Maggie Coles-Lyster of Local Ride Racing is starting her 2015 season just how she finished 2014 – winning.
With four national track titles, a national cyclocross bronze medal, and multiple provincial championships from last year, the the 16-year-old bike cycling from Maple Ridge has the bar set even higher for this season.
Coles-Lyster rolled into Penticton for the B.C. Youth Road, Time Trial and Criterium championships May 23-24 and pulled off impressive wins in the criterium and road race, crowning her B.C. champion in those races, along with a solid silver medal ride in the time trial in the junior category.
The wins come on the heels of her May 16 weekend at the Mutual of Enumclaw Stage Race in Washington State. Racing in the pro category 1 and 2 women devision, she placed an impressive second in the criterium in a photo finish, and third in a grueling, 93 kilometre road race.
The young racer is excited about this year’s up-coming Race The Ridge, set for Sunday, May 31 in downtown Maple Ridge, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will host the B.C. road, criterium and time trials for elite and masters riders.
“There is nothing better than being able to race in your hometown in familiar places with people and family around to cheer you on,” said Coles-Lyster, a Maple Ridge secondary student. “I love racing criteriums, and will be racing for a podium at the town core race in Maple Ridge this Sunday.”
Coles-Lyster will continue to train and race in preparations for her first national road, time trial and criterium championship to be help in Thetford Mines, Que. July 2-5. She will then fly home to compete in B.C. Superweek, July 10-18. From there, she will be preparing for Track and Cyclocross Nationals in October, with her sights set on the World Cyclocross Championships in Belgium in January 2016.