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Cyclists brave weather for Medicine Hat Gran Fondo

Cyclists braved a stormy Saturday on their bicycles to challenge themselves and view the local scenery this past weekend.

The Medicine Hat Cycling Club hosted the third annual Medicine Hat Gran Fondo on June 11, with 128 cyclists signing up and heading out on three different routes. The Gran Fondo — Italian for “big ride” — allowed cyclists were able to ride routes measuring 60 kilometres, 100 kilometres or 146 kilometres, with stations along the route.

After meeting at the Black and White Trail, the cyclists took off down the trail on a path which took them to Cypress Hills Provincial Park.

While the majority of riders taking part in the race were from the region, several cyclists travelled from Calgary, Banff, Regina and Moose Jaw. According to Wilma Van Niekirk, one of the organizers of the event, many families took part in the race.

For the first time, the Gran Fondo had chip timers handed out to racers for the race.

In the 60-kilometre men’s open race, Michael Hosanee of Medicine Hat finished first with a time of one hour, 38 minutes and 49.9 seconds. In the women’s open 60-kilometre race, Kristen Lewis of Medicine Hat finished first with a time of two hours, 16 minutes, 12.5 seconds.

In the 60-kilometre master race, local Dean Watkins had the fastest time for men (one hour, 56 minutes, 3.1 seconds), while Cassi Hider of Medicine Hat finished first for the women (two hours, 11 minutes, 42.4 seconds).

In the 100-kilometre open race, Tim Usser crossed the finish line in three hours, 19 minutes, 3.6 seconds and Heather Kempthorne crossed the finish line in five hours, 53.4 seconds.

Barry Way and Karen Kusler Young reigned supreme in the 100-kilometre master, with times of three hours, six minutes, 23.5 seconds and three hours, 49 minutes, 4.7 seconds.

Regina’s Matt Van Nus finished in the top in the 146-kilometre open race, riding the route in four hours, 46 minutes and 11.2 seconds, and Cochrane’s Kevin Mills rode to the top of the master category with a four hour, 12 minutes, 34.4 seconds time.

Calgary’s Carol Charanduk was the lone woman master riding the 146 kilometre route, finishing in five hours, 36 minutes, 25.5 seconds.

A full list of results can be viewed at https://timing.zone4.ca/results/cd0d1738-2f46-11e6-a98f-0a53dbabdd43/

Cyclists brave weather for Medicine Hat Gran Fondo