September 14/05 12:26 pm - B.C. Cyclocross Series

Posted by Editoress on 09/14/05
 

First Race of the First Ever B.C. Cyclocross Series

Nanaimo, B.C at Diver Lake Sunday September 18th

Building on the success of last year’s first ever sanctioned cyclocross race on Vancouver Island, last November, at Beban Park; Frontrunners and Multi-Sport Promotions are set to kick off the first ever B.C. Cyclocross Series this Sunday at Diver Lake Park. The series will start in Nanaimo on September 18th. After its opening in Nanaimo there will be 6 races in the lower mainland and the last race in the series will be a double points finale at Beban Park in Nanaimo on November 12th.

Cyclocross is gaining in popularity each year. A specialized discipline in cycling it involved courses 2-3k in distance where competitors do multiple laps. The beginners usually do a race of about 35-45 minutes and the more experienced racers do 60 minutes. The bikes used range from mountain bikes to specialized cyclocross bikes which resemble road bikes with slightly wider and knobby tires. The races are very spectator friendly as you can usually watch the athletes several times per lap wind their way around the course.

Nanaimo is quickly becoming one of the hot beds for Cyclocross in B.C. since they organized the biggest race in the province last November. Nanaimo is also home to two time, and current, Canadian Champion Wendy Simms who placed 12th at the World Championships last January (highest placing ever for a Canadian at a Cyclocross World Championship). Wendy will be out on Sunday leading a beginners clinic as well as racing with the boys in the Elite race. It will be her first race in her third Cyclocross Season and a stepping stone towards trying to capture a 3rd Canadian Title.

Frontrunners and Multi-Sport Promotions applied to the Canadian Cycling Association to host the Canadian National Cyclocross Championships in 2006 and are waiting to hear back if their application has been chosen.

Nanaimo Parks and Recreation as well as the City of Nanaimo have been very helpful in putting on the Cyclocross races in this town and instrumental in the growth of cyclocross on Vancouver Island and our application for 2006 National Championships.

The schedule for the race on Sunday:
CROSS CUP #1
"Cross on the Rock" Race # 1 :: Sept. 18th DIVER LAKE
• Registration: 11:00-1:55 (up to 20mins before your race)
• Course open for pre-riding: 11:00-12:00
• Learn to Race cyclocross clinic: 10:45-11:30
• Beginner race 12:00-12:45 (Race time approx. 35 minutes for 1st person)
• Course open for pre-riding 12:45-1:00
• Women’s, Master’s, Intermediate race 1:00-1:50 (Race time approx. 45 minutes for 1st person)
• Course open for pre-riding: 1:50-2:15
• Expert race 2:15-3:15 (race time 60 minutes for 1st person)

A note to users of Diver Lake Park that the race takes up almost all of the park as it twists and turns through it. It will be difficult for walkers etc. to use the park on Sunday so please plan accordingly. Also because of the limited parking in this area residents have been given notices to let them know of the event and that competitors will be using on street parking for the most part.

We welcome spectators and volunteers!

Event Web site: www.island-multi-sports.com
Cycling B.C. web site on Cyclocross: www.cycling.bc.ca