May 1st 2024 – PNW Racing made their way towards Central Washington for Tour de Bloom Stage Race, in Wenatchee. The Alberta crew flew into Seattle, joining the rest of the Team driving from BC. With a day allocated to building bikes, team meeting, a training ride in Waterville, race prep, they geared up for the four stages ahead. The quaint farming town of Waterville set the stage for Stage 1 ~ 59 Mile Road Race through the rolling wheat fields. With 77 riders in the Cat 2 Men’s field – our Junior Men were focused and the anticipation to the race was high. At 9:10 am they were off for the first lap. Word came from one of our riders that Colton had flatted midway through the first lap, a setback amidst the otherwise smooth start to the race. Lap 2 saw Monty and Ben off the front as they came through feeds, which injected some excitement into the race yet the open country roads kept everyone within sight, making it difficult for a breakaway to stick.
The finish unfolded on a slight incline, prompting the team to position themselves for a lead-out early in the final miles. Our co-captains were leading out their riders when misfortune struck yet again. Ben suffered a flat tire at the 2km marker, while Graham accidentally clipped the 1k sign, tearing a hole in his jersey. Despite these setbacks, Graham recovered and sprinted to a commendable 5th place finish after losing Monty’s wheel. It was a tough but ultimately rewarding day—our riders finished strong and prepared for the challenges that lay ahead in the upcoming stages.
Saturday greeted us with rainy skies. A cool dreary morning for the Palisade 8.5 Mile TT through a picturesque valley in central Washington. Despite the weather, our team achieved some impressive results, propelling two riders into the top 10 in the general classification. We felt good going into the much anticipated, Wenatchee Criterium. The lingering question hung in the air, would the rain persist for the Crit?
As we set up trainers and rollers for warm up near the town bench, the rain tapered yet the absence of sunlight meant the roads remained slick. The Crit, a 1 km circuit, with brick road sections, a challenging downward corner, and an uphill stretch, promised an exciting race on wet roads.
At 6:25 they were off and did PNW GO! Attacks started from the first corner, setting a relentless pace. Every lap, a different PNW rider moved to the front, launching successive attacks that kept the competition on edge. Thirty minutes into the race, PNW had captured the crowd’s attention with attacks from different PNW riders and Ben clinching both Primes, cash and points for CG in the intermediate sprints. On the final bell lap, it was an all-out sprint to the finish line. Monty and Oscar narrowly missed out on victory to another rider. Nevertheless, PNW emerged with all our riders in contention and two claiming podium spots—Monty in 2nd and Oscar in 3rd. It was an epic race, and the post-race atmosphere and vibe was a testament to this Jr team’s teamwork in a Cat 2/3 men’s field.
On Sunday, the final day, Stage 4 Plain Road Race stretched out over 75.2 miles under overcast skies. The route comprised three laps on winding roads, with a 1.7 Km hillclimb finish. It promised to be a test, with Monty and Ben firmly positioned in the top 10 of the CG, the strategy was clear: prevent any breakaways and maintain a cohesive peloton until the last 1.7 Km. Given the twisty mountain roads it would have been easy to get away and out of sight. But Graham took charge, supported by Oscar, Aaron, and Colton maintaining tempo, they crushed it! Keeping the group together, it was a demonstration of what true teamwork looks like. As the peloton remained intact heading into the climb, the stage was set, the climb was fair game.
Throughout the grueling ascent, Ben and Monty positioned themselves near the front, with Colton strategically a few places back, while Oscar, Aaron, and Graham held steady in the middle of the pack. Despite the visible strain of the incline, their determination never wavered. From the sidelines, all we could do was hope for their resilience. The team’s efforts paid off as news that Monty secured 2nd place, with Ben closely behind in 3rd, and Colton an impressive 9th. It was a resounding success, a testament to the collective strength and unity of this team. In that moment, the final CG standings mattered little—the accomplishments of the weekend exceeded all expectations.
The team had only raced together three times before Bloom, but their achievement showed their dedication and hard work. Congratulations to Aaron, Ben, Colton, Graham, Monty, and Oscar—your triumph proves your perseverance and teamwork.
