Four Jasperites made the trek down to Canmore to compete in the 2016 Alberta Cyclo-Cross Provincial Championships, Sept. 18.
Cyclo-cross racing combines cross-country riding with obstacles that force the rider to either challenge the obstacle on their bike, or quickly dismount and climb over it before continuing on.
In the elite women鈥檚 race Meghan Osborne and Kara Hagedorn made the first split with a quick start. As the pace picked up, the group fragmented leaving racers scrambling to find wheels to stay out of the fierce wind and close the gap on the leaders. Osborne ended up in a dogged solo pursuit to try and catch the leader, but in the end came up just short, finishing in second place.
Further back, Hagedorn found a new nemesis with a certain switch back and after crashing hard, fought back to finish ninth, sporting some new war wounds and a longing for redemption.
On the men鈥檚 side, Derek Anderson and Matt Staneland lined up in the men鈥檚 masters 30-39 race. After a quick start, Staneland found himself in the lead group with Anderson chasing a few seconds back. Two laps in, Staneland attacked on a short climb and opened up a gap on the rest of the field allowing him to secure his third provincial title in four years.
Shortly after, Anderson, racing only for his second time, won an amazing sprint to the finish to secure sixth place.聽
Riders who are interested in learning more about cyclo-cross, the Jasper Park Cycling Association will be running WiCXed every Wednesday this fall leaving from Wicked Cup at 6:15 p.m.聽
Matt Staneland special to the fitzhugh
