Rally Cycling took commanding wins in last night’s MK Delta Lands Criterium with Eric Young and Kirsti Lay claiming victories in the men’s and women’s events. Part of BC Superweek, the MK Delta Lands Criterium is the first race in the series which runs July 7-16 in the Vancouver, B.C. area.

Kirsti Lay solos to victory 30-seconds clear of her teammate Allison Beveridge

Rally Cycling monopolized the women’s race as Lay broke away with teammate and newly crowned Canadian road race champion Allison Beveridge. Joining them was Australia's Elizabeth Williams (Hagens Berman). The trio had established a healthy gap over the chasing field before Beveridge and Lay started to attack Williams. In the closing laps, Lay soloed to a 30-second victory with Beveridge outsprinting Williams for second on the day. In the field sprint, Sara Bergen crossed the line in fifth to give Rally Cycling three riders in the top five.

Beveridge and Lay on the podium

"We have a strong team, so I could risk attacking early,” said Lay "We started with the plan to read the race and see how it played out. The team has a lot of cards to play, so it leaves us with options, and we just have to race our bikes. Allison is riding well, so we started to attack because we didn't want it to come down to a three-up sprint. It was a lot of fun, and it's always great to get a win for the team.”

Eric Young on his way to victory

In the men's race, an 11-rider breakaway established itself early and would battle for the day’s top prize. Representing Rally Cycling was Young and teammate Pierrick Naud. Both riders recently showed their good form by claiming silver medals in their respective National Criterium Championships. In the finale, Naud led out the group before Young swept through the final corner in the first position and powered to the line to claim victory. Naud crossed the line in eighth.

"If it looks easy, it wasn’t," said Young. "The finish was hectic, and the sprint to the line is short. Whoever had the momentum through the last corner was probably going to win – thankfully Pierrick sent me through there in the first position.”

Young on the top step of the podium

Both Young and Lay will start Saturday’s Ladner Criterium in the series leaders' jerseys. The racing then continues on Sunday at the UCI Delta | White Spot Road Race. On Tuesday, the men and women will tackle a new event to the series, the New West Grand Prix criterium, in preparation for the historic Gastown Grand Prix. Gastown is the richest criterium in North America with $12,000 going to the first rider across the line.

MK Delta Lands Criterium | Women
1. Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling
2. Allison Beveridge (Rally Cycling)
3. Elizabeth Williams (Hagens (Berman | Supermint)
4. Leah Kirchmann (Team Sunweb)
5. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling)
6. Joelle Numainville
7. Karlee Gendron (Rise Racing)
8. Jessica Mundy (Colavita - Bianchi)
9. Jamie Gilgen (Rise Racing)
10. Annie Foreman-Mackey (Sho-Air Twenty20)

MK Delta Lands Criterium | Men
1. Eric Young (Rally Cycling
2. John Murphy (Holowesko|Citadel)
3. Florenz Knauer (Stradalli-Safatti)
4. Felix Cote-Bouvette (Garneau-Quebecor)
5. Elliott Doyle (Garneau-Quebecor)
6. Davide Vigano (Team Cinelli Chrome)
7. Campbell Stewart (Cycling New Zealand)
8. Pierrick Naud (Rally Cycling)
9. Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling)