Athletes in costumes met for competition and fun at the 16th annual Pumpkin Cross bike race in Maple Ridge on Oct. 27.
The yearly cyclocross event is a family affair that has become much-anticipated in Lower Mainland cycling, and is geared to riders of all ages and abilities.
It was held this year at the Albion Fairgrounds.
The Elite Women class was dominated by Sandra Walter of Liv Cycling and Team Canada, and the Coquitlam resident finished more than four minutes ahead of the nearest competitor. She shares her racing secrets, and offered a free beginner women's skill clinic the day before the race. Liv Cycling is one of the event sponsors, and brought a Liv Haunted Tent to the race this year.
Also in the Elite Women class were sisters Maggie and Kaelen Coles-Lyster. Maggie is a member of Team Canada, an Olympian, and a professional racer. Both women finished in the middle of the pack. Their father, Barry Lyster is the longtime organizer of the race through his Local Ride Racing business.
There were some fast racers, and the Elite Men was won by Michael Van Den Ham of Chilliwack, who competed in the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.
And the Master A men's class was won by Bob Welbourn of the Escape Velocity/Devo team. The 54-year-old from North Van is a former national champ in cyclocross, and won a close race on Sunday.
For locals, Michael Eberts of Maple Ridge took third in the Novice Men Category, and Paige Nicholson of Pitt Meadows was the top finisher in the U-15 Women race.
Local Ride has spring events scheduled, generally starting on March. For more information see localride.ca
