What a difference 48 hours makes!

A spring snowstorm that dumped six centimetres of snow on the road Thursday melted away, and good weather and dry roads greeted the 15 riders who participated in Saturday's annual 48-kilometre VeloNorth North Klondike Highway road race.

The race route was from Takhini Hot Springs Road to Lake Laberge Campground Road and back.

A head-wind from the south was ever-present and motivated riders to stick together on the return leg.

The Expert Men division was the largest with nine riders, proving to be one of the more competitive events.

A split was created on the longest and steepest ascents on the course where Stephen Ball, James Minifie, Ian Parker and Dave Gonda were able to create a gap on the pursuing riders.

At the turn-around, their lead was marginal, having been caught by a small but stubborn chase group.

What a difference 48 hours makes! What a difference 48 hours makes! Eventually the four were able to create another gap and sustain their advantage to the finish line.

A group sprint was inevitable and at the finish line it was Ball (1:25:45) who edged out Parker, followed closely by Gonda and Minifie.

In the Sport Men Division, Rob Rees had the fastest time (1:35:05), followed by Lawrence Ignace and Jonathan Lucas in second and third respectively.

In the Expert Women category, Nadele Flynn finished the course in a time of 1:40:04, followed by Trena Irving (1:42:16).

Special mention goes to Caroline Schutrumph, who, on individual effort, persevered through strong headwinds and finished the course in 1:55:15.

Final results:

Expert Men

1. Stephen Ball (1:26:45)

2. Ian Parker (1:26:45)

3. Dave Gonda (1:26:45)

4. James Minifie (1:26:45)

5. Darryl Hansell (1:28:10)

6. Stefan Wackerhagen (1:28:11)

7. Elijah Buffalo (1:28:12)

8. Jerome McIntyre (1:28:32)

9. Brian Macdonald (1:40:04)

Expert Women

1. Nadele Flynn (1:40:04)

2. Trena Irving (1:42:16)

Sport Men

1. Rob Rees (1:35:05)

2. Lawrence Ignace (1:35:12)

3. Jonathan Lucas (1:35:21)

Sport Women

1. Caroline Schutrumph (1:55:15)

– Article and results submitted by VeloNorth Cycling Club