Skylar Schneider (L39ION of Los Angeles) and Marcos Mendez (Foundation Cycling New York) won midweek elite races at Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix in Vancouver, British Columbia.
US sprinter Schneider last competed at Gastown two years ago, when she also took victory. The victory by Mendez, from Argentina, marks the first win for a South American rider in the 53rd edition of the Canadian one-day race.
One day after hosting a World Cup round of 16 between Switzerland and Colombia, Vancouver's downtown streets were filled with spectators to watch as elite riders competed for a share in a $50,000 CAD prize purse, each winner receiving a check for $12,000.
The non-traditional four-corner race, with the first turn off Water Street a sharp left-hander at more than 110-degree change of direction, was held on Wednesday evening. The women's race featured 40 laps and the men's 50 laps.
L39ION of LA teammates Samantha Schneider and Holly Breck shut down a series of attacks which whittled the 70 starters down to 35. Skylar Schneider later blasted across through the front of the field on the approach to the line, holding off Kiwi Bryony Botha (Fearless Femme Racing), who came in fresh off the overall title in the Tour of America's Dairyland.
Former Mexican champion Yarely Salazar (Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing) led the reduced bunch through the final turn on the long straightaway but only served as a carrot for Schneider. The 27-year-old US rider blasted past Salazar with 100 yards to go for the win. Salazar then saw Botha go by and then finished third.
A past winner of the Vancouver race in 2024, Schneider came in as one of the women's favourites, having won the omnium title at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough and earning one win and three other podiums at the Tour of America's Dairyland series in her home state of Wisconsin. She said that was easily one of the hardest races of the year, with every team bringing their “A-game” for the prize money on offer.
Mendez controlled the run-in for the victory, Cade Bickmore (Team Cadence Cyclery p/b Waldo Racing) and Canadian criterium national champion Jayden McMullen (TaG Cycling), completing the podium in second and third, respectively.
After a late sprint prime contested by Luke Fetzer (Team Cadence Cyclery p/b Waldo Racing) and Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost), the duo dangled at the front of the race for the penultimate lap. Tyler Williams (L39ION of Los Angeles) then went to the front for the first part of the final circuit, with Team Cadence Cyclery taking over with three riders.
Mendez then hit the front after the final corner and hammered to the front without allowing anyone to get close. The Argentinian, who has won this year at Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic and Sunny King Criterium, surprised the men's race favourites, with reigning US criterium champion Luke Elphingstone (Project Echelon Racing) going fifth behind Jim Brown (L39ION of Los Angeles).
Last year's winner Lucas Bourgoyne (Team Cadence Cyclery p/b Waldo Racing) served as a leadout for Bickmore and himself, going sixth. Lamperti, who was third last year, finished seventh.
Full results are available at the Gastown Grand Prix website.
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