Trek Store Canada Cup to feature week long “mountain bike festival” to mark 20th anniversary

This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the Trek Store Canada Cup/Ontario Cup, and at Hardwood Ski and Bike in Barrie, Ontario — the site of three Canadian Mountain Bike Championship events — the doors will once again be open, welcoming the mountain bike world.

To mark the occasion, Pulse Racing will showcase a series of events this week as part of a week-long mountain bike festival, as it’s being billed. With a Tuesday Fun Ride, the Trek Wednesday Night Race, coinciding with the Pan Am Torch Relay Celebration, the Thursday Eliminator, a Saturday Move Canada Fun Ride, and the races themselves happening on Sunday, it’s a come-one, come-all series of events for both riders and spectators — and with an Expo and Team Festival area also planned, organizers are definitely expecting a good turnout.

Being the last chance for riders to preview the official 2015 Pan Am course at Hardwood Mountain Bike Park, a huge international presence from across the cycling world is expected, including both cyclists and spectators. To attract a new generation of riders to mountain biking as a sport, organizers are also dropping fees for race entry and insurance, too, hoping to entice some would-be Ontario Cup youth riders.

“We are very excited to have the Canada Cup events back after the last two years hosting the Canadian Championships,” said Glenn Meeuwisse, race director at Pulse Racing. “The course upgrades we have been able to make for the Pan Am Games makes for world class-level racing for the Elites. Hardwood also has so many great trails [that] we can also make more rider-friendly courses for the youth and sport riders.”

“We truly want to create a festival atmosphere that is fun for all ages and abilities.”

When racing starts on Sunday, first start will be at 8:30 a.m., second start at 9:30 a.m., third start at 11:30 a.m., and fourth start kicks off at 1:45 p.m., with details about competing racers and classes available at the event’s official website.

“We had a spectacular Canadian Championships at Hardwood Ski and Bike last year,” said Mathieu Boucher, director of performance development at Cycling Canada, “and I’m sure that The Trek Store Canada Cup organized by Pulse Racing will find ways to raise the bar once again.”

Further schedule, registration and technical guide information can be accessed through Cycling Canada’s website.