2009 Times Colonist Cycling Festival - Cancelled
Dear Participants, Volunteers and Sponsors,
Our committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the May 9-10 Times Colonist Cycling Festival. Our valued sponsors, citing current economic realities, are not able to support the festival to the level they have in the past and our attempts to secure new sponsorships to maintain the professionalism, safety and experience for our riders for a May race at Bastion Square have fallen through.
We are exploring opportunities to move the festival to the July 25-26 weekend with a Twilight Criterium in Sidney to accompany the Oak Bay Bikes Criterium and a Mount Douglas Hill Climb. This move will help us uphold the wonderful tradition that Bastion Square has provided but with less infrastructure costs. The Oak Bay Bikes Criterium scheduled for Saturday, May 9 and the Oak Bay Wheelers club race scheduled for Sunday, July 26 will be reversed if we are able to move the festival to July. We have every intention of bringing back the festival to its home in Bastion Square once we are able to secure appropriate funding.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors - without their valued support we wouldn't have been able to make the Times Colonist Cycling Festival the milestone that it is. We look forward to continuing our partnerships this year and in the coming years. For those sponsors that are unable to provide support, thank you for your tremendous contribution to our sport and to our community and best wishes to you as you weather the difficult time ahead. As with our current sponsors, we will continue to support you as you have supported us!
Information about the Times Colonist Cycling Festival plans for this year will be posted on this website as soon as we can confirm details.
Yours in Cycling,
Times Colonist Cycling Festival Committee
The 2009 Times Colonist Cycling Festival, presented by Saunders Subaru is a cycling festival like no other. The weekend - May 8 to 10, 2009, brings together three events: the Mount Douglas 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 spring cycling action covered.
TBA
Legs and Lungs
The Mount Douglas Hill Climb, presented by Cardinal Law, is a climb along Churchill Drive to the spectacular summit of Mount Douglas. 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 climb starts at 6:00 pm from the base of Mount Douglas at Cedar Hill and Cordova Bay Roads. This event has resurrected from the popular hill climb from the 1990s. Participants are encouraged to cycle to the event or park at Mount Douglas Park across from the base.
TBA
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 since 2006, 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 and runs from 8:30 am to noon.
TBA
Guts and Glory
The 100.3 the Q Bastion 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 BC's cycling history since 1992. 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, 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.
Follow these links for more information specific to:
Competitors
Spectators
Volunteers
Sponsors
How to Get Here |
