Whistler’s Will Routley is holding his own against elite racers from across Canada and the U.S., finishing 18 th overall last weekend in the Canada Cup cross country race in Hardwood Hills, Ontario.
He finished 10th in the first race two weeks earlier, but with NORBA events no longer sanctioned by the UCI, the field at Hardwood Hills included a number of American riders with their sights set on the World Cup.
And although he dropped eight positions, his time off the pace was almost identical. In the first race at Bromont, Quebec, he finished 10 minutes, 17 seconds off the lead. At Hardwood Hills, he was 11:21 back.
Although he races at the Elite category his points also count towards the Espoir (Under 23) category, where he finished fifth. His goal this season is to finish on top of the Espoir group.
Will’s father Tony Routley, racing in the Master Expert 40 to 49 category, finished in fourth place overall, 6:35 back of the lead.
The downhill events take place this weekend, and Whistler’s Dave Burch and Chris Dewar will be in it. Jeff Beatty broke his wrist in the first Canada Cup at Bromont.
