The Rundle Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) caught many an eye at this week’s Banff National Park BikeFest with a solid team showing and some brilliant individual efforts.
Leading the boys in yellow was former cross-country ski racer and Olympian Gord Jewett, whose inspiring effort among full-time racers saw him post fourth-place finishes in both the opening prologue and Lake Louise road race, and a sixth in Sunday’s (June 19) Tunnel Mountain Road Race.
While competing on snow and the road have very few similarities, Jewett admitted his years of physical and mental preparation have given him the confidence to go head to head with the best in either sport.
“We’ve strapped on the skis on some big stages; we’ve stepped up to the start line at some big events,” he said of the mindset of both himself and fellow crossover teammate Sean Crooks.
“You’re relaxed, and you know how to prepare,” he said.
In fact, Jewett was so well prepared he led the entire field in the dying stages of Sunday’s road race, only to miss the jump when national champion and eventual overall winner, pro racer Will Routley, made an aggressive attack that only four other riders could match.
A humble Jewett lamented what he called a “mistake” in letting the group escape, but in reality the team’s showing was nothing short of outstanding.
“Really, for the team it would have been good to get a stage win. We came up a bit short,” said the 33-year-old University of Calgary student.
Nonetheless, the self-proclaimed bunch of part-time racers who juggle full-time family and work commitments moved onto the competitive radar screen with many successes.
“I think it’s the first year that Rundle was a threat,” said Jewett. “It’s a big step forward.”
Of his teammates, specifically Scott Manktelow and Eric Jensen, Jewett said, “people probably don’t realize how impressive those guys are. It’s pretty impressive how those guys do. This year we were pretty strong; there’s no shortage of talent among those guys.”
While the RMCC Category 1-2 riders put on a mighty team showing – good enough for fourth overall, a number of riders in other categories managed to top their respective podiums, including former Olympic biathlete Robin Clegg, who claimed wins in the category four prologue and time trial. RMCC racers Colin Croston, Chris Taylor and Tyson Smith won in the prologue, Tunnel Mountain road race and criterium respectively in their categories.
Former club president Manktelow, who himself had the criterium of his life with an inspiring 11th in the top category in torrential rain, said the results are a result of consistent effort and a nation-leading youth development program.
“I think a lot of people are having fun with it. We have a lot of racers participating, and we have a lot of racers doing well,” said Manktelow. “RMCC as a club is unique in that we’re a fairly complete club.
“It’s finally staring to come around now, nine years after it started.”
Manktelow also said having talented and proven athletes such as Jewett and Crooks coming on board is inspiration for riders who embrace the team mentality required to be successful in road bike racing.
“We expected having Gord and Sean racing would elevate our team’s results, but what happened was everyone’s results were elevated. When you have someone on the team with the capacity to do really well, it elevates the team to push.”
Manktelow said Jewett’s comments prior to the final race were a great observation of where the club is, and where it is heading.
“I think Gord summed it up well in the warmup when he said, ‘I sure wouldn’t like to be racing against us’,” said Manktelow. “I think the club’s best days are ahead of us.”
Full BikeFest results can be found at banfflakelouise.com
