Ontario Summer Games 2K12

The 2012 Ontario Summer Games were a huge success for cycling! The OCA did a wonderful job running the event. The bus drivers got us to and from York U each day on time. And the food...it was summer game's style!

After much anticipation and excitement it was finally here. This was going to be my last time competing in the OSG's and I was stoked! But before we could even face the excitement of competition there were other 'exciting' matters to attend to; like the opening ceremonies, battling hypothermia throughout the night, and trying to find an available shower in the morning. Don't get me wrong though, it was a lot of fun!

The opening ceremonies were awesome! After eating on a soccer field and being given small, soft, fold-up Frisbees what else were we going to do? The rest of dinner you braced for impact for all the Frisbees flying around, in no particular direction. It was hilarious!
Then we were huddled up in sport and brought into the stadium. Marie-Pierre Nadon, Soren Meeuwisse, Will Elliott and myself got to carry the banner in and lead our sport. When we finally found our seats and our S.W.A.G. (stuff we all get) bags, the show began. With Circus Orange (a trampoline act), cheerleaders and soccer specialists taking to the stage for entertainment. After a lot of talking, two London 2012 Olympians set fire to the torch. The games had begun!

Making our way back to York University via the subway and buses was fun. When we arrived back at the dorms everything seemed a bit chilly; only to find that every AC in the entire building was left on high. We lost most of the athletes that night due to hypothermia...Just Kidding!!! But everyone was frozen.

Breakfast...ummm...this is what they said to us, "You can only go in once, so take all you can and get out!" Bad decision to tell cyclists that. Two plates, pockets full of fruit and almost spilling my juice with every step; but I was well fuelled for the day! After breakfast it was on to the bus and off to Albion Hills.

Day 1 of competition was the ITT (individual time trial). 4.7km course of Albion's finest flowy, awesome single track and we were set! 10:56 was my time for the ITT averaging around 26km/h. It was fast!
Thanks to M&D (Mom & Dad) racing for bringing us blankets for night #2! They were necessary.

Night 2: Shenanigans.....

Day 2 of competition was the XC race in the morning and the Team Relay in the afternoon! The men were doing 5 laps of a longer course, which included the Green Monster. The Green Monster is a hill, it lives up to its name being 10%+ grade and about 350m long.
It was a solid race. I broke away on lap 1 at the Green Monster.  For the next several laps there were solid battles for 2nd - 6th. Will Elliott turned on the jets on the last two laps and took 2nd with fellow team mate Adam Jamieson slaying the last spot on the podium. That's Cathedral Pines 1, 2 and 3.

The team relay...WOW! It was gnarly! Team Central Timmins/North Meets South consisted of Marie-Pierre Nadon, Jake Sternberg, Adam Jamieson and myself. Our rival team of BTG/BCC #1 consisted of Will Elliott, Martin Rupes, Eric Johnston, and Siobhan Kelly. It was going to be close. Marie-Pierre strained her back in the XC race just hours before and we were not sure if she was going to be able to ride. However she was determined! With a lot of taping and icing she was ready. Adam opened a nice lead for the first lap, then MP didn't let too much time go against Martin. Siobhan left with a 2.5 minute lead over Jake; Jake killed it! Leaving only a 20 foot gap for myself to make up against Will. I quickly closed the gap and sat on his wheel, waiting to attack. On the last punchy climb I went, getting into the single track first was good but I knew this was far from over. The entire lap I couldn't shake Will. This was going to come down to a sprint (if there was room to sprint). After sprinting one of the final straights we were just hauling coming into the finishing area. Hitting the last tight 'S' bend I almost died...there was a root that kicked out my back tire and tossed me into a whip. I managed to recover from it but lost significant speed. Will was right on me but wasn't able to cross the line first. That was one tight, exciting relay!

At the award ceremonies team North Meets South took the overall team victory! It was an excellent experience and I am sad that this was the last time I was of age to compete.
For full results go to http://www.ontariocycling.org/race-schedule/race-results/
Next goal: Canada Summer Games!