Rally Cycling’s Eric Young won the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix for the third-straight year in Vancouver, BC last night. The Boulder native won the field sprint to tie the record for all-time wins at the event in a field sprint after the breakaway was caught in the closing laps. In the women’s race, Canadian Criterium Champion Sara Bergen sprinted to second place after racing aggressively in front of her hometown fans.
“It feels really special,” said an elated Young. “I’m a sprinter and winning races is my job, but winning a race back-to-back is rare, so winning Gastown again is just amazing. Super special.”
With only three riders in the race, Ryan Anderson, Brad Huff, and Young were tasked with the responsibility of keeping the field together for a field sprint.
“We needed both Ryan and Brad last night, and they both delivered amazingly well,” said Young. “There was a solo breakaway rider and with only three guys, it was a bit touch and go if we’d be able to bring him back. Luckily a few of the larger teams had a man or two helping Ryan. He did a great job, and so it came down to a sprint.”
On the cobbled street of the Gastown district and in front of thousands of screaming fans, Huff towed Young to the front of the field going into one lap to go.
“Brad and I both knew exactly what we needed to do to win the last lap,” added Young. “I didn’t really need to say anything to him. He executed perfectly and had me second wheel with two corners to go. Florence Knauer (Herrmann Radteam) tried to poke up in front of us into the bottom corner, but that just ended up giving me a clean line through that corner with a small gap, and I sprinted from there, holding it to the line. Beautiful!”
Bergen brings maple leaf to the podium
In the women’s race, the team was on the offensive all night, attacking every chance they got in order to make the race as difficult as possible. Despite the many efforts off the front, the peloton chased down every move to ensure a field sprint.
Heidi Franz took control of the peloton inside one lap to go and led through the final two corners with Bergen and eventual winner Kendall Ryan (Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank) on her wheel. Bergen was unable to come around the defending champion and finished in second.
“Tonight was one of my favorite nights ever,” said Bergen. “The fans in Vancouver were amaz and showed the maple leaf jersey so much love!”
Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix Men’s Results
1 Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling 1:17:52
2 Florenz Knauer (Ger) Herrmann Radteam
3 Emile Jean (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
4 Joseph Lewis (AUS) Holowesko|Citadel Cycling Team
5 Quinten Kirby (USA) Marc Pro Cycling p/b Gym One
6 Evan Burtnik (Can) Team RaceClean
7 Brendan Rhim (USA) Holowesko|Citadel Cycling Team
8 Hendrik Pineda (Can) Probaclac/Devinci
9 John Borstelmann (USA) Marc Pro Cycling p/b Gym One
10 Stephen Bassett (USA) Silber Pro Cycling
Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix Women’s Results
1 Kendall Ryan (USA) Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank 1:08:30
2 Sara Bergen (Can) Rally Cycling
3 Marie-Soleil Blais (Can) Desjardins-Ford p/b Cromwell
4 Alison Jackson (Can) Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank
5 Maggie Coles Lyster (Can) TaG Cycling Race Team
6 Lily Williams (USA) Hagens Berman | Supermint
7 Peta Mullens (Aus) Hagens Berman | Supermint
8 Devaney Collier (Can) Cyclery Racing
9 Janna Gillick (Can) Glotman Simpson Cycling
10 Heidi Franz (USA) Rally Cycling
