Vancouver’s most iconic bike race is set to take over downtown Wednesday evening.
The Gastown Grand Prix is back after a four-year hiatus due to a lack of sponsorship. Global Relay signed on as a title sponsor to bring the event back to the tight cobblestone corners around Water Street, and is giving out $40,000 in prize money, including $15,000 for the men’s winner.
Part of the B.C. Superweek five-race series, which also holds races in Delta, UBC, Burnaby and Langley, the Gastown Grand Prix boasts former winners in Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and hometown Olympian Gina Grain.
Starting at the Steam Clock at Cambie and Water streets, the closed-track course will round the hairpin at Water and Cordova streets, and turn up Carrall Street before turning back onto Water Street.
Those roads will remain closed to traffic, and event organizers are asking people to make alternate plans to travel through the area. The event kicks off at 5:45 p.m. with the 30-lap women’s race. The men’s 50-lap race will start at 7:30 p.m.
At 1.2 kilometres long, there are many good places to catch the race, which is free for spectators, including the hairpin at Cordova and Water and the cobblestone corner of Water and Carrall streets. Organizers said the finish line will also be a busy spot to watch, and are advising spectators to arrive early.
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