd at Ironman 70.3 Worlds. World Championship medal is alright I guess...http://jeffsymonds.blogspot.com/

Right now I am thinking back on all the Tim Bits I had today, I had a good 4 day streak there of no sweets but caved badly today. Now I'm eating a massive salad to try and make myself feel well balanced on all levels. Tomorrow is our first local CX race, which is part of Catharine Pendral's BC Interior 'Cross series. We have a ton of local's coming out and some great people that have put together a great course with what they had to work with. And on Sunday is a race we are trying to get everyone in town behind, The Test of Humanity, a great way to help support and raise awareness for Canadian Humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia. In its first year there is 188 entries, going to be a fun exciting day.

Other than that life is rad, weather's good and its almost time for me to start thinking about sunny weather in January/Febuary for some pedaling.

Here's a couple cool shots from Starcrossed:

Evan out.

2011 MTB Season a Wrap.

Well 2011 has been great, met me goals for races to be at, never met the goals of how I wanted to place. But its a great start from a nothing year of 2010. This year I needed to make it back to racing at the international level, that I achieved after consistent early season Canada Cup. Afetr a somewhat dissapointing World Cup showing in North America and a average Nationals race everything came together at the Canada Cup Finals in Edmonton where I took my first pro win. From then on I was thinking World might be a possibility now and I was all ready to train for it, but a nice sinus infection took the best of me for 2 weeks, with having lost that form that I was hoping would take me to Worlds for a good results I was just trying to stay healthy, keep rested and get the stoke level up to a 10/10. With everything achieved except for rest..I was ready to go when I got the Worlds confirmation email. It was 6 U23 riders, the biggest U23 team Canada has had since 2006 I believe. So it was great to have so many high end riders with many opportunities of seizing the day for Canada. With a great Junior womens day, 7th in Team Relay, solid junior mens day it was time for the espoirs to put in their digs. It was going to be tough as the U23 World Cup champ was lining up along with a consistent top-10 Elite World Cup rider. After the start loop I was sitting near the back of the field, having not raced in almost 6 weeks and having no snap in the the legs it was shaping up for a tough day in the saddle, I slowly worked up a little gaining time on the technical areas and the descents, but loosing more time on the steep climbs. If only I was able to climb somewhat better than a cadet sport rider I was maybe have had a great day. But our racing is about fitness not technical ability, although this course is the most technical course on the circuit next to Monte-Sainte-Anne, QC the ability to suck suck while going downhill over roots and rocks fast did help me have an average day with flat feeling legs. We had some amazing support from the Canadian Juniors and U23 women, I was definitely able to put on a little bit more of a hurt face while riding past them, and tried to slay the downhill for them to make it somewhat interesting when watching the riders near the back of the field come through. Jeremy Martin and Leandre Bouchard of QC both had stellar races, Leandre was the first U23 Canadian to crack the top-30 at Worlds since Raph Gagne was 7th in 2008. There seems to be a bright future of U23 coming through, as I was the oldest at Worlds as a 2nd year U23 riders, I was 2 years left and all the others have 3! Crazy I know, but it is the best way for things to be, as the development will be crucial. And with having the CCA(Canadian Cycling Association) and such great staff for these projects there is no reason why Canada can not have future World Champions in any cycling discipline. Having a DH World title with Lauren Rosser in 2010, and now an Elite XC World title with Catharine Pendral. We as Canadians I think are now hungrier than ever. Also can't forget to mention two Bronze medals for Dh with Lauren Rosser in junior women and a huge Elite women DH break through with Claire Buchar in 3rd...wow I know.


Catharine's ridiculously excited cheering squad at the podium:

Thanks to Rob Jones @ canadiancyclist.com


Had an awesome celebratory night for Catharine with some Pizza this past Saturday night with all of Team Canada. There was lots of emotion flowing through the place, I was hardly able to talk as I had to used all my voice screaming for Catharine during her race. I was speechless after, as its something she and coach Dan Proulx have been chasing for a while, and I was so glad to be there and able to in some way be a part of it. It will be with us all for a long long time.

Cheering on our Canadians, Emily rode a solid 8th place. I swear we were cheering louder than the Swiss crowds!

