Dikhaus, Pearce, both win second Human Powered Rollercoaster.

Dikhaus, Pearce, both win second Human Powered Rollercoaster. 
Toronto April 25th, 1998 

Close to 200 bicycle messengers converged on Toronto April 23rd -25th to conquer Dunhill's Human Powered Rollercoaster, a one of a kind figure eight bicycle track. The furious qualifying heats were won by messengers who proved themselves the ultimate survivors. The best street riders found their egos crushed by the menacing wooden serpent. The weekend of grueling racing narrowed to two groups of four: a men's final and a women's final. Two of the favorites for the weekend were Dirk Dikhaus (Arnhem) for the men and Crissima Pearce (London/Toronto) for the women. Dikhaus won last Halloween when the figure-8 HPR was in Vancouver, and Pearce had won the women's title the year before. Neither disappointed in Toronto.

In the men's final, Dikhaus established a mere 20 foot lead early in the race over the three other finalists. The lead was enough and he held out solo for virtually the whole race, leaving  Kevin Abbot (Toronto) and Sean Noonan (Toronto) to battle each other for second place. Their 50 lap head to head war left Abbot in 2nd, with Noonan on the 3rd podium spot. 

Pearce took a different tactic on her way to victory in the women's final. She and second place finisher Stacey Hutton (Vancouver) rode away early from eventual 3rd place finisher Pyjor Maogosha (Toronto). Pearce and Hutton rode side by side until the 40th lap, when Pearce had had enough of the company. With an unbelievable show of power, she pulled away almost effortlessly, and lead the final 10 laps. Haley Feruson (Toronto), the fourth finalist, rode courageously despite a badly hurt knee from a crash during qualifying. 

Washington DC hopeful Chris Schmidt won his first heat, but experienced shoe and pedal problems that kept him from moving beyond the quarter finals. "I'm not trying to make excuses, but that won't happen in DC," he said afterward, referring to the upcoming Cycle Messenger World Championships. "I'll be in my hometown. My house will be right around the corner. I'll be able to get another pair of shoes." DC messenger and reigning European Bunny-Hop champion, Andy Zalan, also reached the quarter finals.  He will soon lose his Bunny-Hop title, as he will not be at this year's European Championships taking place in Graz, Austria at the end of May. 

The Human Powered Rollercoaster is one of the most anticipated bicycle messenger races of the year. Dikhaus and Pearce both won travel and lodging for the 6th Annual Cycle Messenger World Championships, being presented by Timbuk2 Designs and the District of Columbia Bicycle Courier Association. September 4th - 7th, 1998 in Washington DC. 

For more information, contact 
Rebecca Reilly, Media Liaison 
1998 Cycle Messenger World Championships 
1220 L St. NW # 100-399 
Washington, DC 20005 
202-265-4247

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