And so capped off the 2010 Cycle Solutions Ontario Cup Downhill season, as presented by Lapierre bikes…  by Kris Somers

Despite calls for torrential downpours from the weather man, we had a glorious weekend of sunny downhill fun for the Provincial Championships at Blue Mountain.  On race day especially, those who were prepared enough to have brought an umbrella for the so-called “thunderstorms”, found themselves using them to find themselves some shade when watching some of the high-speed sections across the ski runs.  I know that for me, waiting down by the finish line to call out the times of riders, avoided some serious sun stroke by hiding under my little umbrella (just goes to show that it’s not the size of the umbrella that matters it’s how well you’re able to hide behind it).

While the whole race was pretty exciting, Junior Expert was the class that really got my heart pounding.  Notably because team Adrenaline Racer Craig Thompson nearly killed me when he lost control and slid across the finish line, almost taking me out at the ankles at a speed of what looked like 300km/h.  Despite these sideways antics, Craig’s spectacular finish was the end to the fastest run in Junior Expert and put him at the top of the podium.  Patrick McCarter was less than a second slower, and Kris Evoy from Cycle Solutions rounded out the top 3.

In the capstone race of the season, we had a solid number of participants in the female category.  But someone had to win, and that someone was Monica Luebke from Cycle Solutions.  In 2^nd,  was Christine “Christ” Stoneman, a local rider from Collingwood.  Jennifer “Hardcore” Valentine (Yes that is her real name) from Kamikaze Racing took 3^rd.

The Provincial Champ from the Cadet category, Primary-Trek’s Graeme Duff, had a time that would have made him top 10 in the Elite class.  Jamie “Call me Mr” Tice from Silent Devinci took 2^nd, and Adrenaline Racer/TO Wheels rider Deven Chilton hit 3^rd place. 

Elite Men had another battle going on between 3 or 4 guys that all could have landed on top, in the end Harold Woolnough pulled out a decisive 3 second lead to take the Provincial Champ Crown

1 25 Harold Woolnough Silent Devinci Racing 2:25.820
2 1 * Rob Fraser Primary-Trek 2:28.765
3 17 * Matt Zdriluk Lapierre Raceface 2:32.914
4 30 Jeff Faulds Norco Evolution 2:33.860
5 13 * Michael Hermanovsky Bike Sports 2:34.099

                All-in-all, the provincial championships was a huge success.  Blue Mountain continues to be one of the best venues, with some of the gnarliest courses.  Their trail crew continues to work hard to get us a great racecourse filled with awesome and challenging features, and the “après-bike” is just as good, with all the amenities provided by the village (as anyone who ignored the weatherman and came out can attest to).  I’m happy that I get to be a part of such a great community at such a great location.  Congratulations to all the riders, thanks to all our sponsors, "Cycle Solutions, Lapierre, Raceface, POC, XFusion, Fatlip and Norco", and see you all for what I’m sure is gonna be a kick-ass 2011 season!

 Photos Marcel Camposilvan

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EAST Coast Open is under way and its DRY up here!!!

Thats right folks we are about to kick things off and the rain has missed us hitting cities like Toronto to Hamilton in the south

be sure to get your butts up here REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN SUNDAY MORNING!!!

 DH#5  Sir Sams Results