Sechelt's Kris Sneddon has a little over a one-minute lead ahead of Squamish's Neal Kindree after day four of the BC Bike Race rolled through Sechelt Wednesday afternoon.
Sneddon won his hometown stage, his third stage win so far, coming across the finish line at Sechelt Elementary School with his arms raised and family and friends cheering him on.
Marketing media manager Dave Howells asked Sneddon during a post-race interview what it was like to finish first in his own backyard.
Yeah, it's awesome. It's my hometown, so I know the trails obviously really well, he said. Neal put in a pretty hard tack on the first rollers and sort of set pace for halfway to the first feed. It was hard right from the start. You guys said take it easy, and that didn't happen.
When asked what his thoughts were for day five Sechelt to Langdale and then days six and seven in Squamish and Whistler Sneddon said he was hoping to keep the momentum going.
We'll see. That was an extremely hard effort today. Hopefully tomorrow is good, he said. Neal stayed with me until the last two or three K, that's where it came apart. I'm hoping I can do the same thing to him in Squamish.
Sneddon and Kindree have been battling for the epic men's solo title since the race started June 30 in Cumberland.
Sneddon won the opening stage, aided by fellow Kona riders Spencer Paxson and Cory Wallace, who he said have been riding awesome and very consistent.
On day two in Campbell River, Sneddon and Kindree essentially tied, as they sprinted across the finish line with the same time after a day-long battle.
Kindree was finally able to make up a bit of ground, winning day three in Powell River, but Sneddon extended that lead with Wednesday's stage win in Sechelt.
Day five on Thursday saw the riders leave Sechelt for the trails around Roberts Creek and into the finish line at the Langdale ferry terminal. Stage six is this Friday in Squamish with the race wrapping up Saturday in Whistler.
Howells said despite Sneddon's lead, there is a lot of racing left.
One minute, six and a half seconds in a mountain bike stage race really doesn't add up to a lot. Anything can happen out there, as all you mountain bikers know flat tires, slight mechanicals or just a bad day so the race is on, Howells said. I think Kris really has to say to himself, 'I have to win this stage tomorrow. Now is my time to put more time into Neal before I get to his hometown of Squamish and then on to Whistler.'
Day four and five course designer Rod Camposano said day four is the hardest day of the race.
Day four is the longest day 61 km. It has the most vertical and has a lot of very short, very steep climbs, Camposano said. Within the first 10 to 15 km the riders are going to be very tired. And riding in the heat the past few days, factor that with riding under a lot of power lines today in all that sun, it makes for a very difficult day.
He said on day five riders will be treated to some trails that have been added and changed and will take an easier approach at the beginning of the day.
It starts out with a gentler climb and they will go through some beautiful forest, so it should be real nice, he said. The course itself is in incredible condition. It is all firm and no dust with all the rain that we have, so it's great.
Camposano paid special mention to the dedicated volunteers who have been a part of his team helping to get the course in order.
There are quite a few dedicated volunteers who come out all the time, and I'm just really glad that they do, because without them it doesn't happen right. It's entirely about all the volunteers, he said.
This year BC Bike Race has riders representing 26 different countries. The field of 550 riders is competing in solo and team divisions.
For more on BC Bike Race see www.bcbikerace.com.
