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Cyclocross nationals will return to west coast for first time in 6 years

Victoria wins hosting rights to 2020 and 2021 championships racing

Pendrel Dyck

Canadian Cyclocross national championships are set to return to the country’s left-most province for the first time in six years in 2020.

The ceremonial course stake was passed from Peterborough to next year’s host city, Victoria following 2019 national championships. The Vancouver Island city will host national championships in 2020 and 2021.

Geoff Kabush rode to his third national title at the 2012 Canadian cyclocross championships. (Image: Doug Brons)

It will be the first time since 2013 that British Columbia will host cyclocross nationals. Surrey, B.C. hosted 2012 and 2013 cyclocross national championships.

Since then, Winnipeg, Man. hosted two excellent years in 2014 and 2015 at the iconic  downtown Forks venue. Then Sherbrooke brought championship racing to Quebec. in 2016 and 2017. Peterborough has hosted the last two years of racing, in 2018 and 2019, at the Nicholls Oval park.

Victoria is part of a strong cyclocross community in B.C. and on Vancouver Island. The province’s capital city is a frequent host to the Cross on the Rock regional cyclocross series. The city has also hosted B.C. provincial championships, most recently in 2018. On the less competitive side of cyclocross, the infamous Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships made its only Canadian appearance, descending on the cities Western Speedway in 2015.

Mical Dyck won the elite women’s race at the 2012 Canadian cyclocross championships. (And also has several SSCXWC titles to her name).

On of the main organizers of Victoria’s national championships events will be experienced event organizer Jon Watkin. Watkin recently brought Canadian road and time trial national championships to the city in 2018 and 2019, as part of the long-running Victoria Cycling Festival. He also is part of the committee that has run the Bear Mountain Canada Cup XCO, which has opened the Canada Cup cross country series for the past several seasons. 2019 also saw Watkin debut a new gravel event, the Burnt Bridge Classic at nearby Shawnigan Lake, B.C.

Chris Speppard fights to keep his national title at the 2012 Canadian cyclocross championships. (Image: Doug Brons)

Canadian Cycling Magazine will continue to bring updates on the event. You can also follow Bear Crossing on social media for news of what’s happening with Victoria cyclocross national championships.