Interbike Awards recognize Pendrel, Britton in mountain bike and revelation rider categories

The 2015 Interbike Awards Gala on Sept. 17th, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a recognition of the industry’s best from the 2015 season — from products to athletes. And to those whose cycling knowledge extends to movies on the subject from the 1970s, the gala’s kick-off included a few happy surprises.

Dennis Christopher, Hackie Earle Haley and Dennis Quad — who played the roles of Dave Stoller, Moocher and Mike, respectively, in the 1979 coming-of-age cycling film “Breaking Away” — arrived to start the festivities at the 2015 Gala, loaded down with some familiar-looking gear. Courtesy of Champion Systems, the three actors posed with “Cutters” jerseys, replicas of the fictitious cycling team’s outerwear in the 1970s movie. Also resembling official gear from the film, a replica Masi road bike joined them on stage, with the simple lines and tight geometry of the 1970s original.

The awards themselves were hosted by American comedian Alonzo Bodden, known for his third season grand prize win on the reality TV comedy series Last Comic Standing.

More than 35 awards in all — the prestigious IB Award — were presented to winners, with Chris Froome and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot winning International Cyclist of the Year in the male and female categories, respectively. Other awards went to Cannondale, whose EVO Force platform won Road Bike of the Year, and to SRAM, whose Force CX1 was recognized with a win in two categories: Road Product Innovation of the Year and People’s Upgrade Choice Award — Road. In the categories of North American MTB Cyclist of the Year and North American Revelation Rider of the year, though, the honour roll decisively favoured Canadian athletes.

The former category, recognizing either a male or female cyclist, was claimed by Fredericton, New Brunswick’s Catharine Pendrel, whose 2015 season — one that hummed with success for the 34-year-old rider — certainly merited the win. After a seemingly non-stop stretch of months for the tireless cross-country rider, Pendrel notably rode to a second-place finish at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, just behind Emily Batty, who won gold. For Pendrel, though, that achievement was just one of many during the season, with a silver medal in Monte.-Ste.-Anne, third place in Switzerland, and victory in the Elite women’s category at July’s mountain bike nationals.

Canada’s Rob Britton, meanwhile, was named the North American Revelation Rider of the Year — an equally well-deserved accolade. A first place yellow jersey-earning finish in general classification at the Tour of the Gila, second at the stage 5 time trial of the US Pro Challenge, and third overall in that event’s general classification honours topped his season’s highlights. For the 30-year-old Canadian rider, the 2015 season, as his award at Interbike recognized, has certainly come out as a force to be reckoned with in North American ranks.

A full list of the awards and their winners follows:

2015 Interbike Awards Winners

North American Road Cyclist of the Year (Male/Female)
Megan Guarnier

North American MTB Cyclist of the Year (Male/Female)
Catharine Pendrel

International Cyclocross Rider of the Year (Male/Female)
Mathieu van der Poel

International Cyclist of the Year – Male
Chris Froome

International Cyclist of the Year – Female
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot

North American Revelation Rider of the Year
Rob Britton

International Ride of the Year
Aaron Gwin

Mountain Bike of the Year
Pivot Mach 429SL

Mountain Product Innovation of the Year
Schwalbe PROCORE Tubeless System

People’s Upgrade Choice Award – Mountain
Bell Super 2R Helmet

Best in Show Mountain
Push Industries ELEVENSIX Rear Shock

Road Bike of the Year
Cannondale EVO Force

Road Product Innovation of the Year
SRAM Force CX1

People’s Upgrade Choice Award – Road
SRAM Force CX1‘

Best in Show – Road
SRAM Red eTAP

BMX Product Innovation of the Year
The Subrosa Street Rail

BMX Athlete of the Year
Nic Long

E-Bike of the Year
Stromer ST2

Highest Brand Profitability to the LBS, Unit Turns
Tifosi Optics

Highest Brand Profitablity to the LBS, Dollars
Lazer

Best Service to the LBS
Kona Bicycle Co.

Best Brand Value to Consumers
Bern Unlimited

Best Brand Value to the LBS
Specialized

Best Distributor Service to the LBS
Quality Bicycle Products

NBDA’s Signature Award
Efficient Velo Tools

International Male Triathlete of the Year
Jan Frodeno

International Female Triathlete of the Year
Gwen Jorgensen

Triathlon Industry Leader of the Year
Challenge Family

Next Generation Award
NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association)

PlacesForBikes Award
Atlanta Beltline

Leadership Award
Deb Hubsmith, Safe Routes To School

Best Urban/Lifestyle Shop
Bicycle Habitat – New York, NY

Best Pro Road Shop
ATA Cycle – Concord, MA

Best Mountain Bike Shop
Absolute Bikes – Salida, CO
Bryson City Bicycles – Bryson City, NC

Best Women’s/Female Friendly Shop
Pedal Chic – Greenville, NC

2015 Retailer of the Year
Landry’s Bicycles – Boston, MA