Some cyclists can’t make the grade
Saylor’s Hill proves difficult challenge for Steve Bauer Classic competitors
While getting prepared for the Steve Bauer Classic on Saturday, cyclists knew the 13-kilometre course running through Pelham would not be an easy feat.
At the third annual event organized by former Olympian and 11-time Tour de France competitor Steve Bauer — the race was previously known as the Niagara Classic and the Effingham Road Race before it was recently rebranded — about 300 people were registered in 11 categories based on ability and age.
The shortest distance for the earlier riders was about 60 kilometres, while some of the more skilled athletes were expected to hit the 160-kilometre mark to finish their race.
Luke Johnston, a rider from Toronto, was discouraged after his race, saying he went down after losing a wheel on his bike. But despite the unfortunate personal outcome, he complimented the event and its layout.
“It’s a challenging but great course,” he said, still catching
his breath on the sideline.
His teammate Anthony Pearce also didn’t cross the finish line, completing three of the five laps he was required to make it through.
Saying he didn’t want to
“make excuses,” he said he believed riders who are lighter in weight than him had an advantage.
Saylor’s Hill, a stretch of the course that at its most difficult has a steepness of a 15 per cent grade, is what got to Pearce, he said after calling it quits.
“There was nothing I could do physically or mentally to keep up with some of those guys,” he said. “But I got my ride in and did the best I could.”
Bauer said it’s not uncommon for cyclists to not finish the gruelling course and that it’s something that occurs in the highest circuits.
“Even at the professional level, a lot of riders don’t finish a one-day race,” he said.
“It’s a challenging course, there’s no question about it.”
Bauer feels Saturday’s series of races was one of the most successful in recent years, noting that no participants required medical attention and that inclement weather earlier in the day eventually disappeared.
He said rain and wind in the morning did make the course more difficult — a factor most seasoned cyclists have dealt with many times in the past.
“That’s the thing about cycling, we’re exposed to the elements,” he said.
“It’s what makes it a tough sport.”
Hosted by St. Catharines Cycling Club, the event’s main sponsors are Jordan Engineering and St. David’s Hydroponics.
The race is sanctioned by the Ontario Cycling Association and UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and is for licensed racers, attracting participants from across Ontario and beyond.
Results are posted at www.racetiming.ca.