Congratulations to the Champions of the 2009 Madonna Wheelers Cycling Club Championships:
Category “A” & Overall Club Champion – Hank Verhoeven
Category “B” Champion – Ronnie des Vignes

More PHOTOS from the championships are available HERE

Our Club Championships concluded today in beautiful sunny and cool temperatures. Thanks Lorne, Gabe, Sheila, Elf and Jane for organising and photography. Having missed the first half Derek showed up and proved he would have been in contention for the overall honours by winning both the Road Race in 1 hour 5 minutes (Avg. 43.33 km/h) and the Hill Climb in a new record time of 0:54:11 previously held by Ed Ounjian at 0:55:41 in 2000.

The overall winner however having won the Sprint, Time Trial and placing second in the Criterium, Road Race and Hill Climb is the new 2009 Club Champion Hank Verhoeven. Jeff having been stuck in California on business and Dan nursing an injured knee (from hiking not cycling) will be back next year with renewed energy and respect for the challenge.

The B group was just as interesting with Peter Hein back from 3 weeks in Europe (No cycling) winning both of today’s events.
The overall winner however and 2009 B Champion is Ronnie des Vignes having placed 2nd in the Time Trial, Road Race and Hill Climb as well as 3rd in the Sprint and the Criterium. Chantal and Jason proved they were competitive with Chantal winning the Criterium and Jason placing second in the Sprint.

We missed you Wayne, Tom, Dennis and Joseph for different reasons and hope you will be back next year when again we hope to have enough participation to justify 3 categories.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Hank and Ronnie.

The D’Ornellas criterium took place today at the end of a thunderstorm on a soaking wet course. Some planned entries backed out at the last minute (Eon D’Ornellas and Bruce Camacho among them ) however the club’s best sprinter Aubrey Bryce was there and very prominent finishing second overall and taking a couple of primes. Madonna was represented by Hank Verhoeven, Jeff Archbold, Dan Thompson and Steve Hamilton with the support of Peter, Jane and Sheannah, Elf and Arty helping marshal the course. Even though Steve got dropped after the third prime and none of our riders made the podium, we worked the race, Hank, Dan and Jeff each won a prime and Dan was in a break with one lap to go but got caught with less than half a lap remaining’ There was no question we were noticed and appreciated at a very well organized event with BBQ, P.A. system and washrooms supplied by Delta Hotel and closed roads and police provided by the town of Markham. By the way no crashes, it was a pleasure to ride with experienced, intelligent cyclists who respected each other’s safety.  Eon wanted to know who was the Madonna cyclist that won the time trial last Wednesday, nice going Derek you were of course very much noticed also.

Thanks Ken for the invite, nice job, you said you did not want us to win so hopefully we made you happy.

Thursday, July 10th, 2008
IronBridge Criterium
Conditions: Mainly sunny with scattered clouds and SW breeze of approximately 10 - 15 km/h. Temperature 27 C.

Congratulations to the Champions of the 2008 Madonna Wheelers Cycling Club Championships:
Category “A” & Overall Club Champion – Dan Thompson
Category “B” Champion – Tom Ducharme
Category “C” Champion – Joseph Faria

More PHOTOS from the championships are available HERE

Thursday, July 17th, 2008
IronBridge Criterium
Conditions: Hot with hazy cloud cover with a slight SW breeze. Temperature 34° C (felt like 42° C with humidex).