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BC Bike Race heats up

Racers battle high temperatures and each other on singletrack trails

Photo credit: BC Bike Race
Photo credit: BC Bike Race

A heat wave crushed down on coastal B.C., during the opening weekend of the BC Bike race, a seven-day mountain bike stage race. Local rider Kris Snedden suffered through the humid conditions to win the first stage.

Snedden was aided by his Kona teammates. The trio worked together to put the hurt on 2012 champion Neil Kindree, a Specialized/Corsa Cycles rider. Kindree eventually finished second on the day. Despite crashing early in the stage, Kona rider Spencer Paxson regrouped and finished third.

The teamwork of the Kona squad shows just how much Kindree is a marked man this year. During last year’s race, the Specialized rider was able to bide his time, making his decisive moves late in the race. This year, it seems competitors are keen to wear out the champion early and often.

The 2012 women’s champion, Wendy Simms, felt similar pressure in the form of Kiwi rider Kim Hurst. The two were battling hard on the climbs up tot the Forbidden Plateau. However, Hurst made a navigational error, and lost two minutes to the eventual stage winner Simms.

In the enduro division, 2012 champion Andreas Hestler suffered a flat tire, handing the Stage 1 enduro victory to Eric Goss.

The B.C. bike race lasts seven days, with Tuesday’s stage starting in Campbell River, B.C.

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