“Tropical hot!” weather smothered the racers on the opening day of the 2013 BC Bike Race.
With temperatures pushing 28 C. and the humidity soaring, race co-founder Dean Payne describes day one of the BCBR as the hottest and most humid on record. “The past two weeks of rain saturated the ground and now the moisture is just rising out of the ground. I’ve never sweated so much in my life.”
Day one was held in Cumberland on June 30. Day two moved to Campbell River on July 1, and the race continues through to the finish July 6 in Whistler.
Day one was a stage for regional riders Kris Snedden (Kona) and Neil Kindree (Specialized/Corsa Cycles) who took first and second after a day of a three man Kona tag-team that worked over last year's winner, Kindree.
Kona rider Spencer Paxson overcame an early crash to earn a step up onto the third step.
Day one also proved to be full of early fireworks in the Open Women’s race as last year's winner Wendy Simms (Kona) had no chance to catch a moment in the shade with Kim Hurst (Mud Cycles) of New Zealand hungry for a chance to unseat the Queen of Lean.
Hurst had Simms against the ropes on the initial climbs up to Forbidden Plateau before getting bested in the singletrack. Unfortunately a directional misstep put Hurst back at the finish line two minutes coming into the finish line.
Simms should take note and prepare herself for the game Hurst is ready to play. “I’m really looking forward to a long hard week of riding.”
The first of four ferry rides over the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver Island gave riders a feel for the world of water and mountains that British Columbia is famous for. After departing from the BC Ferries boat the final bus ride to the open arms of Cumberland is a welcoming opportunity to rest in a true Island town.
With a main street short enough to walk in 10 minutes and Dodge City Cycles smack in the centre of town under the legendary Riding Fool Hostel, Cumberland is truly a rider’s town.
If it wasn’t for Cumberland’s distinctive mining history, the fresh local food and good coffee shops of the small downtown could fool someone into thinking they were in a European village.
Follow the BC Bike Race at bcbikerace.com.
– BC Bike Race