BC Superweek Pro Cycling Series Cancelled for 2021

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, BC Superweek has postponed the annual professional cycling series until July 2022 at the earliest.

The decision to postpone the event another year was not made lightly by BC Superweek members, but the safety of athletes and spectators is their top concern. The series is an important annual tradition for cyclists and communities alike, and BC Superweek wants to continue to provide race opportunities for the next generation of cyclists.

“Amid the pandemic, there was a lot of deliberation among the BC Superweek members about the status of this year’s series. The well-being of everyone involved was the top consideration, and the members look forward to bringing the series back once it is safe to do so,” said BC Superweek Series Director Mark Ernsting.

Because the races that make up BC Superweek require significant planning, the uncertainty of the coming months makes it difficult for organizing teams to make the necessary arrangements normally required at this time.

By making professional cycling accessible to communities, BC Superweek annually attracts tens of thousands of spectators. While showcasing professional athletes at a grassroots level, the series is also a great opportunity to engage its communities and for future generations of cyclists to get involved.

BC Superweek members also respect that many businesses and partners are affected by the economic impacts of the pandemic, and unable to make sponsorship commitments at this time. Fortunately, many regular sponsors spoke positively about potentially supporting future BC Superweek events.

Individual city budgets for next year are in preliminary discussions as well, so BC Superweek members hope to be able to confirm the status of the 2022 series later this fall.

The Tour de Delta, New West Grand Prix, Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix, Giro di Burnaby, PoCo Grand Prix and the Tour de White Rock wish everyone a safe and healthy 2021.

Kiwi Campbell Stewart Is A Double Winner At Poco Grand Prix Presented By Dominion Lending Centres

 

Dutch Rider Nina Kessler Continues TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank’s Dominance 

Port Coquitlam, BC – Fans who attended both the PoCo Grand Prix presented by Dominion Lending Centres on Friday night and Thursday’s Giro di Burnaby could be forgiven if they thought they were experiencing déjà vu. For the second straight night, the 1-2-3 finishers were Team New Zealand’s Campbell Stewart, Heizomat Rad-Net rider Marcel Franz and Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling’s Samuel Bassetti. 

It’s Stewart’s second win at the PoCo Grand Prix after the former junior track world champion also won the race in 2017. The way that Stewart won this year was different than his first time though, as he and five other riders broke away from the pack early in the race and sprinted among themselves for the win. Two years ago, it was a bunch sprint to the line – either way, the victory and the $2,200 prize tastes just as sweet. 

“I saw all the KHS guys go and I just knew I had to jump, obviously I took a couple of others with me. Once we got there, we all started working together, it all kind of came together – three of them, two of the Germans – I just had to play my time, I was probably sitting in on a few laps there because they’re a bit stronger. I wanted to get that sprint to the end,” said the 21-year-old Stewart, who won silver medals for New Zealand in the scratch and points races at last year’s Commonwealth Games. 

It’s the third straight podium for the 23-year-old Franz, who’s traveled from Germany for BC Superweek. He was also third at the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix on Wednesday and was much happier with the results in PoCo and Burnaby. “My teammate Christopher Hatz did a great job on the last few laps so that I could prepare my sprint perfectly. I’m a lot happier today, yesterday was also great – this time I was a little closer to Campbell, but I’m very proud,” Franz said. Page | 2 

It was the second year for racing under the lights in Port Coquitlam as BC Superweek’s only twilight criterium. The sun was mostly down by the time the men took the course and it represented a different challenge for the riders, but Stewart and the other four riders in the break used the darkness to their advantage. “It was actually kind of obvious when we came around the lap, we could see the rear taillights of the pace cars – that gave us a good little incentive to keep on going,” said Stewart, who was a member of the New Zealand Team that rode the second fastest time in history at the Cambridge World Cup this past January. “We almost caught the back of the bunch there, but we started playing a few cat and mouse games out here and we were just bringing it down to the sprinters at the end in that breakaway.” 

