The lawn in front of Victoria鈥檚 legislature building was covered in bikes on Saturday after cyclists rode across the finish line in Ryder Hesjedal鈥檚 Tour de Victoria cycling event.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what it鈥檚 about. The capital city taken over by bikes,鈥� said Les Bronee, a volunteer ambassador rider for the event. 鈥淚 even said at the beginning: 鈥楽urrender Victoria. Here come the bikes.鈥� We had some good laughs at the start line over that.鈥�
The ninth annual event offered a challenge for all ages and abilities with distances of 160, 140, 100, 60, 30, and 15 kilometres, as well as a free kids ride around a 400-metre course. More than 2,300 cyclists from across North America and as far away as Australia flocked to Victoria to take part.
Bronee has cycled in the event every year since it began in 2011. This year, he rode the 160-kilometre route for the first time. As an ambassador rider, Bronee is one of a handful of cyclists on each route who help riders with any mechanical issues, like flat tires or problems with brakes and chains.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a matter of being there and making sure everybody is getting to the finish line with their best day in the saddle,鈥� he said.
Ryder Hesjedal, a Victoria native and a former professional racing cyclist, founded the festival as a way to introduce more people to cycling.
Tour director Seamus McGrath, who rode the 160-kilometre route, said the event is about providing cyclists of all levels an opportunity to challenge themselves in a world-class setting.
鈥淭he concept is to bring a Tour de France-level cycling experience to the average cyclist,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o you don鈥檛 have to wear spandex. You don鈥檛 have to have a road bike. It鈥檚 not a race, but we offer traffic-controlled intersections. We try to remove as many cars from the equation as possible. We fully support the riders along [the] route.鈥�
Hesjedal cycled the 160-kilometre route Saturday, and even he felt the challenge of the course鈥檚 difficult terrain.
鈥淚t was good. I mean, I had fun. I struggled. It鈥檚 not easy,鈥� Hesjedal said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still 160 kilometres. It doesn鈥檛 just happen.鈥�
Les Bronee said those words coming from the 2012 Giro d鈥橧talia champion say a lot about how difficult the course is because of the elevation gain. Cyclists riding 160 kilometres also climbed 2,200 metres of elevation.
Howard Ryujin came over from North Vancouver to ride the 140-kilometre course for a second year. He praised the festival鈥檚 organizers on a well-run event and an interesting course with challenging hills.
His wife, Elena Verescu, participated for the first time, cycling 100 kilometres. Verescu said the couple will definitely return to enjoy the ride next year.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen some parts of Victoria or Saanich that we never see. There are some beautiful places,鈥� she said.
Five-year-old Elisabeth cycled in the ride for the first time this year, completing the 15-kilometre course with her mother, Valerie Duncan. Elisabeth鈥檚 older brothers, Caleb, 9, and Thomas, 8, rode 30 kilometres, while their dad Kris completed the longest distance. The family travelled from Squamish.
鈥淥f all the events, this is our favourite one,鈥� Duncan said, adding that the festival is kid-friendly.
Elisabeth cycled with her two stuffed-animal puppies in her bike鈥檚 basket and crossed the finish line to many cheers from spectators and other riders.
鈥淭he adults coming across cheering her on, and all the people on the side just gave her an extra boost to go faster,鈥� Duncan said.
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