Giant attacks Delta's rainy criterium

Just when we thought Gastown was the rainiest it can get in July, a the rain warning issued by Environment Canada materialized and the streets of Ladner were sopping by the time the Women's Criterium got rolling. Hometown girl and Giant Team member Claire Cameron was called to the line, along with our top hill-climb finisher Leah Guloien.

We knew that we had the numbers and the skill to win the race, and we started out on the attack from the gun. Multiple splits got away and were brought back, including one particularly dangerous one containing Steph Roorda (Giant) Sarah Stewart (Symmetrics), and a Jazz Apple girl (I don't know them so well yet). It looked like it might stick, but the Trek Red Truck and BH Bicycles teams brought it back.

The Giant Bicycles Team showed itself to be the most dominant team, scooping up almost all the primes in the process. Hometown girl Claire Cameron showed her sprinting prowesse - winning every prime she contested!

With two laps to go, our selfless Alena Radomsky launched a glorious attack, forcing the chase from Jazz Apple and Symmetrics. Jazz Apple's Rushlee Buchanan blazed to the front for the last lap, with Leah Goldstein (Symmetrics) hot on her wheel. Rushlee showed her formidable speed, acting essentially as her own lead out and winning the field sprint - with Giant's Jenny Trew and Lisa Howard in second and third place.

Two steps of the podium was a considerable improvement from our previous criterium showings, but left us hungry for a win.


photo c/o Greg Descantes