BC Bike Race plots return to Victoria for 2024 route

BC Bike Race started, quite literally, in Victoria, BC. The first edition of what is now a classic Canadian XC stage race started from the provincial capital in 2007. It was also the last time BCBR visited Victoria. With the race route constantly changing, stages visited communities across Vancouver Island, the BC coast and even the Okanagan.

Now, 17 years later, the BC Bike Race will return for two race stages in Victoria in 2024. Hartland’s technical XC trails and the newly sanctioned singletrack at Partridge Hills will host the first two race stages. Victoria will also act as the first of three basecamp locations for the runners.

RELATED: From GTA to Vancouver Island: My Week in the BC Bike Race

BCBR podium finisher Carter Nieuwesteeg rides on Victoria’s Hartland trail network. Photo: Jens Klett

While Victoria hasn’t hosted BCBR in nearly two decades, the city’s singletrack continues to serve as a proving ground for some of Canada’s best cross country racers. From the days of Ryder Hesjedal and Lesley Tomlinson, Seamus McGrath (and also BCBR c0 founder Andreas Hestler), to Max Plaxton and more recent riders like Andrew L’Esperance, Haley Smith, Peter Disera (all BCBR winners ) and Carter Nieuwesteeg. , Hartland’s roots and rocks displayed the technical skills that Canadians are known for on the international stage. While the elite returning to the race this year will enjoy a bit of home advantage, every racer can look forward to testing themselves against such historic singletrack.

BCBR’s Crofton base camp. Photo: Dave Silver

From Victoria, the 18th edition of the BC Bike Race will return to the Cowichan Valley, and the Crofton base camp by 2023, for the third day of racing. Nanaimo, another community recently returned to the list after a long hiatus, hosts stage 4.

Campbell River singletrack.  Photo: Dave Silver

The final three days of the 2024 BC Bike Race return to two communities that helped make the stage race famous. The now iconic trails of Cumberland, BC (also the last basecamp of the week) will land a day trip up to the fast and rolling trails of the Snowden Demonstration Forest outside of Campbell River.

2024 BC Bike Race runs from July 1-7, 2024. Registration it is open now.

The iconic start on Cumberland’s main street. Photo: Dave Silver

2024 BC Bike Race location of stages

  • July 1: Victoria
  • July 2: Victoria
  • July 3: Cowichan Valley
  • July 4: Nanaimo
  • July 5: Cumberland
  • July 6: Campbell River
  • July 7: Cumberland

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