Once again, Powell River will welcome some 650 cyclists from 36 countries when the 13th annual BC Bike Race makes its stop here next week. 2019 is a special year for the race locally, according to Powell River course director Wayne Brewer.
“This is a bit of a milestone for our local riding community and for the community as a whole as it is our 10th year of hosting this world-class race,” he said.
A decade ago, the upper Sunshine Coast was relatively unknown as a cycling spot, according to BC Bike Race director of marketing Andreas Hestler.
“Powell River wasn’t really on the radar 10 years ago as a riding destination,” said Hestler.
Around that time race organizers visited the community and toured local trails with Wayne and Russell Brewer, he added.
“Over the last 10 years Wayne, Russell and the Powell River Cycling Association have really polished and tuned in the trails, and built more,” said Hestler.
Over the course of seven days the racers take on varied terrain in Cowichan Valley, Cumberland, Sechelt Peninsula and Squamish, however, the Powell River stage is consistently rated as the top venue, said Wayne.
Hestler agreed that the setting is unmatched anywhere.
“We stay at Willingdon Beach, and that has to be the best base camp in the world,” he said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
This year, BC Bike Race organizers have invited a local rider to take part in their local stage, not as a competitor, but as an ambassador for their community. Cyclist Stephanie Reed will represent Powell River. She and her husband Cam and their children are actively involved in maintaining the local trail network, according to Wayne. Reed has been out training and rode the local stage a few times.
“It’s not a race for me but I still want to do the best I can and put in a decent showing for Powell River,” said Reed, adding that the 50 kilometres and 800 metres of elevation are a challenging ride.
“You have a lot of respect for those riders to go out and do that seven days in a row,” she added. “It’s incredible actually.”
Born and raised in Powell River, Reed was competitive in track and field. She got serious about mountain biking in the last few years and has noticed an increased interest in the community.
“I’m in the trails pretty much every day and I’ve really seen over the last year an influx of new people riding in town,” she added. “People are starting to sit up and take notice of Powell River. It has a unique type of riding.”
Hestler said there is a different feel to the local trails.
“You have these long ribbons through the second-growth forest, and the trails don’t get the same usage as some in North Vancouver or Squamish,” he added.
“You’ve got to look through the eyes of a German, American or British person coming to visit,” he said. “We talk about these small towns on the coast and Powell River is just this gleaming example.”
Wayne said he believes Powell River sees many positive spin-offs as a result of the race.
“One of the things that makes me so proud to be an organizer of the race is that it has such tangible benefits for the community,” he said. “It has put us on the map globally, and we have witnessed racers return with friends and family not only to visit but to move here to work, to live, to raise a family. It is helping to revitalize the community.”
