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Gallery: Perfectly timed sprints rewarded at Choices Market Criterium

Florenz Knauer and Josie Talbot sprint to victory at first event of the Tour de White Rock

Florenz Knauer’s BC Superweek success continues

German-native Florenz Knauer, who now calls B.C. home and became engaged to his girlfriend after winning the inaugural edition of the New West Grand Prix, continued his successful run at the 2017 BC Superweek with the win at the Choices Markets Criterium at the Tour de White Rock on Saturday. It’s Knauer third career win at the Tour de White Rock and it positions him well to earn his fourth omnium title at the event having claimed the overall points three years in a row from 2012 to 2014.

ā€œIā€™ve been here now six years, I know the course fits me and I was totally out for the win. I went in the middle of the hill ā€“ like every year,ā€ explained Knauer about his tactics on the day. ā€œI figured because we had headwind up on the straight, it was a bit early and I had to be careful, but after the crowd prime and the lead out of the Canadian guys, it was perfect for me and I just hit it hard. I opened a gap and saw it could work for me today.ā€

For another round of BC Superweek, Garneau-Quebecor was one of the biggest and most visible teams throughout. It was Felix Cote-Bouvette of the Quebec-based UCI team who finished second behind Knauer. ā€œWeā€™ve been doing pretty well here, and I think we missed a little bit of luck, so we were trying stuff and weā€™re here to race hard. Whether weā€™re on the podium or not, weā€™re going to come out fighting and itā€™s nice to actually get on it,ā€ said Cote-Bouvette

Cote-Bouvette who was Knauer’s teammate at H&R Block a few years ago knew about his intentions, ā€œFlorenz goes early in this race, every time ā€“ every single time! Next time maybe Iā€™ll be the first one to attack, weā€™ll see.ā€

Campbell Steward who won Fridayā€™s PoCo Grand Prix and Thursdayā€™s Giro di Burnaby was third.

Josie Talbot’s perfectly timed sprint earns her first BC Superweek victory

Josie Talbot’s ISCorp team powered by Progress team had their collective eye on victory, not being distracted by chasing primes in the Choices Markets Criterium at the Tour de White Rock.

ā€œWe always come to win the race first and then the primes second. I was just focused on that win because that hill on the top straightaway of the course hurt lots, we didnā€™t want to waste too much energy,ā€ said the 20-year-old Australian who lives in the United States. Her teams game place was to hit the final corner in first, ā€œI never feel confident around these girls. I was just making sure my last push to the corner was strong enough so they wouldnā€™t come around.ā€

JoĆ«lle Numainville was second but riding the event with no teammates comes with a challenge despite her impressive record at BC Superweek in the past. ā€œItā€™s super hard, the young talent from Canada is racing super strong. Maggie Coles-Lyster is there and sheā€™s been there all week, so itā€™s cool to see her. Iā€™ve been coming here since I was 16, so itā€™s more than ten years.ā€ said the 29-year-old Cyclance Pro Cycling rider who’s finished top-10 in ever event at this years series. ā€œBC Superweek is one of the greatest races in the country and I love it. Itā€™s the best ten days of the year! Thank you everybody, itā€™s really awesome!ā€

It was 33-year-old Lizzie Williams of The Hagens Berman-Supermint who was third.

BC Superweek concludes on Sunday with Tour de White road race. The womenā€™s race starts at 9:00 am PDT and the men begin at 9:05 am PDT.