Bassetti’s third place finish continues a solid week for the 28-year-old from Santa Rosa, California. He has placed top-6 in every BC Superweek race thus far, including a win in Sunday’s White Spot | Delta Road Race to go along with three second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. 

WOMEN’S RACE 

With all eyes on Kendall Ryan to see if she would three-peat at the PoCo Grand Prix presented by Dominion Lending Centres and take her fourth podium at BC Superweek this year, it was her Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank teammate Nina Kessler who would get ahead of everyone in a bunch sprint to claim victory in the women’s race. 

Kessler, a 31-year-old from the Netherlands who is in her first year on the TIBCO team, and her teammates Ryan and reigning Oceania Road Race champion Sharlotte Lucas launched attacks throughout the race, but with ten laps to go, the reset button was pressed and the peloton reeled in the last break. 

TIBCO was aggressive on the final ten laps, setting up a strong lead out for Ryan. “It’s so cool to race with a team here, we trust each other, and we work together so well. We know that Kendall is really fast so we just led her out and she saw that I could hold it, so she just stayed there and it’s really awesome to have a finish like this,” said Kessler. 

Friday in Port Coquitlam marked the sixth straight race that TIBCO was atop the podium at BC Superweek after Ryan claimed titles at the Ladner Criterium on Saturday, Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix on Wednesday, and Giro di Burnaby on Thursday while Alison Jackson won the White Spot | Delta Road Race on Sunday along with Tuesday’s New West Grand Prix. 

Despite not getting the victory, 26-year-old Ryan made her fourth appearance on the podium this week with the second-place finish – just a bike throw behind Kessler. In third was 27-year-old InstaFund La Prima rider Holly Breck. It’s the San Dimas, California native’s second straight podium after she finished second at the Giro di Burnaby. 

Kessler, like many riders, are experiencing BC Superweek for the first time and she noted that the energy from the crowds in the Lower Mainland is much different than some of the races she’s done in Europe. “It’s so cool to ride around the streets with so many people cheering the whole race. That’s what’s really different than in the Netherlands – we have some crits, but not like this with people all around the course. Page | 3 

We really want to thank everyone for cheering all the time, it’s very cool,” she beamed. With the win, Kessler goes home with $2,200 in prize money. 

BC Superweek continues Saturday with the Choices Markets Criterium as part of the Tour de White Rock presented by Landmark Premiere Properties. The women race at 5:30 pm while the men race at 6:30 pm. 

# # # 

BC Superweek is Canada’s biggest professional road cycling series and features more than $140,000 in prize money with nine races over ten days. BC Superweek runs from July 5 – 14 and is made up of the Tour de Delta (July 5 – 7), New West Grand Prix (July 9), Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix (July 10), Giro di Burnaby presented by Appia Development (July 11), PoCo Grand Prix presented by Dominion Lending Centres (July 12), and Tour de White Rock presented by Landmark Premiere Properties (July 13 – 14). 

For more information about BC Superweek, please contact Brian Wiebe at 604-916-8448 or email brian.wiebe@bcsuperweek.ca. 

Kids Can Try Out A Pro Cycling Track On July 12

Kids ages 3 to 12 can see what it’s like to be a professional cyclist in downtown Port Coquitlam on July 12 during the PoCo Grand Prix, presented by Dominion Lending Centres.

Registration opens June 1 for the Kids’ Race – a free, fun and non-competitive event taking place on the same 1.3-kilometre loop track being used by professional riders that day. Continue reading “Kids Can Try Out A Pro Cycling Track On July 12”

Volunteer Spots Available For Poco Grand Prix

Volunteer positions are still available for people age 15 and up who want to be part of the action at the PoCo Grand Prix on July 12.

