Get your cowbells out.
Professional cyclists from around the world will land in Port Coquitlam next Friday to race in the second annual PoCo Grand Prix.
And the 200-plus athletes will be needing lots of cheers as they loop downtown — some of them riding as fast as 63 km/hr.
Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the BC Superweek event will see the core closed off between 1 and 10 p.m. to stage the men's and women's contests before an expected audience of 5,000 people.
But there will also be plenty going on in between the category 3/4 and 1/2 races for the public to enjoy: the corporate challenge, which will again see PoCo Mayor Greg Moore and fellow Tri-City mayors Richard Stewart, Mike Clay and John McEwen take part; the kids' races, which are now sold out; the BC Superweek youth race, for 12- to 15-year-old registrants; and entertainment inside the 1.3-km circuit.
Brian Wiebe, media relations manager for BC Superweek, said the crowd can also expect to see a return of last year's PoCo Grand Prix winners: Justin Williams of Los Angeles (Cylance/Incycle p/b Cannondale) who clinched the men's Pro 1/2 title with a time of 59:33 minutes, and Kendelle Hodges, an independent racer from Melbourne who earned the women's Pro 1/2 crown with a time of 51:49 minutes.
"These are pro athletes," Wiebe said of the riders. "Much like the Canucks, much like the Whitecaps — these are cyclists who compete in the Olympics and are at the highest level. And the best part is you can come see them in your own community, for free. It's great family fun."
The set-up is much like last year's PoCo Grand Prix; however, the schedule has changed slightly to accommodate downtown merchants — many of whom complained after the inaugural race about the inconvenience of shutting the core during a weekday.
Pardeep Purewal, the city's communications manager, said two open houses were held with business owners this year and fliers were also distributed; the Downtown PoCo Business Improvement Association also reached out to offer solutions.
"Hopefully, nothing will be a surprise for them and they know what to expect this year," Wiebe said.
Last year's inaugural PoCo Grand Prix cost more than $223,260 — much higher than anticipated — but organizers also brought in an unanticipated $74,000 more in revenues that resulted in a tally of $85,000.
This year's budget is $77,000.
Most of last year's sponsors are back on board including the presenter Dominion Lending Centres, which has signed on as the Grand Prix lead for the next three years, plus the city's two main bike companies: Cap's Westwood Cycle (corporate challenge) and Norco Bicycles (kids race and zone).
Also back to emcee will be TV sports anchor Jay Janower, a Port Moody resident, and Andrew Pinfold, a North Vancouver cyclist and program director for Team DEVO.
Meanwhile, Wiebe said he also hopes to see PoCo Grand Prix incorporate a para-cycling race in the future, much like Tour de Delta is organizing for the first time, in Ladner on Saturday. That competition is in partnership with Cycling BC and Cycling Canada.
Another addition to the BC Superweek 2017 is the New West Grand Prix, which takes place in the Royal City next Tuesday. BC Superweek starts tomorrow (Friday) with Tour de Delta.
WHAT IS BC SUPERWEEK
BC Superweek is the biggest pro road cycling series in Canada, with more than $140,000 in prize money up for grabs at nine races:
• Tour de Delta (July 7 to 9)
• New West Grand Prix (July 11)
• Gastown Grand Prix (July 12)
• Giro di Burnaby (July 13)
• PoCo Grand Prix (July 14)
• Tour de White Rock (July 15 and 16)
WHO TO WATCH
Men's field:
• Ryan Aitcheson, First Internet Bank Elite Team
• Steve Fisher, Canyon Bicycles
• Florenz Knauer, Team Stradelli Safetti
• Ryan Anderson, Direct Energie Pro Cycling
• Pieter Bulling, New Zealand National Team
• Pier-Andre Cote, Silber Pro Cycling
• Eric Young, Rally Cycling
Women's field:
• Kirsti Lay, Rally Cycling
• Kendelle Hodges, Colavita/Bianchi
• Leah Kirchmann, Team Sunweb
• Allison Beveridge, Rally Cycling
• Joelle Numainville, Cylance Pro Cycling
• Sara Bergen, Rally Cycling
• Bryony Botha, New Zealand National Team
RACE TIMES
• 1:30 p.m.: Women's CAT 3/4
• 2:15 p.m.: Men's CAT 3/4
• 3:15 p.m.: Corporate challenge
• 5:15 p.m. Kids' race
• 6 p.m.: Youth race
• 6:45 p.m.: Women's CAT 1/2/3
• 7:50 p.m. Men's CAT 1/2
Awards will be handed out at 9 p.m. on the podium.
ENTERTAINMENT
Port Coquitlam's Giggle Dam Dinner Theatre will run the main stage — at the Leigh Square bandshell — from 3:15 to 10:15 p.m.:
• 3:15 p.m.: The Giggle Dam Band
• 4:15 p.m.: Steve "Mud Dog" Sainas
• 5:15 p.m.: Macky C and the Mountain Men
• 6:45 p.m.: The Giggle Dam (impersonations)
• 8 p.m.: The Millennials
• 9 p.m.: The Giggle Dam Band
PARKING
Parking will be limited — especially with lot partially closed at the Port Coquitlam recreation complex, which is under construction.
If you can't take public transit, park your vehicle at or near the following locations: West Coast Express parking lot, Gates Park or Riverside secondary school (or in the Legion parking lot after 3 p.m.).
Cap's Westwood Cycle will valet park your bike at no cost, between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. The company's service centre will also be on site to provide technical support to participants.
YOU CAN HELP
• Be a volunteer: Lend a hand with marshalling, event set up and take down, first aid, food serving or other duties. Register at pocograndprix.ca/volunteer.
• Host a rider: Do you have an extra bedroom for a cyclist sleep during BC Superweek? And room for them to park their bike and gear? Email [email protected].
• Offer sponsorship: Dominion Lending Centres is the presenting sponsor for the PoCo Grand Prix but other corporate and community partners are needed to offset the cost of the race. Email Graham Danziger at [email protected].
