TransRockies Classic rides into final finish line in Fernie

After seven sizable days, the return of TransRockies Classic mountain bike stage race wrapped up for 2019 in Fernie, B.C.

The final two days of racing sent athletes across provincial boundaries, pushing into Alberta to land in Crowsnest Pass before returning to Fernie, B.C.

New territory in geography was surely matched by new levels of personal and athletic effort for many racers, as the cumulative load from the previous five days racing sat in the legs.

The final two days were far from easy, too. Stage five sent racers 89 km from Elkford to Crowsnest Pass in Alberta. After getting a taste of that provinces version of the Rockies, it was a marathon of elevation gain to get back to B.C. The seventh and final stage of TransRockies Classic 2019 covered only 83 km, but it had a massive cumulative elevation gain of 2,500 m.

In the end, it was Mathieu Bélanger-Barrette and Megan Molnar winning the Solo Open Men’s and Women’s racing. Both riders led from early on, and maintained their positions all week.

Travis Hauck and Nick Gould, who spent much of the week racing with Bélanger-Barrette secured their win in the Open Men’s team of two race, while Annie David and Miroda Otto were the lone finishing duo in the Open Women’s event.

With racing wrapped up for another year, its on to recovery and relaxation for these riders. TransRockies returns to the Singletrack 6 race format in 2020, with organizers planning on alternating formats yearly.