The 2008 Times Colonist Cycling Festival, presented by Saunders Subaru is a cycling festival like no other. The weekend - September 18 (Thursday night), 20 to 21, 2008, brings together three events: the Bear Mountain Resort Hill Climb, the Oak Bay Bikes Criterium and the 100.3 The Q Bastion Square Grand Prix Criterium, all presented by Cardinal Law.

Whether you compete to win, race for fun, cycle leisurely, or just like to watch, there's something for everyone - weekend warriors, elite riders, families, kids of all ages and abilities.  From Bastion Square's infamous Crash Corner to the challenge of a hill climb, to helping kids living with cancer with the Cops for Cancer Oak Bay Criterium, we've got your fall cycling action covered.

Times Colonist Cycling Festival, presented by Saunders Subaru:

Thursday, September 18
Legs and Lungs
The Bear Mountain Resort Hill Climb, presented by Cardinal Law, is a three-kilometre climb to the spectacular Westin Bear Mountain Resort (finishes on Woodhampton Rise) in Langford. Riders start the climb one minute apart and power up the mountain on their own - it's a gruelling climb and the only way is up! The Westin Bear Mountain Resort will host an apres-climb party for all Hill Climb participants. The climb starts at 6:00 pm on Thursday, September 18 at the bottom of Bear Mountain Parkway in Langford. This event has been moved to Thursday night to help save the legs for the weekend, and so more riders can enjoy the party at the top!

Saturday, September 20
Heart and Soul
The Oak Bay Bikes Criterium, presented by Cardinal Law, is where participants, organizers, spectators and sponsors give back to the community to help kids with cancer. A successful fund-raising event for the past three years, all proceeds go to the Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock campaign to help kids living with cancer. The event will also include other fund-raising activities such as head-shaving for donations and events for the kids. The day starts in the heart of Oak Bay at Windsor Park from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon on Saturday, September 20.

Sunday, September 21
Guts and Glory
The 100.3 the QBastion Square Grand Prix Criterium, presented by Cardinal Law, is the "money" event - where elite riders put everything on the line to claim prime (lap prizes) and cash prizes before a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, just inches from the action. The prize and prime purse for the elite riders is estimated at $6,000 to $7,000 (depending on the number of entries in the field). The Bastion Square Grand Prix Criterium has been a staple in B.C.'s cycling history for 17 years. Past winners have included Olympians Roland Green, Alison Sydor and Brian Walton. The day's events also include open category races, the 'best seat in the house' challenge throughout the day to raise primes, the crowd-pleaser and fund-raiser Helijet Airways Cops/Courier Challenge, and the kid-friendly and popular Tim Hortons Timbit Challenge. Staged in the heart of Victoria's Old Towne, the Bastion Square Grand Prix starts at 8:20 am and runs through the day with the women's elite race at 12:00 noon and the men's elite race at 1:00 pm on Sunday, September 21.

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Competitors
Spectators
Volunteers
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