While a blown tire on race day might deflate anyone else’s drive to win, Powell River’s Graham Cocksedge dug deep, pressing on to finish fourth in the over 40 men’s division in BC Bike Race 2015.
The extremely popular seven-day mountain bike stage race takes riders from all over the world on a 400-kilometre journey from Cumberland, through Powell River, down the Sunshine Coast and North Vancouver to Whistler.
“I’ve never done anything this intense before,” said Cocksedge, teacher at Brooks Secondary School and also coach of the school’s mountain bike team.
Riding in second place in his division, Cocksedge almost lost a spot in the top five after suffering a near catastrophic tire failure on race day six in Squamish.
“It was partly my fault,” he said. He ripped the side of his tire open trying to race on a downhill. “But once I get into race-mode it’s hard to keep from pushing myself to go faster.”
Snatching up his broken bike Cocksedge, formerly a member of Canada’s national duathlon team, ran with it for about 15 kilometres—carrying it on his shoulder until the next repair and aid station.
“I was going to finish the day regardless, even if I had to run the whole way,” he said.
That persistence paid off allowing Cocksedge to finish fourth in the ultra-competitive division. He took 29th place overall in the race.
He’s already planning to race next year, this time with sister Wendy as well as neighbours Patricia and Brad Winchell. Cocksedge said they are organizing training rides.
A husband and wife team with Powell River roots also participated this year. Tristan and Carrie Chernove cycled in the BC Bike Race for the first time—cheered on during the Powell River leg by their children and Tristan’s mother Malerie Meeker.
The duo participated in five legs of the race, opting out in Squamish, said Meeker, because of road conditions. Tristan finished 666 overall, Carrie 682.
Of the 622 riders who started the race in Cumberland, and the 711 racing by day six in Squamish, only 562 finished the 2015 BC Bike Race in Whistler.
Tristan Uhl, a competitive racer from Austin, Texas finished first overall. Katerina Nash, an American from Emeryville, finished first in the Solo Women category, 25th overall.
For more information on this year’s BC Bike Race standings and race times readers can go online.
Registration for BC Bike Race 2016 is already 90 per cent full.
