Canadians Andrew Pinfold and Gina Grain did their countrymen proud at the BC Cancer Foundation’s Tour de Gastown in Vancouver, this week, the sixth stop in the 2008 USA CRITS Series.

Pinfold, an Ontario native, is a former elite Canadian Criterium Champion, while Grain was the 2007 Canadian National Road Race Champion.

Both victories took place in front of tens of thousands of cycling fans, who lined the barriers three to four rows deep on a perfect summer day.

Pinfold, along with Symmetrics teammate and Olympic-bound athlete Svein Tuft, successfully took on the top sprinters. Grain beat out series leader Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) over the tough brick pavement of the course, giving her Webcor Builders team their 10th victory of the season.

After taking the win at the 50-lap men’s event, Pinfold told The Vancouver Sun about his team’s team Gastown conquest after multiple attempts. "... I had all my teammates around me at the end. We kind of managed our way through the chaos. I came from pretty far back on the corner [turning onto Water St.] With 100 meters, I was like 'Holy crap, I'm going to win Gastown.' I was pretty psyched."

Pinfold was able to capitalize on Tuft’s command of the field as the 2007 US Open Champion powered off the front of the pack to stage a 10-lap solo getaway that held until the final moments of the race. Tuft’s work was not in vain, however, as Pinfold and the rest of the Symmetrics squad were able to land a strong counterpunch that brought the Canadian team top honors on the day. Pinfold’s finish was strong enough to put at least a least a bike length between himself and Australian speedster Hilton Clarke, winner of the recent Louisville Metro Police Foundation Criterium in Kentucky. Pinfold’s other teammate, Zach Bell, was third.

By contrast, Grain showed that she was the strongest woman in the field throughout the event, as the 10-year veteran took most of the prize money on offer during the race. As the final laps of the 36km were whittled away, it fell to teammate and fellow Olympian Erinne Willock to lead out Grain who bested Benjamin at the line for the win. Jazz Apple Cycling Team’s Ruth Corset took third.

The USA CRITS Series now heads to Idaho, for Boise’s Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium on Saturday, July 19th. Last year’s winner Ivan Dominguez is set to return to Boise to defend his title on a course that should suit the Cuban sprinter’s style to a tee. Due to construction in the area, this year’s race will be modified to a classic, four-corner 1km circuit over wide streets in the city center. Because of the race’s local popularity, Dominguez and the rest of the field should once again receive a warm greeting from the 15,000-18,000 fans who turned out in 2007.