BCBR gets epic on Beowulf

BC Bike Race dipped into epic territory on Stage 4 at SilverStar Mountain Resort. Literally. The day’s route took in the massive, 43-km loop Beowulf. Named after the Old English epic poem, the route goes far off into a deep valley before climbing back out again.

Peter Disera and Sandra Walter wrote their names on Beowulf’s singletrack, taking wins on Monday above Vernon.

Beowulf, the poem, tells its heroic tale over 3,182 alliterative lines. On Stage 3, riders wrote their own epic tale over the course of what felt like thousands of perfectly shaped corners as they descended from the sub-alpine into dry Okanagan dirt and then, finally, a magical pocket of loamy dirt and massive cedars with deep coastal vibes.

Disera conquers Beowulf 

Peter Disera was one rider rising to the challenge. After winning Stage 1 in Kelowna, the Canadian national champion dropped down the standings in Salmon Arm on Stage 2. Today, he was back on form.

“I went out way too hard on Stage 1, but I felt good. I just wanted to take the win and lead off the bat,” Disera said in SilverStar. “I really paid for that on Stage 2, but we made it through.”

Stage racing is a dynamic beast, though. Disera battled through the leaders on the climb out of Beowulf’s depths to take today’s stage win.

“Today was just having fun, I wasn’t expecting to take the stage win. The pressure’s off, because I lost so much time yesterday,” Disera said after reeling in the day’s early antagonists, Geoff Kabush and Carter Nieuwesteeg.

After seeing he’d moved back into third overall, Disera may be shifting his sights back towards the overall. But riding his first BC Bike Race is just as much about the experience.

“I’ve only ever ridden one of the trails this week. It’s very blind racing for me, which is unique. I only moved to B.C. in 2020, I’m pretty hyped just to be here.”

To take the win, Disera still has to get through U.S. rider Luke Vrouwenvelder, fourth in SilverStar, and Carter Nieuwesteeg. The Fernie local finished second on Stage 3, less than a minute off the win, and now sits in the same position in the overall standings.

“I had a rough day yesterday. I bonked in the last 5km and Geoff went whizzing by me,” Nieuwesteeg said after the finish in SilveStar. Lesson learned. The Fernie local went into the descent locked to Kabush’s wheel. “I raced Beowulf back in 2018, so I had a vague Idea what to expect. I knew there was a false flat where I could get by Geoff. But he was right on my wheel after that. It was intense.”

As the miles add up, Nieuwesteeg is picking up steam. The “Fernie Freight Train” rolls into BC Bike Race hot off another stage race win at Singletrack 6, putting him at 10 days of racing in the last 2.5 weeks already. How are the legs feeling halfway into BCBR?

“Surprisingly pretty good. Kieth [Wilson] really kicked my ass this summer to be ready for this. I’m just dieseling through.”

Kaysee Armstrong surges to first BCBR podium of 2022

Another rider building momentum at SilverStar was Knoxville, Tennesse’s Kaysee Armstrong. The Liv rider is working her way back into racing after a knee surgery that disrupted her season. On Stage 3, Armstrong was charging on the descent.

“Today was great! I finally felt more normal on the descents. I’m still lacking fitness since the surgery, but I knew today was my opportunity. I just went ham off the start until we got to the descent and just tried to get by as many people as I could. It was so good!”

The strategy paid off. While the untouchable Sandra Walter and Catharine Pendrel finished 1-2 again on Stage 3, Armstrong was able to hold her position on the long climb out of Beowulf back to SilverStar Village. It’s her first podium this week, but brings her in touch with the tight group of racers fighting for the final podium position.

“I’m racing to get back in shape, so maybe by the last day I’ll be super fit! Maybe I’ll just keep on the podium all week.”

If anyone can fight back into the race, it’s Armstrong. The Tennessee rider already has five appearances, including one year volunteering and two BCBR overall podiums to her name and is stoked to be back to try for another.

“Any time I get the opportunity, I’m here. I just love it. There’s so much singletrack and I just love the crew. Knee surgery knocked me out of Life Time GP, so here I am living my better life!”

Open Women’s Results
Sandra Walter – 2:45:37
Catharine Pendrel – 2:51:37
Kaysee Armstrong – 2:57:00

Open Men’s Results
Peter Disera – 2:16:47
Carter Nieuwesteeg – 2:17:28
Geoff Kabush – 2:18:01

Full Results BCBR

Full Results  BCBR