Westside Cycling Classic - Vancouver, BC - June 1, 2008

What do Trevor Linden, Ross Rebagliatti, Derek Porter, Axel Merckx and Alex Steida have in common? Bike racing, more specifically cycling in support of the BC Cancer Foundation. These world class athletes were on hand to support this years Westside Cycling Classic on the streets of Point Grey Village in Vancouver. Before the celebrities and fundraisers took to the 12km loop around the majestic Pacific Spirit Park we had the battle for the 2008 BC Road Race Championships.

The main event was a battle to the end...almost. A large field set out to cover the 140km course, which included 10 "short" loops for a grand finale. The race was on from the gun with Trevor Haaheim – Total Resortation Cycling Team taking an early flier and the first lap $100 prime. With more than a minute gap after the second lap it looked like Haaheim had more than the prime in mind and was perhaps trying get the Trek Red Truck team or the Symmetrics boys to bring him back.

Barely a lap later and the race was over for all but 9 riders of which 5 were from Symmetrics Cycling Team. Christain Meir, Will Routley, past Trek Alumni (Canadian Champions) Cam Evans and Svein Tuft and 2007 Trek Red Truck alumni BC Champ Ryan Anderson,were all up front towing along a few challengers. Jamie Sparling and Tyler Trace (Trek-Red Truck Ale Racing) were all working hard to slow down the yellow express. Lap after lap it was clear that the winner would come from this group and while it was anyone's guess who would win, it was clear it was probably a Symmetrics or a Trek rider.

The Symmetrics pro riders tried methodically to break down the rest of the group. Strongmen Evans and Tuft pulled away with Trek Red Trucks Jamie Sparling to establish what would prove to be the winning move and after a valiant effort to answer attack after attack from his two Symmetrics companions Jamie Sparling finally cramped up and had to let them go. His next objective was to stay ahead of a 3 rider Symmetrics time trial squad of Routley, Meir and Anderson. The Trek-Red Truck Ale rider was a crowd favorite for his struggle to get a podium spot but even the cheers from adoring fans wasn't enough to stave off the Symmetrics train and he settled for sixth ahead of his teammate Tyler Trace and Kona-Adobe's Howard.

In the end the Trek Red Truck Team put 3 of its riders in the top 10. Jamie took 6th, Tyler took 7th and Rob Britton took 10th spot. Cam Evans of Symmetricstook the 2008 BC Championship. A great day was enjoyed by all with so far over $150,000. thousand dollars raised for the BC Cancer Foundation.

Geoff Rice