Cyclists racing for the top prizes at this year’s BC Superweek were on hand in downtown Vancouver this morning to talk about the future of cycling in Canada.
BC Superweek is Canada’s biggest cycling series.
It includes Tour de Delta (July 5 to 7), UBC Grand Prix (July 9), Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix (July 10), Giro di Burnaby (July 11) and the Tour de White Rock (July 12-14).
The emphasis this year is on youth development.
President of the Canadian Cycling Association John Tolkamp says the event is the result of the hard work of many people.
“Just yesterday in Delta, it was amazing. I saw folks sitting on their lawns, with their BBQs, watching the races, and I know there will be kids out of that who are going to be super excited and engaged in the sport of cycling.”
Christian Meier is a Pro Tour rider, who just completed Giro d’Italia and won Tour de White Rock Road Race in 2012.
Meier spent over a decade cycling and raced all over the world.
He says for cyclists like him, Superweek is a bit of stepping stone.
“So to come back and support these events that helped foster my career as a professional cyclist, that is fantastic.”
Meier says the atmosphere at these races is very special.
“You don’t get that anywhere else in the world. It will be difficult to get an atmosphere like that. Some of the big sprint classics, maybe. But very rarely is it like that….You get chills racing that race. It is so loud, you can’t hear yourself think… you can’t hear anything. It is like 1.5 hours of racing at a concert. It drives so much adrenaline throughout the race.”
The event includes nine races over the span of 10 days and wraps up July 14.
In addition to bragging rights, there is also $110,000 in prize money that is up for grabs.
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