BC Bike Race (BCBR) bills itself as the ultimate single track experience. Among the racers in their spandex suits are the superheroes of the sport, including Jeremiah Bishop from the United States.
Bishop dominates stage races such as BCBR. Nobody in North America has a better record and BCBR is one of the few on a short list of ultra-endurance mountain bike races he has not competed in and won.
“My initial, really basic research into the race is that it's a little bit more like successive days of cross-country racing,” said Bishop. “So shorter stages, a little more explosive, no really long sustained climbs. It will require a very good ability to recover and do high power efforts for shorter climbs and then have really good technique to save energy through the single track.”
Bishop has done his research but admits to not knowing exactly what to expect in Powell River or on the other stages of BCBR.
“I'll be at a disadvantage as far as not knowing the course,” he said. “I just need to ride safely and really just see what I can do with where I am on the courses. There are a lot of other races and exploits and this one is probably a little more skill-based than some of the other events I've done.”
The 42-year old hails from Harrisburg, West Virginia. He is one of the oldest elite riders competing in the eight-stage BCBR. The riders visit Powell River for stage three on Monday, July 9.
“I’m making it happen this year because you have to do these things when you can,” said Bishop. “Now is the time to do it if I'm going to do it while I'm fast.”
Other aspects make a top elite cyclist than just pedalling hard, he added.
“The interesting thing in these stage races is they don’t often come down to who has the best day among the best riders,” said Bishop. “It comes down to who doesn't have a bad day.”
He said what keeps him going against much younger riders is that he lives and breathes cycling.
“That's a big part of it,” said Bishop. “What I've found is if you really want it and train hard you can compete with the younger guys, and that's a big piece of why I'm still able to do it. I have a passion for cycling.”
Bishop is a member of the Topeak-Ergon Racing Team, which is among the top three teams in the world for ultra-endurance mountain bike racing. He said he is looking forward to BC Bike Race because it is an opportunity to race for himself.
“I have a hunger to go out and see what I can do and I’m really hoping I can get back that magic form,” said Bishop. “If I have that form, everybody else is going to be having a tough time.”
