Duehring and Richey win 2018 Vanier Park Cyclocross

Cyclocross is in full swing in Vancouver, with over 400 racers showing up for the classic Vanier Park CX on Saturday.

With a course bordering on the waters of English Bay and a backdrop of the mountains and buildings of Vancouver’s skyline, the city centre venue brings out a huge crowd of racers and spectators year after year. For 2018, Vanier Park CX is part of the Lower Mainland Cyclocross series, which joins several local race organizations together, as well as the Vancouver Cyclocross Coalition (VCXC) series.

Race organizers West Coast Cycling and Trek Red Truck Racing made a few changes to the Vanier course, which stays consistent from year to year, adding more high speed corners, off-cambers, and a set of “Belgian stairs” courtesy of Giant Bicycles Canada. Co-Race director Sven Sturm, sidelined from joining the race a recent accident, roamed the venue with a megaphone and a sizeable neck brace, encouraging racers and heckling friends between podium ceremonies.

2018 Vanier Park Elite Women’s Race

Canadian Olympic medallist Jasmin Duehring won the Vanier Park CX women’s elite race, and customary Vanier loaf of bread. The 2012 and 2016 Olympic track cyclist escaped from Fluevog’s Crit Nasty’s Anne Ouellet late in the race. Ouellet stayed in second, with Cannondale p/b Fortius’ young Lilly Ujfalusi of New Westminster in third.

Kelowna’s Helena Coney (West of Quebec Wheelers / Tag Cycling) followed in fourth, with Melanie Gabana (Steed Cycles) of North Vancouver claiming the final loaf of podium bread in fifth.

2018 Vanier Park Elite Men’s Race

Hot off an appearance at the Waterloo, Wisc. cyclocross World Cup, Craig Richey (Garneau Easton p/b Transition Life Care) was the odds on favourite to repeat as Vanier Park CX victor in the elite men’s race. A lead trio quickly separated themselves from the field. Jacob Rubuliak (Red Devils Cycling Academy) and Parker Bloom (Broad Street Cycles) joined Richey at the front of the race.

Richey’s return to the top podium step at Vanier was briefly in doubt when an untimely dropped chain just before the high speed start straight let Bloom and Rubuliak build up a lead. The two weren’t able to hold off Richey for long. After being forced to chase, Richey set to work establishing a safe lead for the latter half of the race. Rubuliak chased, with Bloom close behind. When the more experienced Richey closed the gap, then build his own lead. By the race’s end, Richey had a one minute three second advantage. The young Kelowna rider held on for second, with Vancouver Island’s Parker Bloom in third.

Garrett Mcleod finished 15 seconds behind Bloom, with Naked Factory Racing’s Nicholas Kupiak eight seconds behind in fifth.

Full results from all categories at 2018 Vanier Park CX can be found at West Coast Cycling’s page here.