2013 Tour di Via Italia report

On Monday, Jeff Schiller (Jetfuel-Norco) won the 55th Tour di Via Italia in Windsor, Ont. Schiller outpaced his breakaway companion Peter Morse (Octto-Cervelo) to the win the day’s main event. Right from the gun, the 55-lap, 100-km criterium was fast. Other than a crash midway through the event, the race itself was competitive and smooth. Having finished on the podium on more than one occasion at the Tour di Via Italia, Schiller seemed destined from the beginning to reach the top step. As a veteran of the local race scene in Ontario, Schiller is a key rider on the Jetfuel-Norco squad. He is finishing his year strongly, with the Tour di Via Italia marking his second win in two weeks after winning the Tourism London Challenge on Aug. 17.

Race organizer Aldo Sfalcin was thrilled with day’s final event, stating that it was a great spectacle watching Morse and Schiller go one on one in the finale.

Jamie Gilgen (Infinit Canada/Cyclepower) won the women’s event by outpacing Danielle Mckibbon (Novofit-360R), her breakaway companion. The duo won with more than a minute ahead of third-place finisher Sarah Demerly (Cleveland Clinic/RGF).

The atmosphere was energized with excellent weather and a great weekend of local events serving as a platform for the day’s races. The elite men’s race was the culmination of festivities in Windsor, Ont., thus the crowd was entertained, cheering loudly for all the riders competing.

Full results can be found at the Ontario Cycling Association and video updates can be found at the Tour di Via Italia.