BC Superweek’s Tour de Delta to feature elimination race
The action kicks off on July 8 when Delta, B.C., once again welcomes the three-day event
Last year, BC Superweek, Canada’s biggest pro cycling series, drew some of the world’s elite riders to British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, in and around the Vancouver area. Over a week that more than lived up to the event’s name, athletes surged and attacked their way through the high-tempo competition of the Tour de Delta, the Giro di Burnaby, the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix and the Tour de White Rock.
With the PoCo Grand Prix taking riders to Port Coquitlam, B.C., for the first time this year, that tempo promises to hit new heights in 2016.
The action kicks off on July 8, when the city of Delta, B.C. once again welcomes the Tour de Delta — and its purse of $25,000. Through three days of competition, wheels will roll at the MK Delta Lands Criterium on July 8 in North Delta, the Brenco Criterium on July 9 in Ladner, B.C., and on July 10, the White Spot | Delta Road Race hits the streets of Tsawassen to bring the Tour to its finish. The Corporation of Delta has been the backdrop of BC Superweek’s kick-off for 15 years — and it’s a partnership that runs deep, both for the municipality and Tour officials.
“The collaboration between the Corporation of Delta, local businesses and community members with the Tour de Delta continues to grow year after year,” said Mark Ernsting, BC Superweek series director. “It is wonderful to see how incredibly welcoming the community of Delta is to all the teams and riders.”
For Delta mayor Lois E. Jackson, the feeling is mutual.
“For over 15 years,” Jackson said, “the Tour de Delta has been attracting cyclists and spectators from Canada and around the world. This annual event has become a key summer attraction and acts as an excellent ambassador for sport in our community. Thanks to the great athletes, our staff and all the amazing volunteers, this year’s Tour de Delta will be the best yet.”
Riders themselves are in for a new Superweek experience at July 8’s Brenco Criterium in Ladner. For 2016, race organizers decided to shake things up by introducing a new course, made interesting with an elimination component. After some opening laps, the last rider in the pack will be pulled from competition every second lap throughout the race until a certain number of laps remain. From that moment until the final sprint to the finish, the race will continue as a standard criterium.
As Ernsting explains, the change-up is about making use of the new course’s limited space.
“We chose to do an elimination race format this year for the Brenco Criterium in Ladner,” Ernsting said, “because with the new course design, the length of one lap is less than 800 m. Such a short course should mean faster speeds and a unique show for all spectators to enjoy.”
BC Superweek runs from July 8-17 and features the Tour de Delta on July 8, 9, 10, the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix on July 13, the Giro di Burnaby p/b Appia Development on July 14, the PoCo Grand Prix p/b Dominion Lending Centres on July 15, and Steve Nash Fitness World presents the Tour de White Rock on July 16 and 17.
