Maggie Coles-Lyster, 13, of Maple Ridge led the charge to the top of the podium for her Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ teammates in the B.C. Cup Cyclocross race held at Vancouver’s historic Vanier Park on Sept. 30.
“I had so much fun out there,” said Coles-Lyster, who passed the entire junior boys’ field in addition to all of her female competitors. “I just love racing cyclocross and it’s so cool to be able to do it in such an amazing location.”
After handily winning the junior race, Coles-Lyster loaned her women’s specific Giant cyclocross bike to elite category teammate, Sandra Walter, who went on to score the victory in her competition.
“It was a great battle out there with Jean Ann [Berkenpas of Maple Ridge]. I really didn’t expect to win, but I felt strong. I’m super proud of my teammate, Steph [Roorda of Vancouver], finishing third. This is her first season of cyclo-cross. She’s doing great,” said Walter. “And I’d like to thank Maggie for letting me borrow her bike. I will need to get my own now!”
“Our squad is one of the province’s most recognized cycling teams out there,” said Team Manager and Local Ride Bike Shop owner Barry Lyster, who is organizing a Halloween-themed cyclocross race, the sixth annual Pumpkin Cross, in Maple Ridge, on Oct. 28.
The team’s next race is the B.C. Cyclocross Championship to be held in North Vancouver on Oct. 21.