Cycling BC announces 2016 championship calendar

Hot off a great 2015 season on the provincial championship circuit, Cycling BC has announced the championship races of 2016, a series expected to draw some of the top emerging and recognized talent from across the province.

The 2016 season, the organization announced, promises more high quality, competitive racing throughout British Columbia.

For Elite and Master riders, the time trial, road and criterium championships will happen from May 27 to 29, starting with the time trial races. On May 27, Escape Velocity will be the host for that competition at their River Road course in Abbotsford, B.C., followed by the road race on May 29 at the Atomic Super course. On May 28, meanwhile, the criterium championships will be held in New Wesminster, just outside Vancouver, during the Hyack Festival.

Youth riders, meanwhile, will race the provincial time trial, road and criterium competitions in Penticton, B.C. on June 11 and 12, as the championships for those categories return to the Okanagan. Later that month, those competitions will be followed by the B.C. cross country and downhill championships, happening at Whistler Blackcomb on June 25 and 26.

In July, the BC BMX championships kick off on the 16th at the celebrated Abbotsford BMX Park, with provincial clubs supporting the event, while the cyclocross championships close out the season on Nov. 26 in Squamish, B.C., near Whistler. And although the date has yet to be announced, the province’s track riders will compete in Burnaby, B.C., not far from Vancouver, at the lauded Burnaby Velodrome. The last time it was held in that city was 2014, and by the standards set by that event—both in the numbers of attendees and the tempo of competition—2016’s race is anticipated to be a thrilling one, with an aim to top the precedent set two years ago.

Considering the talent that calls British Columbia home, 2016 is likely to be a spectacular season on the championship front.

Provincial championships schedule

• Elite / Master Time Tria May 27 (Langley)
• Elite / Master Criterium May 28 (New Westminster)
• Elite / Master Road May 29 (Abbotsford)
• Youth Road, Criterium, Time Trial June 11, 12 (Penticton)
• Mountain DH June 25 (Whistler)
• Mountain XC June 26 (Whistler)
• BMX July 16 (Abbotsford)
• Track TBA (Burnaby)
• Cyclocross Nov. 26 (Squamish)