Transrockies Challenge 2003 - Sixth Stage

16.08.2003 - The Transrockies Challenge, the toughest mountain bike race in the world, continued to roll today through the Canadian Rockies, stopping for the last tent city camp at Pine Grove Campground in Kananaskis Country. While backcountry trails have nowbeen closed in the provincial park to reduce the risk of forest fires, the Transrockies Challenge will continue tomorrow as planned to the finish in Canmore, Alberta at noon. Smoke from forest fires in Montana, B.C. and Alberta cast a haze across the horizon, gentle breezes kept the smoke off the course and away from the 150 riders who started the the day.

The adidas / Fiat Rotwild team of Andreas Strobel and Silvio Wieltschnig stayed in front, completing the 70 km stage in 3:32.25 for a total time of 26:32.33. Today's second place finishers, Andreas Hestler and Matt Decore, both of Vancouver, B.C., finished close behind the leaders at 3:38.03, but their cumulative time is now almost one hour and a half hours behind the overall leaders. Third place finishers Barrie, Ontario-based team of Matthew Patterson and Greg Reain pushed for second place today with a time of 4:00.17 for an overall time of 28:25.07.

Christina Begy, from Denver,Colorado, and Louise Kobin, of San Jose, California, completed the day in 4:45.37 for a time of 35:50.12 to lead the women. The 2002 Transrockies Champions (Begy in the women's division, Kobin in the mixed) are still well ahead of the Canmore, Alberta team of Jeanie Godfrey and Valerie Thompson who remain in second place with a total time of 43:16.12 with today's fourth place finish of 6:27.24.

The adidas-Martini-Holltrading couple of Martin and Simone Hornegger, of Austria, also stayed in front of the mixed division today finishing with a time of 4:21.06. They now lead Martin and Karen Masson of the SoBe/Cannondale team by one hour overall with a total time of 32:56.56. The Canmore Bikecafe team of John Gibson and Jean Mcallister remain in third place overall with a time of 34:51.06.

The leading masters team from Quebec, Michel Leblanc, 39, and Gilles Morneau, 44, came in third today with a time of 4:22.36 for a total time off 31:29.07. Today's master's stage was won by the Pedal Magazine team of Paul Newitt,38, and Nels Guloien, 47, of Vancouver in 4:12.29 to rank fifth overall in the division. They were followed by last year's master's champions Mciek Slodyczka,34, and Stand Trebunia,49, in a time of 4:22.34 to remain in third place overall at 33:13.40. Flash5 Ryders/Rocky Mountain/Crystal Decision riders Tony Routley, 47, and Eric Crowe, 43, both of Whistler, B.C, finished today in fourth with 4:38.35 but are second overall with a time of 32:24.33.

Tomorrow's final stage will take riders 3,000 vertical metres along 78 km of mostly double and single-track trails. The course features some fun and fast trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre, site of the XV Olympic Winter Games, before dropping down to the finish line in downtown Canmore.

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