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Sports Briefs: Routley fifth in first stage of Coppi e Bartali

Whistler's Will Routley has been an outstanding addition to the Team Spidertech, presented by C10, Canada's foremost road cycling team, the only team based in Canada with UCI Continental Cup status.
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Whistler's Will Routley has been an outstanding addition to the Team Spidertech, presented by C10, Canada's foremost road cycling team, the only team based in Canada with UCI Continental Cup status. In addition to top results in North America, he has been establishing himself as a top rider in European races with a second place finish at the Tro Blo Leon in 2011 and, earlier this season, a third-place finish in the opening stage of the Veulta a Andalucia.

On Tuesday, Routley placed fifth in the first stage of the Coppi e Bartali in Italy, a 140km race from Misano Adriatico to Riccione.

Routley stuck with the large breakaway group from early in the race, which held together more or less through the final sprint. With a time of three hours, 16 minutes and 31 seconds, he averaged over 42km/h from start to finish.

Whistler riders on the road in Escape Velocity Spring Series

It's difficult to imagine cycling at this time of year when every day brings more snow to the Whistler area, but a few local cyclists have been making the trip to the Lower Mainland recently to race in the Escape Velocity Spring Series road events.

It hasn't been fun necessarily. Trevor Hopkins called the race this past weekend "some of the worst Spring Series road race conditions I've ever raced in with snow, pissing rain, wind and temperatures running between zero and plus-three. Surprisingly there was still a huge turnout of die-hard racers that came out like it was a warm, sunny day."

Saturday's race, number three on the calendar, took place in Bradner with rain from start to finish. Hopkins stuck with the peleton through the last lap, when they managed to reel in two of the four riders that broke early in the race. He was ninth overall after the sprint.

Sunday's race was on the Atomic race course in West Abbotsford. The temperature dropped to zero and it was snowing at the start, prompting the organizers to chop off a lap and reduce the distance from 100km to 80km. Hopkins finished his day in sixth in B Grade, unable to bridge up to the lead group this time. Jean-Phillipe Boulais raced in C Grade for Team Whistler but was forced to drop out because of the conditions.

Hopkins also raced the previous week on Mar. 11 in Aldergrove, in more bad weather. Hopkins finished 12th in B Grade and Boulais finished mid-pack in C.

This weekend a larger Team Whistler group will head to the SpringSeries Stage race, which features a time trial and criterium on Saturday and a road race on Sunday.

Showcase Showdown details coming

The 15th annual Showcase Showdown snowboard competition is set to take place on Saturday, Mar. 31 at the base of Whistler Mountain. The event will have an urban skateboard theme. Spectators are welcome.

This year the athletes will be competing for $5,000 in cash and prizes from sponsors at Sandbox and Dakine.

Qualifiers will run from noon to 4 p.m., and the finals from 5 to 6 p.m.

For the record

In last week's coverage of the J1 nationals we mistakenly listed the Whistler Mountain Ski Club's Charlie Renzoni as finishing third in the women's giant slalom. It was actually a girl, Charley Field, who had that honour. Our apologies to both Charley and Charlie.

WORCA Bike Swap May 5

It may not seem like it with snow still falling to the valley, but mountain bike season in Whistler is only four to six weeks away. In Squamish and Pemberton it's been on since the warm, dry spell in February.

If you're in the market for a new bike and want to sell your old one or in the market for a used bike, the Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) has announced that the 2012 Bike Swap will take place on Saturday, May 5.

Details are still to be announced but the event has taken place at Whistler Olympic Plaza the past two years. The general idea will be the same — people pay for tags to sell items through the sale and a portion of the proceeds go to WORCA. As well, bike shops and rental companies will be on hand to sell items at their own tents, giving a portion back to WORCA.

All of the money raised from the swap goes into WORCA's youth programs, including the high school race team, WORCA Youth Dirt Camps and Youth Toonie Rides.

Last year the swap sold $110,000 in bikes and bike merchandise, raising almost $13,000 for youth.

More details will be posted when available at www.worca.com.

Finals KVRS event cancelled, overall winners announced

With heavy snow through the week organizers had no choice but to cancel the seventh and final event of the Kokanee Valley Race Series Thursday, March 15 — the annual dual giant slalom and team event.

With the series now wrapped up the top athletes in every category over the course of the season were finalized.

Ian Stirk and David Eastwood both competed in every event in the Male 19 to 29 category, with Stirk besting Eastwood four out of six times to win the category with 440 points to 380.