Presented by Dominion Lending Centres, the PoCo Grand Prix attracts thousands of people to downtown Port Coquitlam for a day of sport, entertainment, family activities and more. The event is part of BC Superweek, Canada’s largest professional road cycling series. Continue reading “Volunteer Spots Available For Poco Grand Prix”

Registration For BC Superweek 2019 Now Open

Cyclists Encouraged to Register for Canada’s Biggest Professional Road Cycling Series

Vancouver, BC – Organizers of BC Superweek are pleased to announce that online registration is officially open for the 2019 edition of the professional road cycling series. BC Superweek runs from July 5 – 14 and includes the Tour de Delta, New West Grand Prix, Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix, Giro di Burnaby presented by Appia Development, PoCo Grand Prix presented by Dominion Lending Centres and the Tour de White Rock presented by Landmark Premiere Properties.

“Year over year, BC Superweek continues to grow and is now one of the most recognized professional road race series in the world,” said Series Director Mark Ernsting.

BC Superweek features seven criteriums and two road races, one of which is UCI-sanctioned for both men and women. More than $140,000 in prize money and crowd primes is up for grabs during the week, while a crowd of more than 20,000 are expected for the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix’s historic 46th anniversary on July 10.

This year also marks the sixth straight that BC Superweek will offer equal prize money to both the men’s and women’s finishers at all nine races, making the series one of the most lucrative professional cycling events on the continent.

“BC Superweek is one of the most fun and exciting weeks of racing in North America.  Any excuse to ride in BC is a good one (it’s a gorgeous part of Canada and the coffee scene is next level), but the series is the perfect chance to discover some great areas and do some high quality racing,” said Team Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank rider and Canadian National Team member Lex Albrecht.  “Plus, it’s rare to find an opportunity to race so many back-to-back races. That’s why for a team manager (or the independent rider going freestyle), BC Superweek is a good bang for the buck.  Every race has solid organization, the hospitality and warmth of the communities are off the charts, and the race organizers are all strong proponents of offering equal prize money to men and women. That’s important for all of us and I am always thrilled when my team sends me to BC Superweek.”

Riders attending BC Superweek can request host housing. All requests are managed on a first come, first served basis and assigned to homes based on community availability. Host housing requests are not guaranteed, and housing arrangements are not assigned until late-June.

“I’ve competed at BC Superweek the past five years and always look forward to the great competition, fun courses and excellent crowds. My favourite part though, is having a relaxing morning spin (coffee and pastry mandatory) before getting ready to race in the evening,” added X-Speed United Continental Team rider Ryan Roth, who is a two-time Canadian National Champion.

Online registration is available through the BC Superweek website, with early registration discounts in effect until Sunday, June 2.

BC Superweek is Canada’s biggest professional road cycling series and features more than $140,000 in prize money with nine races over ten days. BC Superweek runs from July 5 – 14 and is made up of the Tour de Delta (July 5 – 7), New West Grand Prix (July 9), Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix (July 10), Giro di Burnaby presented by Appia Development (July 11), PoCo Grand Prix presented by Dominion Lending Centres (July 12), and Tour de White Rock presented by Landmark Premiere Properties (July 13 – 14).

 

Contact: Brian Wiebe
Telephone: 604-916-8448
Email: brian.wiebe@bcsuperweek.ca
bcsuperweek.ca

Mark Your Calendar – Poco Grand Prix Is Back On July 12

Mark your calendar for Friday, July 12, when downtown Port Coquitlam will once again play host to world-class cyclists racing at up to 63 kilometres per hour and a free, family-friendly street festival.

In the past three years, the PoCo Grand Prix sponsored by Dominion Lending Centres has grown to become Port Coquitlam’s largest city-hosted event, attracting close to 10,000 people in 2018 over the day. Continue reading “Mark Your Calendar – Poco Grand Prix Is Back On July 12”

Volunteer Spots Available for PoCo Grand Prix

Volunteer positions are still available for people age 16 and up who want to be part of the action at the PoCo Grand Prix July 13.

Presented by Dominion Lending Centres, the PoCo Grand Prix will attract thousands of people to downtown Port Coquitlam for a day of sport, entertainment, family activities and more. The event is part of BC Superweek, Canada’s largest professional road cycling series. Continue reading “Volunteer Spots Available for PoCo Grand Prix”