We enjoyed a great post race day ride with our southern friends from the USA. Did a wicked ride up and over the tail end of the alps into the land of french speaking people. Did a quick photoshoot and rode back in time to watch our Canadian girl become World Champ.

We were lucky the CCA had us in such a great location, minutes from the course, beside a grocery store and near some of coolest areas to ride I been to:

More Champery

Team Photo for Nick Geddes

3 days later of Travel, arrival a la Champery!

So after tornado warning and lightening storms, my travel day last Wed. stopped in Toronto at 3:30 AM. I had been travelling since 6 am too..Once flights were delayed, after we boarded and the pilots had gone past their duty time and after they found a whole in the cargo hold we departed to a hotel for the night. Thanks to CCA staff for helping us! We started sleeping in the airport pick up area..

Thanks to the CCA we all received priority check in:

Finally back in Europe from a 2 year hiatus:

Antoine got a little too excited for his morning coffee..:

View from our deck:

2011 Mountain Bike World Championships

Champéry, Switzerland


Well the prep and season long goals have been achieved and now its time to put everything I have into a basket, sadly not my wicker beer basket on my beach bike. This has been up and down year with lots of ups and a couple downs. Having results that put me in the World Cups with the National Team, and having bad races in them, then to winning my first Pro race at the Canada Cup Finals in Edmonton, to being sick and now off to the World Championships in Switzerland. I have been totally satisfied with how the season has gone, but not over the top excited. With having last year crossed off in the record books due to a not so awesome case of mononucleosis. I put pressure on myself going into this season to show to people that my 2009 year was not a fluke season, this season has gone in the right direction putting me back at the level where I want to be, I still feel I have not even gotten close to form that I know I can achieve. I guess that is what the cyclo-cross season is going to have to be for this year, maybe this year I will put in some training time for it. Anyway thanks to Rocky Mountain Bicycles, all the factory team sponsors and all their support they haven given me over the past 3 years. And an even bigger thanks to sticking with me and helping me get back on track. I definitely would have had a hard time making it back to this level without all the people around me. Family, friends, The Bike Barn, Rocky Mountain, Planet Foods, Cycling BC, my coach Dan P, the Canadian Cycling Assocation and my Grandad!

Race Site:

Right now I am sitting in YVR, just landed from and left from the one and only Kelowna International Airport YLW. Sitting with the one and only current Junior World Downhill Champion. We are discussing how we are going to make the crowds go wild on the technical sections on the worlds course..

As most people know I am from Peachland, BC and ride bikes. I started off with soccer, somehow almost stuck with playing rugby and then got into wearing spandex and shaving my legs, on the plus side I can almost beat any regular people at tan lines contests. I am starting a long journey to a little place they call Champéry to ride bikes at the biggest race of the year, kind of like stanley cup finals. Its what I tell people as I'm travelling with a hockey bag..some people question it and some people have no clue..yah I know. I'm excited to be back on a CCA project, as most of my best travelling memories are from those projects. Apparently we are staying in a full board hotel with views from mountain tops and 200m from the course, life is hard I know. Excited to get out and slay this course, I know it will be a good race even in the legs aren't there because of the 5 ft drop, roots, and just all around technical course. Just help me pray for the rain gods, as I'm going to need the nutella like conditions! I brought the perfect bike choice, my Rocky Mountain Element Team RSL. With Maxxis rubber, shimano drivetrain, fox squishy stuff and a fi`zi:k saddle to protect my no no place I should be set to rock it. We are there to have fun, but we are also there to win medals. I think all of us Canadian athletes will do everything in our power to put Mrs Pendral in the position to do so.

It was tough leaving the Okanagan as summer is finally in full swing. Waking up to blue skies everyday and drinking a bottle everything 30 min is nice in that 30 degree. Plus having a lake anywhere you go makes life easy. Last week Cycling BC, with the help of Ron Hayman put on a Future Champions camp in Penticton, BC where I work. So I spend most days working, riding and hanging with the group. It was great to see the depth of people in the camp with all having the same passion. Having guys from Rob Britton, to athletes who haven`t even been on a provincial level project. Richard Wooles is changing the way of cycling in BC and that is spreading across country to for the best possible scenarios in the future. It felt great to have gone through the Provincial program and dipping back in to help whenever I possibly can.

