Subway Cyclo-Cross
Presented by CX Ontatrio and Midweek Cycling Club
Kings Mill Park, Toronto
Nov. 30th, 2008


M1 Start - Photo by Mike Clark

Race Report by Scott Kelly

There's a song about addiction by the Red Hot Chili Peppers entitled Under the Bridge. At some point today, while grinding around in the Humber River Valley under the shadow of the Old Mill Subway bridge, I thought I might know how the singer felt. Addiction must play some small part in why normally sane souls would sign up to race around in freezing temperatures, on the brink of a snow storm, in a windy valley, under a bridge in downtown Toronto. Maybe it was addiction; maybe it was that the proceeds were going to a good cause. Cyclo-Cross Ontario and Midweek CC teamed up to put on the final race in the Southern Ontario Cross series with all the profits going towards the Friends of  Canadian Cyclo-Cross Racers fund. Since its inception two years ago, the FCCR fund has offset over $4000 dollars in costs for Canadian racers attending the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in Europe. A strong turnout of hearty souls showed up today for the series finale and to support the cause and were treated to the second new course in Ontario in as many weeks and it did not disappoint. The course had a little bit of everything (with the notable exception being barriers) and the slick grass and mud put everyone's technical skills to the test. Course conditions worsened as the Master 2 men, Junior Men and Women took to the line.  

 
Carolyn Haill (Chain Reaction) and Rick Meloff (La Bicicletta)- Jon Safka Photo 


The final race of the day and the season was the Senior Men's and Master 1 race. Justin Hines (Handlebars CC) used a combination of speed and technical skills and took home 1^st for his troubles. Paul Greene (Chain Reaction) in only his second race back after an injury sustained at the Valley Park Cross on September 23^rd returned to the top step of the podium in the Master 1 category.


Paul Green (Chain Reaction) - Photo by Mike Clark



Jon Safka Photo
Cameron Jette (Trek Store)


Jon Safka Photo
Justin Hines (Handlebars CC)


Jon Safka Photo
Senior Men Podium