The Paul Files: Stage 3
Thursday, August 14, 2008
By Paul Newitt, Special to TransRockies
It seems like eons ago that we filed into the Copper Crown room in Panorama to register for the start of this year’s TransRockies. But in fact it was only three days ago, much to the chagrin of those with cramped calves, aching backs and low energy reserves. But today was touted as a bit of a recovery stage from the previous two days of climbing– obviously by someone who hadn’t been out on the course!
Nipika to Nipika was an adventure in single track and a whole new Time Trial format for the TransRockies. Riders were set up into three groups based on their overall standings in the General Classification (GC). The first salvo was fired into the woods around Nipika at 9:00 am at 30-second intervals, the next at 11:00 am, and the final Group, the top of the GC, at 1:00 pm, in 1-minute intervals.
The new format provided spectators with a full day of entertainment as teams continuously passed through camp throughout the day. Riders had the luxury of sleeping in a little and getting many things done they would normally have to sacrifice to an 8:00 am start. The other big advantage of the day was that of having the course route consist of about 80-90% single track, and single track that wasn’t backed up by having all 250 teams on the course simultaneously.
The trail network around Nipika is extensive, and winds around some spectacular scenery. Through out the day riders found themselves skirting the cliffs high above the Kootenay River Gorge, often perilously close the precipice. The rich, inviting turquoise waters flowing far below contrasted the chalky white cliffs it had carved over the millennium. It was all eye candy for the parade of teams ripping around the network of single track, but not always an easy view to take in. The majority of the single track was technically challenging in that it was laced with roots, logs, and holes that demanded full focus on the trail ahead. A slight deviation from the task at hand often resulted in a trip over the bars into the brush. Luckily most learned this quickly and kept themselves upright most of the day.
The course was definitely not a rest day. Continuous pounding on the body and a lot of upper body work on the trail took it out of riders who had already spent two days climbing over some massive mountains. Most wanted to go easy, knowing full well tomorrows stage is a long one and a bit daunting in its distance, but the Time trial format made it to tempting to go all out. Teams were only thirty seconds to a minute ahead. It’s pretty hard not to reach for those carrots when they’re placed directly in front of you! But tomorrow is another day. Tonight we get to spend in Nipika once again. A gift those of us in the TR always appreciate.
Nipika is gem in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The area boasts a huge network of trails that are used for Mountain biking and trail running in the summer months and cross county skiing in the winter. Other self-propelled activities, like river rafting and canoeing are also available. Lyle, the owner and operator of Nipika is proud to note that the resort was built entirely from trees from the surrounding area, is now solar powered and caters exclusively to human powered activities. Multiple cabins dot the property and can easily, and comfortably accommodate families and groups like TransRockies riders. It will be tough to leave such a stunning setting and hospitable hosts but Whiteswan is on the radar and we have a day to reach it. See you tomorrow at 5:30am!
Forza Italia: Cattaneo and Deho On Top After Stage 3 Time Trial Win
Stage 3 Nipika to Nipika Distance: 49ish km Climbing: 1514 meters Descending: 1518 meters
Two days of climbing may have taken their toll, but today TransRockies riders were treated to a few extra hours of sleep. Those at the top of the standings received start times throughout the afternoon, meaning teams had time for a leisurely breakfast, a photography session in the scenic Nipika meadow and a chance to cheer on new friends as they made their way out of the chutes and onto the incredible trail system at Nipika Mountain Resort.
Designed by landowner Lyle Wilson, today’s trail was a big hit with weary riders and the spectacular singletrack was a much-needed reward after two grueling days coming down from the Purcell mountain range and up and over the formidable western slopes of the Rocky Mountain range. Much of today’s trail was cut especially for TransRockies by Wilson, and the pride of workmanship and desire to create something both scenic and challenging paid off, as many riders were overheard expressing a desire to return in the future with friends and family.
Highlights of today’s stage included incredible remote Rocky Mountain singletrack and the return of summer temperatures after two wet days and an equal number of cold nights. The stage was also lauded for the best scenery of the past three days, as the trail had riders cruising singletrack high on the sandy ridge above the aquamarine Kootenay River.
After a stage which was neutralized due to a huge off- course excursion by many of the leading teams, Stage 3′s time trial was a chance to start moving around the standing again. Despite a strong challenge from second-placed riders Kris Sneddon and Max Plaxton, the Italian duo of Johnny Cattaneo and Marzio Deho won their second stage with a slim 36-second margin over the local challengers finishing with the fastest time on the day of 2:20:40. Stefan Widmer and Marty Lazarski rounded out the top 3 on the day and held onto the last podium spot in the overall with a very strong 2:24:03 time.
In the Open Mixed division, last year’s champs Wendy Simms and Normom Thibeault of Frontrunners/Kona crushed all comers again with a 15-minute win over Team Clif Bar Pro Katerina Nash and her partner Steve Wallace. After only two stages, the Kona duo already has a nearly half-hour lead in the overall.
With over 70 teams entered, the 80+ Mens Division always offers some of the closest racing of the TR. This year, it looks like it will no exception as Team Deasgoat duo of Pat Doyle and Geoff Clark closed the gap to Stage 1 Winners Team Wobblenaught with a win in today’s time trial. They beat the overall leaders by 20 second and closed the overall gap down to a mere 31 seconds. This looks like it will be a battle all the way to the finish line in Fernie.
Let’s hope teams enjoyed their leisurely Nipika stay – leisurely, that is, when compared with Stage 4, which features 109 kilometres of some of the Kootenay Rockies most remote terrain with over 2500 metres of climbing throw in for good measure. This part of the Kootenays is a well-kept secret for many local riders, and the long day will pay off in spades as the journey through this spectacular mountain oasis will give newcomers an authentic Canadian Rockies epic mountain bike experience.