Last week my bicycle shop that I work at and that supports me, The Bike Barn (www.bikebarn.ca) hosted one of the final toonie races here in the Okanagan. With tents, chips, smokies and beer we were set for a good night. I just cruised and tried to have a race to be the slowest with some of shop boys, I came 2nd, close. But on the plus side I did win the post slow race beer shotgun. As the oh so knowledgeable Geoff Kabush says “bigger hole, fast flow”, I used that my advantage and beat my aussie shop buddy. But not before he thought he had won and put the can above his head and some excess beer was left and dripped on his head...With that accomplished I feel better about being a non-excessive beer shotgunning extraordinaire athlete. Better rest up Geoff as I will be challenging you post Worlds!

Not really more to say other than last week I raced a local crit, which was a event success and self fail. Tried to light it up for the crowds and friends that were out, mission unaccomplished. Had the suffer face on and gritted through the pain. Needed to flush out those cob webs from the lack of racing this month.

That will be all for now,

EG

Apex Mtn MTB ride. Some of the best local singletrack!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqMSsi5VlYM

Apex Mtn MTB ride. Some of the best local singletrack!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqMSsi5VlYM

Ski2Sea Video--MTB leg

Its been a while, but I'm already excited for next years Kelowna Ski2Sea. This year I was lucky enough to apart The Bike Barn team, which was filled with youthful and somewhat not so youthful talent!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y7nKwn0lk4

F--- Cancer is right!

http://vimeo.com/27355975

Summer Finally

Everyone complained summer in the Okanagan was not living up to its standards. 2 years ago I would expect to wake up everyday with blue skies and sun. But the last 2 years that was dwindled. But ever since I got home late July weather had been unexplainable. 30 + degrees everyday and no cloud. We get this lake effect in town where if there`s clouds they get pushed the edge of the valley so consistently have blue bird days. Stopping at the lake for swim has become part of the routine and drinking lots of water and riding at weird times as well. Yesterday I tried intervals at 35C and almost fell off my bike, drinking 2 bottles an hour, stopping at The Bike Barn for mid ride hose down and even stopping by the lake to soak the hands, feet and head. Crazy but its why we live here. After almost 2 weeks of an awesome sickness post Edmonton CC I am back at it and doing the final preparations for the World Championships coming up here in a few weeks in Champery, Switzerland. I head out on the 24th and return on Sept 6th. Then its straight into CX season.

Edmonton Canada Cup Course pre-ride:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jom4V685lZs

MSA/Windham Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIYS5ZGc890

Post Relay Nationals Super Awesome Fun Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA-pg-MQAXg

Edmonton Canada Cup Finals

Our BC Team was fortunate enough to stick around in Canmore until Wednesday afternoon before we made the short haul over to Edmonton where we were staying in less nice places then Canmore. We were now home to the U of A campus and living in Res for 4 days. There was kitchen, but no cooking supplies..so we were on the Uni breakfast plan, made sandwichs for lunch and went out for dinner. I do like cooking, but it nice to not have to worry about food for those few days. I did enjoy the batch made fake eggs with processed cheese mixed though..I still have my bodum so that was something to really look forward too while watching the Tour on the slow internet. We pre-rode the course in blue bird conditions Thursdays and then it rained all afternoon and all night. So Friday we decided to ride on the road in the pissing rain for our pre-race prep. I decided it might be good to do a quick section of the course in the mud, I was now stoked and ready for the race in the those conditions.

Saturday morning I chatted with the BC coach while he watching the cadets race..He said some sections were like fresh jars of nutella straight from the fridge. We had a slow morning, watched Cadel win the Tour for the MTBikers out there. I said to all the juniors that today is going to be a good day for us all, no matter how our legs feel. That is was, My legs just felt great from the gun and stayed that way the whole race. I was able to make the front group the first lap, get the lead into the singletrack and just slowly started increasing my lead until the end where I able to take my first Pro win. The U23's really showed themselves today with 3 of us in the top 5. With Evan squared goign 1-2 (Evan Mcneely), and Leandre Bouchard taking 4th. It was just one of those days where things all went well. Couldn't have done with without help of Rocky Mountain Bikes and all the team sponsors along with Cycling BC.