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10k at PoCo Grand Prix, biz 'impacted'

More than 10,000 people crowded into downtown Port Coquitlam last Friday for the city’s fourth annual PoCo Grand Prix, the seventh race in this year's BC Superweek pro cycling series.
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The 1-2-3 finishers in the men's PoCo Grand Prix were: Team New Zealand’s Campbell Stewart, Heizomat Rad-Net rider Marcel Franz and Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling’s Samuel Bassetti.

More than 10,000 people crowded into downtown Port Coquitlam last Friday for the city’s fourth annual PoCo Grand Prix, the seventh race in this year's BC Superweek pro cycling series.

Spectators watched as nearly 200 elite and pro racers — on teams representing Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Germany and Hong Kong — whizzed past on the 1.3-km circuit that started and finished on Shaughnessy Street.

The kids' races drew big cheers as nearly 430 young riders looped the same track as the professionals.

Mayor Brad West said the city is looking to boost capacity next year as 60 kids were on the wait list; as well, more showed up on the day to register but were turned away.

Organizers with the PoCo Grand Prix moved the event to later in the afternoon, with a 4:30 p.m. start time, to accommodate downtown businesses affected by road closures.

Jennifer McKinnon, executive director of the Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association, said that helped merchants somewhat although parking was tight with the race set-up during the day.

“I most certainly see a significant divide between the businesses versus those attending/organizing the event,” McKinnon said. “The Grand Prix, without a doubt, puts PoCo on the map while providing an immaculately executed and exciting community event.

“Unfortunately,” she said, “for the business community, especially on Shaughnessy Street, missing three-quarters of a business day on a Friday because their clients can’t park, or don’t want to try, has a severe negative impact.”

Still, city spokesperson Pardeep Purewal said more businesses got involved this year by dressing up their store windows and offering Grand Prix-related specials.

As for the city’s five-year commitment that ends in 2020, West said city council will meet this fall to talk about a potential renewal of the contract.

“I don’t want to prejudge that discussion but I think we need to give careful consideration to the cost and the staff resources,” he said. “I think that the event has been warmly received in the community and becomes more and more successful each year.”