Gastown Cooking

The USA Crits Series made a stop north of the border yesterday evening for the BC Cancer Foundation's Tour de Gastown in Vancouver, BC.

Both the women's and men's field saw dramatic sprint finishes that sent the residents of Vancouver home smiling. Gina Grain (Webcor Builders) of Burnaby, BC took the 36km women's race just edging out Cheerwine's Kelly Benjamin. While North Vancouver's own, Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics) beat Australian Hilton Clarke (Toyota-United) to the line in the 60km men's race.


Grain, who was just named to the Canadian Olympic Track Team in the Points Race, is now a three time winner of the event taking two in a row back in 2005 and 2006.

Despite her second place finish, Benjamin remains in second in the Women's USA Crits standings behind current points leader, Jennifer Wilson (Vanderkitten Racing) who finished in 12th. The top two women's teams, Cheerwine and Vanderkitten, will renew their battle this weekend as the series takes a stop in Boise, Idaho.

Women's Results
1 GRAIN Gina (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)
2 BENJAMIN Kelly (Cheerwine Pro Cycling)
3 CORSET Ruth (Jazz Apple Cycling Team)
4 TESTROETE Alison (Aarons Women's Professional Cycling)
5 HOWARD Lisa (Giant Bicycles/Team Whistler Canada)
6 TREW Jenny (Vanderkitten Racing)
7 SANBORN Melissa (Vanderkitten Racing)
8 PRYDE Susannah (Jazz Apple Cycling Team)
9 KROEPSCH Lara (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)
10 HANLEY Monique (Team Type 1)

Men's Results
1 PINFOLD Andrew (Symmetrics Cycling)
2 CLARKE Hilton (Toyota-United)
3 BELL Zach (Symmetrics Cycling)
4 ELKEN Evan (Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling)
5 O'BEE Kirk (Health Net Pro Cycling Team)
6 SOLADAY Thomas (Time Pro Cycling)
7 HEKMAN Mark (TOSHIBA-Santo p/b Herbalife)
8 FALCON Yosvany (TOSHIBA-Santo p/b Herbalife)
9 HORNER Chris (Astana Cycling Team)
10 SAYERS Mike (BMC Pro Cycling Team)

Photo: Christophe Ena/Associated Press