Cobble Hill XC 2016

"Starting off with a steep road climb taking you into some undulating trail and then just before you’ve recovered from the first climb, you hit the trail switchbacks all the way to the top"....  Kieran Nilsen on the Cobble Hill XC

This year was Cycle Therapy Bikes Duncan, BC tenth year of putting on this amazing event. Cobble Hill is the perfect place to set up an XC race course with a whole variety of terrain and a great area for the awards, food, start, etc. in the past the cobble hill xc course has been known to hurt, a lot. This year was no different. Starting off with a steep road climb taking you into some undulating trail and then just before you’ve recovered from the first climb, you hit the trail switchbacks all the way to the top. One lap I believe has around 275m elevation gain. Once at the top you descent some crazy loose and fast trail all the way back down to the start where you can begin your second lap; roughly a 30 minute lap. 

I rode hard off the start, jumping onto the wheel of Carter Woods knowing he would set the pace. Eventually he started slowing and I passed him before the trail. When I looked back another ten minutes into the climb I noticed one kid who I had never met before was on my wheel and looked strong. We battled throughout the race, involving a few passes back and forth with a close sprint finish at the end. I managed to win by merely a second as we flew past Collin. I was so happy to have my first win in the past couple of seasons in the island cup series.

The rest of the Trail Bicycles Cycling Team performed exceptionally well in the other categories’ including intermediate men, as Erik Ashton placed 6th and Evan Luksay placed 29th, two very impressive results considering its their first year racing intermediate category. Anja Leikermoser placed 7th intermediate women and Eva placing 3rd beginner women. Emily Johnston had an amazing day as well coming 2nd in the expert women category. Ian Lehton won beginner men, Malcom placed a solid 17th and Hudson Webster placing 5th.

Cobble hill put on an amazing event and I had a great time racing, bonking, and enjoying I nice cheeseburger at the end of the day. Looking forward so much to the rest of the island cup series including the enduro’s and DCDH.

Results:

• Ian Lehton, 1st Beginner Men
• Malcom Lehton, 17th Beginner Men
• Hudson Webster, 5th Beginner Men
• Anja Leikermoser, 7th Intermediate Women
• Eva Leikermoser, 3rd Beginner Women
• Erik Ashton, 6th Intermediate Men
• Evan Luksay, 29th Intermediate Men
• Emily Johnston, 2nd Expert Women
• Kieran Nilsen, 1st Intermediate Men

Thanks so much to our sponsers!! Trail Bicycles, Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd., Wedler Engineering LLP, Rob Nygren Royal Lepage Realtor, Western One, Riverway Dental Inc., Sew What, I Sew, @Airport Service & Ministorage

~ Kieran Nilsen ~