After two intense weekends of cycling, first a mountain bike stage race and then Yukon Energy Road Cycling Championships, U Kon Echelon cyclists did not rest on their laurels. Instead, they strapped their bikes to their racks and headed down the Alaska Highway to vie in the Tour de Haines Junction.

The stage races began Saturday, first with a time trial followed by a hill climb. On Sunday, they competed in a 72-kilometre road race.

Even before the races began, the club was out training on the summits around the Kluane area – as U Kon Echelon head coach Trena Irving said, their legs were feeling it.

“The kids were amazing and all did awesome,” said Irving.

Having lived in Haines Junction for about two years, Irving said she can confidently say it is difficult riding.

“Haines Junction is always windy,” said Irving. “It’s never still, there is always a headwind or a crosswind.”

Competing in his first races was U11 Elijah Jenner, who did the 10 kilometre time trial in 44:37, the eight-kilometre hill climb in 38:45 and the 12 km road race in 45:02.

Making his results more impressive is he competed on a mountain bike.

Alex Labarge topped the U13 boys class by posting an accumulated time of three hours, 48 minutes over the three stages.

Like the Yukon Energy Road Cycling Championships, U15s Mack Jenner and Taiga Buurmann were locked in a tight race throughout the weekend.

Mack posted the quicker time in the 20 kilometre time trial, he had the fastest trial of all males, and the speedier hill climb.

Buurmann eked out the win on the 72 kilometre road race in an exciting uphill sprint to the finish but it wasn’t enough to gain ground on his fellow cyclist. Unlike the races the previous week, Mack came out the winner.

Veronica Porter, U19, Rod Savoie, master, and Ava Irving-Staley, U17, had a healthy competition going on.

Porter finished first in the hill climb and road race, Irving-Staley had the fastest time for females in the time trials.

Savoie was joined by another race veteran Sandy Birrell. Irving said they helped the youth push harder. Birrell and U15 racer Tori Vollmer had an exciting sprint to the finish in the hill climb. Birell also helped Laberge in his road race.

Irving said Savoie raced with the main groups and really helped push the pace.

Although there was no drafting, Irving said they still raced in a peloton.

“When working with people in a group you work together and hold that pace,” said Irving. “You don’t try and rocket out too much and you save the race tactics until the end.”

Irving said the club is going to take an easy week before training ramps up again.

Although U Kon Echelon doesn’t have any races they are hosting on the slate the plan is to remain busy.

Irving said she hopes to have cyclists out for Contagious Mountain Bike Club’s Royalty of the Canyon races on August 22. They are also looking at three Velonorth Bike Club events spanning the end of August to September.

As school is about to go back in session, Irving is hoping to run some mountain bike races if it is permissible with current COVID-19 rules.