Trans Rockies Challenge: Stage 2

Yesterday was the second day for the dynamic duo, Trev and Charlie at the 2007 edition of the Trans Rockies Challenge. After finishing the grueling first stage it is reported that the riders village suffered a freak windstorm which pummeled tents and caused carnage. Things settled down into the evening allowing riders to rest up for stage 2.

Stage 2:
Stage two marks the first grueling day in the race more than doubling the distance that riders have to cover. With a 3km neutral start (enforced by Canada's Finest: the RCMP) racing began in earnest after the peleton left Invermere. With the GC leaders looking to see how people were feeling launched an early attack shattering the field with all but the top teams hanging on. After a 20km climb up Bear Creek and a precarious and wet descent the trail opened up into friendly territory for our Scheffer Andrew boys for the last 40km. Featuring buffed trail suited to the power riding Trev is known for it can only be assumed the lunch boxes were opened and the boys got to work. Up ahead, the GC leaders suffered some mechanical difficulties and (likely) saw a 10 minute lead cut down to 5 minutes as the rest of the contenders mercilessly pressed on. Welcome to the Trans Rockies folks, the race where a flat is not serviced by a speedy caffeinated mechanic in a team car but by the racer themselves. Fortunes change in a heartbeat. Team Scheffer Andrew finished the stage in an impressive 7th place a mere 16:04 off the leaders. Keep in mind, 10 minutes is a tire change and that is just one of the many possible mechanicals these athletes could face.

The GC at this point:
The GC picture after two days of racing looks like this:

Open men

1 Tim Heemskerk (Can) / Roddi Lega (Can) United Cycle Team                                      5.21.38
2 Matt Green (Can) / Hadley Matt (Can) Rocky Mountain / EAsports                                   9.40
3 Federico Ramirez (CRc) / Ivan Amador (CRc) La Ruta                                              12.54
4 Steve Gaffney (Can) / Brian Cooke (Can) Opus                                                    20.41
5 Henning Dybendal (Nor) / Kristian Torgersen (Nor) Norefjell CK                                  23.26
6 Danilo Mathez (Swi) / Pierre Berberat (Swi) Frenetic-Volvo                                      31.21
7 Ryan Leech (USA) / Chip Kogelmann (USA) VisitPA.com                                             32.35
8 Craig Stappler (Can) / Jon Nutbrown (Can) Ridley's Cycle / Deadgoat                             32.36
9 Mike McKee (Can) / Erik Bakke (Can) Specialized / Solo-GI                                       36.13
10 Trev Williams (Can) / Charlie Cooper (Can) Scheffer Andrew Ltd.                                36.43

As you can see, the spread between the top teams is not huge at this point. A 10 minute buffer between 1st and 2nd can be erased with an ill timed crash or mechanical and with 3rd through 10th separated by only 24 minutes it is safe to say this race is still wide open. Look for the signs of attrition to start showing in the 3rd and 4th stages and the greatest equalizer of all, weather, to join the fray. Today will likely be scorching hot and rain is slated to move in later this week. Things will likely get even more exciting.

Keep on rocking Charlie and Trev.

*source: cycling news (pics and report)