2018 Singletrack 6 off to a Golden start
Jena Greaser and Justin Lindine take early leads in six day stage race
Photos by Jean McAllister and John Gibson
With canyon views and a riverside rollout, 2018’s edition of the Singletrack 6 mountain bike stage race headed out onto the trails of Golden, B.C. on Saturday.
The neutral rollout along the Columbia River was briefly interrupted by an early morning train crossing, giving riders an extra couple minutes to wake up or to calm the pre-race jitters on the opening day of the six day event put on by TransRockies Events.
Stage 1 of the 2018 Singletrack 6 traversed Golden’s CBT Mainline and Moonraker trail networks, featuring fast, flowing trails, along with plenty of climbing to separate the field. After 53 km of racing, and 1,500m of elevation gain, Justin Lindine and Jena Greaser had established impressive leads in the Solo Men and Solo Women’s categories.
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Lindine looked strong in his return from a mid-season broken wrist, and leads Chris Baddick and Evan Guthrie by two minutes after one stage of racing. Tomi Misser of Barcelona, a former World Cup downhill racer, leads the 40+ Men’s category, but with a time fast enough for second behind Lindine.Â
Greaser is off to a flying start in the Solo Women’s race this year. She leads Elyse Nieuwold, Pendrel Racing’s upcoming World Cup rider, and Juliana Bicycles Mical Dyck by six minutes.
The first Timed Descent of this year’s Singletrack 6 ran down the scenic Canyon Creek trail, a high speed run that hangs above a 200 metre drop to it’s namesake creek below. Evan Guthrie and Mical Dyck were the fastest and most fearless, taking the first wins in this race within a race.
Also racing the 2018 Singletrack 6 is Alex Steida, one of the few Canadians to wear the yellow leaders jersey at the Tour de France. Steida is racing with his son AJ. The pair finished day one 65th and 66th in the Open Men’s category.
Alex Stieda on Stage 1 of the 2018 Singletrack 6
AJ Stieda, left, and his father Alex Stieda
The Start of Stage 1
rider: Justin Lindine/1st place stage 1
The Start of Stage 1
rider: Travis Hauck and his bike
The Start of Stage 1
The Start of Stage 1
A week after racing Canmore XCO national championships, Elyse Nieuwold and Rebecca Beaumont settle into the longer distance Singletrack 6 event
Jena Greaser won the Open Women Solo category for Stage 1.
Elyse Nieuwold currently sits 2nd in Open Women
Justin Lindine in the lead early in the 2018 Singletrack 6
Carter Nieuwesteeg racing close to home, and close to the edge
Endurance expert Cory Wallace sits inside the top-10, and will only get faster as the week goes on
Max Schumann and Peter Nilges
Ride along Cedar Lake during Stage 1
All sorts of views during Stage 1 of Singletrack 6
Cole House looks relaxed next to a rather sizeable drop to the creek below
Julien Bouille finding a way through a narrow pair of trees on Stage 1
Michael Robinson finds a natural ice bath for some post-race recovery
