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Cape Bretoners at the Classic

Stage 1:

There were 11 athletes racing for FrameWork Racing at the 2011 Cape Breton Classic Stage Race. Here is a brief rundown of how things unfolded. After the stage 1 time trial, in category A, Ambrose Delaney of Sydney was fifth, 31 seconds behind the leader, while Daniel Murray of Dingwall was tenth, 59 seconds behind the leader.

In the B category, Sydney’s Chris Milburn won his favourite cycling discipline, the opening stage time trial as the only Cape Bretoner in the field of 15.

Cape Breton was well represented in the C category with Vince Nicholson of Englishtown coming in second only 11 seconds behind the stage winner. John McQuaid of Halifax, who races for FrameWork Racing was third. Tim Brooks of Baddeck was 7th, Andreas Burger of Mabou 8th, and Bruce MacIntyre of Baddeck was 9th, in a competitive field of 14.

Julie Curwin of Sydney, another time trial specialist, won the opening stage in the women’s division, while Andre Gallant picked up the stage victory in the D category. Lauren Roy of Antigonish, riding for FrameWork Racing, was 4th in the D category.

Stage 2:

The addition of a criterium created some great excitement for the riders at this year’s Cape Breton Classic. Racing on a flat, smooth rectangle on the old Sysco property was fast and furious.

After 2 stages, Ambrose Delaney is 7th, 44 seconds behind the leader, while Daniel Murray hung onto 10th place. Delaney’s specialty is on Sunday, when the roads get longer and the hills get steeper. All Cape Bretoners held their positions in B, C, D and womens categories, after 2 stages. The general consensus among the less experienced riders was to ride safely and protect their rankings in the criterium, which can be dangerous due to the very tight turns and high speed. Lauren Roy did not start the criterium do to an illness that has plagued her for the last week.

There was a “race within the race” at the Criterium, with cash prizes known as “primes” to the leader of each category on specific laps of the race. Julie Curwin and Vince Nicholson each picked up one prime in their race.

Stage 3:

The hills around Scotch Lake and Barrachois Mountain was the conclusion to a great weekend of racing in Cape Breton. In the end, Cape Bretoners took home a heap of hardware. The top ranked Cape Breton athlete was Julie Curwin, taking the women’s overall championship. Chris Milburn was the B category champion, while Andre Gallant took home the trophy for the D category, after winning all three stages.  Vince Nicholson picked up second place in the overall C category.  Cape Bretoners now living off the island also scored with Jim Currie, winning the C category Time Trial, and holding his lead throughout the weekend taking the overall C championship. John McQuaid was third overall in the C category.

The “race within the race” on Sunday was the King and Queen of the Mountain. This is an award earned by scoring points on the major climb up Barrachois Mountain on specific laps of the race. Cape Bretoners were shut out of that competition by a strong field of determined athletes.

There are several cash prizes totaling $1850 at this weekend’s event.

Complete results here: Standings