John Berryman takes top spot at VeloNorth cycling race

Yukon cyclist Ian Parker survived the 'Three Pillars of Doom', but couldn't avoid some bad luck approximately 300-m from the finish line.

Yukon cyclist Ian Parker survived the ‘Three Pillars of Doom’, but couldn’t avoid some bad luck approximately 300-m from the finish line.

Riding in the VeloNorth Cycling Club’s most recent race on Wednesday night (The Three Pillars of Doom) Parker’s front tire blew, causing him to pull out of the competition.

It was a case of bad luck and good luck for the former race record holder, who avoided falling, but the sudden withdraw cost him a first place finish. Parker most likely would have won by 30 or 40 seconds.

Instead, bragging rights went to John Berryman, who in addition to finishing in the number one spot also set a personal best time for this course.

Berryman’s time was 16:24, six seconds faster than VeloNorth president Mike McCann, who finished second overall.

The second annual Three Pillars of Doom race consisted of a 10-km distance. The course is one full circuit of the Miles Canyon Loop, beginning at the at Schwatka Lake Road. It’s called the Three Pillars of Doom because of a trio of hills clustered together around the mid-way point of the course.

In addition to the hills, the race provides cyclists with a tough test in three essential riding skills (time trialing, down hilling and climbing).

Riders left in 30 second intervals and encountered the first ‘pillar’ approximately two-km into the race. After getting over the first tough climb, the road drops down, going right into another hill, which is short, but steep. The final hill is by the turn to Miles Canyon.

The current record for the course was set by Daniel Folmar of Anchorage at this year’s Tour de Whitehorse, held earlier in the cycling season. Folmar completed the 10-km distance with a time of 14 minutes and 25 seconds.

Complete results for Wednesday’s The Three Pillars of Doom race:

1. John Berryman (16:24)

2. Mike McCann (16:30)

3. Scott Kerby (17:17)

4. Bill Slater (17:40)

5. Bob Bowerman (18:20)

6. Bill Curtis (21:16)

7. Ian Parker (DNF)

Other upcoming VeloNorth cycling races include the Skagway Hill Climb Part Two, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30.

The start is set for noon (Yukon time) and the race will begin at the junction of the road to Dyea in Skagway.

The hill climb is 19-km long with an elevation gain of nearly 3,300 feet It ends at the White Pass Summit.

Troy Henry is currently the record holder, finishing the race with a time of 51 minutes and 39 seconds back in May.

VeloNorth concludes its 2009 season with the Last Gasp Time Trial, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5 - on the North Klondike Highway. The Last Gasp is 40-km and uses an out-and-back course.