The Paul Newitt Files: Stage 2
Day two started early, the traditional 8:00 am start time prompting riders to squirm out of their tents as early as 5:30 to begin the day’s rituals. Preparing for each stage is as important at the TR as the ride itself and time management becomes critical. Food, fluid, more food, and changing into the day’s gear in the confines of a 7×7 tent push people into a level of efficiency that few experience. It’s an amazing skeptical to watch the TransRockies camp come to life each morning and itÕs even more amazing that everyone makes it to the line in time for the blare of Highway to Hell — the TR’s official 30 seconds to start soundtrack.
Today’s start was well attended, the staging chute full of riders shivering in the early morning chill before heading out on a ride of unprecedented proportions. Over 3800 meters of vertical, built into three massive climbs, stood between K2 and Nipika.
As the gun fired to officially start Stage Two, riders were treated to a relatively casual burn around K2 ranch before heading onto a smooth section of highway. As per most highway sections in the TR, the mass of riders splintered into dozens of smaller groups, each finding their own pace to tackle this monster day.
It wasn’t long before the grade began to harden up and splinter the groups into even smaller cells of riders. A nice mix of single track and jeep track led riders high into the Kootenay Stanford Range as heart rates began to climb. Stunning views of Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake, the birthplace of the mighty Columbia River, accompanied TransRockers as they headed toward their first big challenge of the day, a hike-a-bike section so severe it brought tears to the eyes of those who looked up its sheer slopes.
But tears were not only filling the eyes of those on the lower slopes looking towards the treeless alpine and the mass of riders above, they also flowed from those at the peak staring down as the realization of a missed turn became apparent. Riders had been carrying their bikes on their backs for over 30 minutes, up a slope so steep and loose each step measured maybe 20 centimeters at a time. It was one of the most amazing TransRockies visuals ever seen, literally hundreds of riders snaked single file up the side of a mountainous debris torrent, wondering what went wrong.
By the time “What went wrong” was sorted out and the actual turn was identified, hundreds of riders from the back of the pack had already entered the next section of technical single track. The unfortunate consequence of simply missing a turn was a huge loss of energy to an unnecessary climb, a massive traffic jam in the single track, and a complete cluster in the overall standings. Teams from the back were ahead of the more skilled and fit riders causing a complete stand still in the single track. At some points riders were just standing on the trail for dozens of minutes at a time. We all got to know each other very well, and we all understood that we should have listened a little closer to the previous nights course description which clearly stated NOT to go up to the top of the debris torrent.
The rest of the day was spent trying to survive another huge climb up the Bear Creek trail, and sort out the positioning of the teams, A very difficult thing to do considering the amazing, and much loved single track, sections of today’s course. Regardless of the confusion the majority of riders, including the Pros were in great spirits, laughing and joking it up as they politely passed the masses in front of them. Cheers filled the dense forested sections of single track down Bear Creek as more skilled riders put on a show, tackling some of the steep, wet rooted, technical sections, often ending up over the bars in the loam.
As riders pulled into Nipika with fatigue etched into their faces it was pretty evident that it had been a very tough day in the office for most, a tough day in school for others. Concerns were definitely echoing around camp, regarding the false positioning of teams due to the earlier confusion, so TR organizers decided to neutralize today’s results. In essence, positioning from Stage 1 will carry over to the overall GC.
Tomorrow will be a new and exciting day for the TR. A time trial stage will consist of three waves of riders, from the casual to the Pros, ripping around the amazing single track at Nipika. This format will allow for TR participants to actually watch others race, while at the same time limiting trail traffic jams. The whole day is planed around fun and it will be a great recovery day for mind and body after today’s massive ride. See you then.
Stage 2: A Wrong Turn Makes the Biggest Day Even Bigger
K2 Ranch to Nipika Monday, August 11, 2008 Distance: 73.7 km Climbing: 3813 meters!!! Descending: 3641 meters
It was a long day for everyone on the TransRockies trail today, as an already gruelling stage got longer when the front pack went off course and everyone played “follow the lemming,” as today’s 1st Place Open Men’s finishers, Sobe Cannondale riders Mike Garrigan and Jesse Jakomait explained at the finish.
The riders went awry when some of the top teams missed the flagging tape on course indicating a right- hand turn. Instead, the group marched up a steep avalanche gulley shouldering their bikes all the way to the top, missing the turn and finding out, upon summiting the chute, that the trail had gone cold.
“We were so focused on putting one foot in front of the other that we ended up just playing follow the lemming,” said Jakomait. According to him, a group of about 20 riders at the front of the race, realizing their mistake, turned and began backtracking, eventually finding the route and getting back into race mode.
Jakomait and Garrigan completed the course with a time of 5:50:37, about an hour and a half later than the projected top finisher time for Stage 2. Xprezo.ca team Matthew Hadley and Frederic Bussieres came in three minutes later.
“There was a lot of climbing today even without adding an extra hour and a half of uphill with my bike,” said Frederic at the finish line, still sporting a smile but showing signs of fatigue after two straight days of steep vertical.
Steed Cycles rider and recently retired NHL hockey player Trevor Linden also commented on the degree of difficulty for Stage 2, saying “It wouldn’t have been bad had we not gone off course (uphilll) on that scree. It was a big day without that, but that made it massive,” he said. Linden said he was looking forward to the Stage 3 time trial as a much needed rest from Stages 1 and 2. Nipika Mountain Resort promises to deliver that with some exceptional private singletrack along the Kootenay River, bordering Canada’s Kootenay National Park.
