Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Marissa Tiel

CHEERING SQUAD– A trio of supporters stands along the highway waiting for their rider to pass during the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay Saturday. The 24th edition of the race featured more than 1,000 riders with 307 teams hitting the highway from Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska.

Image title

Photo by Marissa Tiel

BLOWN AWAY – A cyclist in a banana suit battles the win near Dezadeash Lake.

Image title

Photo by Marissa Tiel

TAKING IN THE VIEWS – A group of cyclists rides through panoramic views during the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay.

Third try the charm as Blackie wins KCIBR solo title

For elite racers, executing a race plan is an art. And during Saturday’s epic Kluane Chiklat International Bike Relay down the Haines Highway, everything just seemed to fall into place for local Preston Blackie.

By Marissa Tiel on June 21, 2016

For elite racers, executing a race plan is an art. And during Saturday’s epic Kluane Chiklat International Bike Relay down the Haines Highway, everything just seemed to fall into place for local Preston Blackie.

Blackie, who was sidelined earlier this year with a bone infection in his tibia pushed ahead at the end of the 240-kilometre effort, to sprint to his first solo title after three attempts.

In such a long race, it’s all about making the right moves early on to ensure the best possible position going into the final stretch.

“It pretty much went to plan for the most part,” said Blackie. “I went with the intention of sitting in the group and conserving my energy for most of the day.”

The lead peloton, including Blackie, Fairbanks rider Tyson Flaharty, Joel Macht, Janna Gillick and Ian Parker (and teammate Steve Ball, who rode the second half of the relay) worked together to ease the strain of the wind.

“You’re riding wheel to wheel,” said Kristenn Magnusson, half of the winning women’s duo. “The trick is to sort of take your turn up front, but not be up there too long... .They’re your competition in a way but also your teammates.”

The riders coasted through legs one to three and the moves started to happen in four and five.

Riders would push the pace and see who could match as that lead peloton shrunk a little every time.

At Million Dollar Falls, Flaharty made a move that no one wanted to match and pulled away.

“We decided he’d have a tough time in the headwind, so we let him go,” said Gillick. “It took a really long time to catch him though.”

Flaharty was out by himself for about 100 kilometres.

The Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay travels through beautiful and diverse scenery, starting in Haines Junction, riders go south along the Haines Highway to Haines, Alaska. Teams of eight, four, two and solo riders all mix together for a wonderful melting pot of elite and recreational riders.

Bananas cycled beside cows and unicorns, as parents commanded the tandem with their kids and more spandex than the Tour de France was on display.

“There’s such a diversity of people riding,” said Magnusson.

The relay also brings people together. While the race mainly sees participation by Yukoners, Alaskans and British Columbians, racers from across North American were in attendance. It’s also a chance for old friends to reconnect.

The other half of Magnusson’s team, Lisa Ludwig, from Cumberland, B.C., is an old friend. They first met at a regatta years ago when Magnusson rowed for the Winnipeg Rowing Club and Ludwig rowed for the University of Alberta.

Their last event together was a mountain bike race in 2008.

Another of Magnusson’s Vancouver Island cycling buddies also made the trek up north for the relay and had quite an impact on the lead peloton.

“There’s never been a solo woman in the lead group,” said Magnusson. “I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”

Gillick, a category two elite cyclist, held her own in the lead group. She knew she wanted to be in the peloton at the start so she worked hard to be there and stay there.

“I was prepared to burn a few matches to get there,” she said.

After Magnusson finished her half of the race, she and her partner drove a support vehicle. The couple ran into Ian Parker, who had ridden the first part of the race with Gillick.

“He was just blown away by her talent. She hadn’t missed a pole,” said Magnusson.

“She was contributing to taking her turn at the front and breaking the wind, which is really impressive.”

The small group of lead cyclists didn’t catch up to Flaharty until leg eight, with about 30 kilometres left to go.

As the group of five rode into town, Blackie and Flaharty started to push the pace.

“Everyone is cooked. No one has legs at that point,” said Blackie. He gave himself a once over, to see what he could be capable of, when he should launch an attack.

“Joel (Macht) jumped first going up the steep part and the other three pretty much took off,” said Gillick. “I had nothing.”

Ball got to the top of the hill first.

“He had more snap in his legs,” said Blackie.

Although Ball crossed the line first, in 7:09:48, Blackie was on his heels in 7:09:49 and won his elusive solo title. Flaharty (7:09:50), Macht (7:09:51) and Gillick (7:09:52) were all with him as well.

“I’m happy for sure. Relieved that it’s done. It’s stressful. This event comes around once a year and it’s a big deal,” said Blackie. “If I blow that final sprint, I have 365 days to sit and think about it.”

And after more than seven hours in the saddle, Gillick is thinking about a return effort for next year.

“The scenery was stunning and the roads were great,” said Gillick. “The support that I got from people and the guys I was riding with was amazing.”

The first team of four across the line was Scott Weersink, Ian Weir, Michael Abbott and Lee Hawkings in 7:27:25.

The first group of eight to ride into Haines was the Whitehorse team of Victor Thibeault, Romeo Champagne, Sasha Masson, Ben Puskas, Derek Deuling, Jude Slater, Dahlia Lapointe and Jamie Phillips in 8:18:07.

Be the first to comment

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.