Gallery: Silver Goose kicks off Pan Ams with snow, snow and muddy racing

Constantly changing conditions and competitive racing at Day 1 of Pan-American championships

Canadian Cycling Magazine November 4, 2018

Stephen Hyde crests the massive stone steps at Silver Goose

U23 rider Gage Hecht crosses the line solo on Day 1 of Pan-Am's

Stephen Hyde leads Michael van den Ham on Day 1

Michael van den Ham at the Silver Goose in 2018.

Elen Noble jumped out front from the gun in the Elite Women's race

Maghalie Rochette crashed on lap 1, but chased back to third on Saturday

Ellen Noble celebrates her victory on Day 1

Michael van den Ham pushing the pace at the Silver Goose.

Nick Carter won the Junior Men's

The Silver Goose, relaxing lakeside before podium presentations started

Ruby West leads Sandra Walter. Walter would end up ninth, West 11th on Day 1

Jenn Jackson has been at the front of O-Cup races all fall. Saturday rode up to 8th place in Elite Women

Junior men hit the stairs at speed

Junior Men's start

Gage Hecht on the Silver Goose steps with van den Ham chasing

Snow, sun, rain, sleet, a little bit of hail, and a full day of exciting, muddy racing. Day One of Silver Goose Pan-American championships in Midlake, Ont. delivered proper continental championships racing with a challenging course and wildly unpredictable weather.

After every possible form of precipitation peppered the Masters championship races, the sun came out for the Junior and Elite events, solidifying much of the wet ground into a peanut butter-thick substance that clung to drivetrains.

The opening day of Silver Goose crowned the first ever Pan-American masters championships. These title events were followed by Junior and Elite C2 level race, as the pro and aspiring riders prepare for Sunday’s continental championship race.