BC's Top Cyclists to return to Victoria for Provincial Champs - PISE joins as presenting sponsor

Victoria BC:  For the third consecutive year, Victoria BC is hosting the BC Road Cycling Championships as part of the annual Robert Cameron Law Cycling Series presented by PISE on May 30 to June 1, 2014.

In a new partnership, the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (PISE) has joined as the presenting sponsor of the entire series, as part of an ongoing awareness campaign to offer "cycling-friendly" programs and resources at its Interurban Campus facility.  As the umbrella organization for the Canadian Sports Institute Pacific, PISE recognizes that the event serves as a platform for high performance athlete development as they train and prepare for national/international competition as part of the LTAD model.  

This year's event is scheduled to follow its usual 3 Day series format that incorporates various cycling disciplines:

May 30 – Hotel Zed Dallas Road Time Trial

May 31 - Accent Inns Cycling Classic - BC Road Elite/Masters Cycling Championships

June 1 - Russ Hay's/Accent Inns Bastion Square Grand Prix - BC Criterium Cycling Championships

-          Tim Horton’s Timbits Challenge

-          Victoria Celebrity Bike Relay

The Hotel  Zed Dallas Road Time Trial is a 5km race along Victoria's scenic oceanfront on Dallas Road. Known as the "Race of Truth", participants race against the clock along the course at breakneck speeds of up to 60 km/hr. Expect to see Canadian National Time Trial Champion, Curtis Dearden, as he defends his course record.  Open to novice or expert cyclists, this event challenges everyone. Participants will be using the latest aerodynamic technology to minimize wind resistance and maximize speed. Hand cyclists and first time racers are invited to participate.

May 31 is the first BC Premier Cup event of the year, with the Accent Inns Cycling Classic.  Located in Metchosin, BC, this Road Race features a relentless course that will challenge all competitors as they battle for the BC Cycling Championship titles. The race is run on a 10km loop starting and finishing at Hans Helgesen Elementary School.  The course features sweeping descents, steep climbs, with a total elevation gain of 4000 ft for the men and 3000 ft for the women.

On Saturday, June 1, is the ever-popular Russ Hay's/Accent Ins Bastion Square Grand Prix. This is the “money” event — where elite riders put everything on the line to claim primes (lap prizes) and cash prizes before a large rowdy crowd, just inches from the action. Located in Downtown Victoria, the Bastion Square Grand Prix Grand Prix has been a staple in B.C.’s cycling history for over 20 years. Past winners have included Olympians — and Victorians — Gillian Carlton, Roland Green, Andreas Hestler, Alison Sydor and Erinne Willock. Racing on a short, fully enclosed 900 metre loop through Victoria's historic Bastion Square, this European-style event features thrills and spills. Spectators can check out the infamous “Crash Corner” at Yates and Wharf Streets, witness the “prime” and finish line sprints at Fort and Langley Streets, or enjoy a bite to eat or a cup of java at the many “course -side” outdoor cafes along the route. Thousands of spectators will once again line the route to watch riders reach speeds of 65 km/hr, side to side, wheel to wheel.

Prior to the Elite Men/Women’s event is the inaugural Victoria Celebrity Cycling Challenge where local sports/media celebrities will have a friendly race around Bastion Square in front of thousands of fans and spectators.

Also on June 1, kids ages 3-10 get to race and also rub elbows with local Olympians and champions during the Tim Horton's Timbits Challenge.  Registration is free and all kids get a T-Shirt, a medal, waterbottle, and a box of Timbits!   Registration is free with a limit of 150 participants.

 The Russ Hay's Racing Cycle Club Society is a not-for-profit society dedicated to providing support, equipment, and resources towards the development of aspiring competitive cyclists who have the potential to become future champions.

Visit the website for all the details at www.victoria-cycling.com

Volunteers are needed for our event.  Please visit the website for more information on available positions.

For more information contact race director Jon Watkin at director@victoria-cycling.com

Courtesy Jon Watkin, Event Director

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Robert Cameron Law is one of Victoria's well known and respected law firms that specialize in injury claims.  Bob himself is passionate about cycling and has competed at the national and international level, with significant accomplishments both in road and track disciplines.   He currently sits on the board of the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence and supports other cycling related projects such as the IRC Cycling Club and the Accent Inns/Russ Hay's Cycling Team p/b Soctiabank. www.rwcameronlaw.ca

PISE is a world class sport institute that opened its doors in 2008, and is an independent not for profit organization located next to Camosun College at the Interurban campus. As a legacy of the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the Institute brings together excellence in community sport and active healthy living development, sport and exercise education, sport technology research, and world-class athlete performance services. PISE, in collaboration with its partners the Canadian Sport Institute and Camosun College, serves the community, students, Canadian international high performance athletes and coaches from across the region, province and country within a state of the art facility and throughout the CRD region.  www.piseworld.com

Russ Hay's The Bicycle Shop has been one of Victoria's major independent cycling retailers since 1959.  It was recently voted as one of the "2013 Best Bike Shops in Canada" by Canadian Cyclist Magazine.  The Clermont family owned business maintains a strong reputation for friendly, expert service, relying on customers' word-of-mouth as their strongest source of advertising. They are one of the top Specialized Bicycle dealers in Canada and have raised over $11,000 for Victoria Hospice through the annual Ambriss Clermont Charity Ride. www.russhays.com