In Men 30 to 39 in was Daniel Moore on top with 420 points in five races, followed by Ken Pedersen — who won all three races he entered — with 300.

In 40 to 49 it was John Muzillo with 420 points, followed by Geoff Gerhart with 380. If Gerhart made the first race it might have been a different outcome. Also worth noting is ski coach Rob Boyd, who won all three races he entered.

In 50 to 59 the win went to Tenney Wilkins who made all six races and finished with 440 points. Phil Beauregard made four of six races and was second with 315.

In 60 to 69 the series went to Paul Psutka with 480 points, winning four of the five races he entered. Ken Chaddock was second, winning two of the four events and finishing with 360 points.

David Trussler won all six races in 70 to 79 to finish with 500 points (only best five of six races are counted), followed by Lloyd Henderson with 400 points, finishing second in all six events.

In Men 80-Plus it was a tie between Doug Deeks and Werner Himmelsbach.

None of the women in 19 to 29 entered more than two events to qualify for an overall, and Sarah Colpitts and Jennifer Moore tied with 160 points.

In 30 to 39, Kristi Hirsh was first with 400 points, winning four of four.

40 to 49 was close with Kim McKnight winning all four races she entered to finish with 400 points. Heike Stippler won two races and placed in three others to finish second with 375.

Janine Linder Joris and Kary Firstbrook tied in 50 to 59 with 280 points each on the basis of two wins and a second place.

Joy Fera won Women 60-Plus with 480 points, competing in five of six races and winning four of those. Grace Oaks was second with 360 points.

David Ball was the top snowboarder with 400 points, and Hugh Berwick the top telemarker with 280.

WeRun Wednesdays underway

Run With It Accessories and Apparel is hosting a series of Wednesday group runs, starting at 6 p.m. and meeting at the Dubh Linn Gate Irish pub. To take part you need to be a member of the Whistler Running Club.

If you can't make the run but would like to know more the after-party is at 6:45 p.m.

5 Peaks announces new Whistler Ultra

5 Peaks Adventures have been bringing the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series to Whistler for over a decade now, but starting in 2012 they'll be doubling down by bringing two events to the resort.

The 5 Peaks Whistler run will take place as usual in August with Enduro and Sport courses in the Whistler Mountain alpine.

New this year is the new Meet Your Maker 50 Miler Trail Ultra and Relay Race taking place on trails around Whistler on September 2. It will be limited to 1,300 participants racing solo or in teams of up to seven.

The map is online now at www.meetyourmaker50.com, and shows a trail that starts in Whistler Creek and follows trails up and over the mountain before coming out at Cheakamus Crossing and Function. From there the trail climbs up over the Rainbow Flank Trail and Alpine Flank Trail into Alpine Meadows. The trail then crosses the highway and heads out to Wedgemont on the new Sea to Sky Trail north of Lost Lake Park before taking Comfortably Numb back to Lost Lake Park. The final part of the trail winds up and around Blackcomb to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, and then down Whistler Mountain to the finish line. If that last section sounds easiest you've probably never run downhill for 10-plus kilometres.

With that much vertical it's going to be a long day, so runners will get underway at 6 a.m. There's a cut-off at 3 p.m. and the race course is closed at 7 p.m.

The cost to solo racers is $145 until April 1. Relay teams are $130 per person.

Locals organize ice dance night

The skating rink at Whistler Olympic Plaza will close after Sunday, March 25, making this the last weekend to enjoy the free amenity.

A group of locals is taking it to the next step Friday, March 23 by hosting "Blades of Glory Whistler – Skate Or It Might Die" to celebrate the rink. The concept is out of the Will Ferrell movie Blades of Glory, and will feature eight same-sex ice dancing pairs. The routines will be set to music and judged for emotion, artistic interpretation, costumes, skill, Whistler theme and judges' discretion.

As well as drumming up support for the rink to ensure it's back next year, the organizers are also using the event to raise food donations for the Whistler Food Bank.

For more, visit the Facebook Page at "Blades of Glory Whistler."

Athlete registration for WSSF is open

In last week's coverage of the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival sports events we neglected to mention that registration is available for The Shred Show, presented by Monster Energy. The article also failed to mention the Open Mogul Duel for snowboarders on April 17 — basically a downhill snowboard race down one of the steepest, most mogul-filled runs on Blackcomb.

The World Skiing Invitational is also the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) World Championships so for the most part it's by invite only. However, skiers can register for the slopestyle qualifier and win a chance to compete in the finals.

For more, visit www.wssf.com.