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PHOTO FINISH – Ian Parker (white jersey) and Preston Blackie (red jersey) arrive at the finish at the same time after the 100-kilometre road race at the Tour de Haines Junction this weekend.

Youngsters post stand-out performances at Tour de Haines Junction

This weekend saw some fine racing by local cyclists at the Tour de Haines Junction.

By Whitehorse Star on May 17, 2016

This weekend saw some fine racing by local cyclists at the Tour de Haines Junction.

Youngest rider, eight-year-old Johna Irving-Staley shone, competing in all three events: time trial, hill climb and road race.

Coach Trena Irving said he’s going extremely fast for his age.

During stage two, the hill climb, cyclists battled uphill to be rewarded with epic downhill. Top speeds were clocked at 75 km/hour.

Micah Taggart Cox, 14, was the winner of this event. He stuck with the expert men for the ride and beat them to the finish in a sprint.

Irving called the riding “incredibly fast and tactical.”

In the road race, Preston Blackie came back from a recent leg surgery to post the fastest time for 100 kilometres.

Time Trial Highlights

Shea Hoffman posted the fastest time of the day, travelling 20 kilometres in 32:38 to win the expert men’s event. David Jackson (33:41) was second and Rod Savoie (34:10) was third.

Hill Climb Highlights

Fourteen-year-old Micah Taggart Cox won in a sprint finish with a time of 1:10:54 for the 40-kilometre course. Rod Savoie (1:10:56) was second, while Shea Hoffman (1:12:52) was third. ­

Road Race Highlights

A photo finish in the road race saw Preston Blackie and Ian Parker share the fastest time of 3:00:50 for the 100-kilometre course. Steve Ball followed closely behind, finishing in 3:01:39. In what was the biggest category of the weekend, six expert men competed in the road race. Finishing off the podium were Rod Savoie (3:15:32), Shea Hoffman (3:15:38) and Michael Roberts (3:16:11).

On the women’s side, Trena Irving won the expert class in 3:55:46, while Simi Moorison won the sport class in 4:21:29.

The teens also competed in stage three, running a 50-kilometre course.

Mollie Fraser took the u-15 girls win in 1:58:06 and Oscar Setterington took the u-15 boys win in 1:58:26.

Lisa Pauls (2:09:43) and David Jackson (2:00:20), competed in a shortened sport class course of 50 kilometres.

Youth ran a 30-kilometre course. Johna Irving-Staley continued to impress, posting a 1:28:22 to win the u-10 boys. Ava Irving-Staley (1:21:15) beat Annie Cable (1:21:25) for the u-13 girls title.

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