ABBOTSFORD’S
TESTROETE
WINS NATIONALS
YOUNG RACER PUTS ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER
By Paul Fontaine, Abbotsford Times
So what kind of rider joins Speed Theory?
Currently, there are riders who have never
touched a road bike prior to them joining the
club and riders who have grown up on a bike
ready to pass on their knowledge to the new
generation of cyclists. There are riders in their
teens and riders in their fifties. There are riders
who train for long distance races such as “Race
Across the West” and other 1,000 km events. A
Abbotsford’s Alison Testroete took the biggest win of her cycling career
when she upset favourite Gina Grain to win the Canadian national women’s
road title in St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que.
There are cyclists who train as triathletes and Testroete, 25, finished the 135-kilometre race in a time of three hours, 35 minutes
triathletes who train as cyclists. There are cy- and 22 seconds.
clists who were attracted to the team from “It felt really good just crossing the finish line and doing what I always thought
other road clubs solely because of the social I was capable of doing,” said Testroete.
bond and “teamness” for which Speed Theory “There’s so many elements in bike racing that it’s just a matter of putting all of
stands. the pieces together. It’s a good feeling knowing you did everything you could on
But behind all the faces that make up Speed that day and it was enough to win the race.”
Theory, there is a sense of ownership each rider The Robert Bateman graduate currently races for Total Restoration Team, based
has with this team that reflects the grassroots ap- in Kelowna. She started off as a speed skater with the Matsqui Blades, then moved
proach. This approach was evident at the ITT in to Calgary to train at the Olympic Oval.
early June. There were a number of Speed Theory Testroete took up mountain biking and road racing as cross-training in the
riders who both organized and signed up to com- summer but eventually gave up speed skating as she wanted to cycle full time. In
pete at this race. Whether it was food duty, course her weekend win, the local cyclist topped one of the premier road cyclists in
measurement and markings, DJing the event, or Canada, Grain. To come out on top in a race with that kind of competition was a
trouble shooting; each Speed Theory cyclist wore real thrill, said Testroete.
two hats- one of a race volunteer with radio in Testroete, who has been moving around a lot as of late, said she is actually taking
hand and one of a competitor with their time a bit of a break this year and competing more in local events. On Canada Day she
trial helmet on waiting for their turn at the start raced in Vancouver’s Yaletown Grand Prix. Testroete said she could be heading to
line…even if it meant battling it out with the Europe to get in some quality race training. In terms of the evolution of a road racer,
wintery curve ball Mother Nature threw Cal- Testroete said 25 is actually considered pretty young.
gary’s way. WC “I think it’s one of those things you never master. You will always be learning.”
SUMMER 2009 | WESTERN CYCLIST 9
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