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Routley guts out podium finish

Rider wraps B.C. Superweek slate with third
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WHERE THERE'S A WILL Will Routley, shown here in a training photo, took a podium appearance during B.C. Superweek. Photo courtesy of Rally Cycling

Racing at home was, unfortunately, a little more painful than Will Routley was hoping for.

As part of a tough few days of riding at B.C. Superweek, Routley suffered a huge crash during the Giro di Burnaby on July 14 when a fellow competitor barrelled into the back of his bike. To make matters worse, it caught Routley entirely unaware.

"Thursday night in the criterium in Burnaby, after the lead-out was done and I'd sat up, it was a calmer go and I was just riding slowly to the finish, someone — I don't know why — was sprinting with his head down and just ran right into me and creamed me," he said. "I went fully over the handlebars. I had a little road rash, no big deal, but I just really hurt my glute so it wasn't really working.

"We were at the back, the race was over, there was only one kilometre to go and we were in 100th place. I'm riding slowly. There's no reason he should have been sprinting fast... I think he ended up breaking his collarbone. He hurt himself pretty good."

However, just two days later, Routley returned to action and took third place at the Choices Markets Criterium as part of the Tour de White Rock.

He aggravated the injury in the process and sat out the next day's road race, but expects to be better in time to head to Central America and race the Tour de Guadeloupe next week.

"Racing that hard didn't make it better, it made it worse, so I'm living with it now and I unfortunately wasn't able to race Sunday, which was kind of a bigger race," he said. "It was very disappointing.

"I feel like I'm recovering day by day but while I'm up in Whistler, maybe I'll see someone and get a better sense of what's going on. I think it's going to be superficial."

Routley races for Rally Cycling and played the role of a good teammate during the Gastown Grand Prix earlier in the week, initiating a breakaway to set the pace and on the final lap, set the field ablaze again to help teammates Eric Young and Brad Huff finish first and second after he crashed into the hay bales late.

"Wednesday night was the real key one we were fired up for and we pulled it off," he said.

All in all, Routley was pleased with the week of racing, especially as it brings together different tiers of riders more than other events he races.

"These are my home races and I've done them over the years and I've had a few wins over the years, a few podiums. I always look at White Rock as the one to win. I was disappointed I was hurt for that weekend but it's just good being part of these events. This is where a lot of young guys learn," he said. "There are some of the local teams and for some, it might be the biggest race they've ever done."