Granted the numbers were very small, and granted it was only a local club race, but racing against older and far more experienced riders, young David Gonda posted the top time in Velo North's most recent race.

This is Gonda's first year of competitive cycling, which was highlighted with a first place finish on Sunday over the tough Range Road Course.

Stretching back to Sean Sheardown some 20 years ago, one of Yukon's first cycling stars, who won a cycling medal at the Canada Summer Games followed by the likes of Scott Stephens, Daniel Sessford, Heather Enders, Jesse Reams, Troy Henry and of course 2008 Summer Olympian Zach Bell, one wonders if the rapid development of David Gonda's talent represents the latest link in that storied chain.

On the last of five circuits of the 8.5 km Range Road Loop, at the base of the last uphill, Gonda emerged from the bunch and followed an attack launched by Joel Macht.

At the top of the hill Gonda went inside Macht around the last corner and edged him by half a wheel length at the finish line.

Complete Results:

Distance: 42.5 km

1. David Gonda - 14:10 / 29:00 / 43:44 / 58:34 / 1:12:49

2. Joel Macht - 14:10 / 29:00 / 43:44 / 58:09 / 1:12:49

3. Ryan Burlingame - 14:10 / 29:00 / 43:44 / 58:34 / 1:12:54

4. Aaron Foos - 14:10 / 29:00 / 43:44 / 58:34 / 1:13:41

5. John Berryman - 14:17 / 29:00 / 43:55 / 58:34 / 1:13:57

The next event in the VeloNorth schedule is the Tour of Whitehorse which runs July 24 through 26.

The Tour kicks off with a 10 km race around the Miles Canyon Loop; aka Three Pillars of Doom on Friday night with registration starting at 5:30 p.m. and the race beginning at 7 p.m. Registration takes place at the entrance to the Go-Kart track on the Robert Service Way.

Saturday will see a one-of-a-kind special event taking place. The road race which starts at 11 a.m. will take place on the new stretch of highway between Granger and the top of the Robert Service Way.

This unique opportunity to race on a closed highway and new pavement is the direct result of co-operation between Yukon Government, the City of Whitehorse and the contractor Skookum Jim's Construction.

The tour wraps up on Sunday with a 20 km individual time trial that starts at 11 a.m. at the junction of the Hot Springs Road and North Klondike Highway.

More information can be obtained by going to the VeloNorth website at www.velonorth.ca.

Article provided by Mike McCann, president of the Velo North Cycling Club.