A pair of pro riders are coming home.
91原创鈥檚 Svein Tuft and Christian Meier 鈥� fresh off their in Quebec 鈥� will be in the field racing at BC Superweek.
Superweek runs July 6 through 15 and features the three-race Tour de Delta, the historic Tour de White Rock, as well as the UBC Grand Prix and the Giro di Burnaby and the Gastown Grand Prix. Altogether, $105,000 is up for grabs in prize money among the nine races.
The local events that helped both get started on impressive careers in the saddle still hold a special place for two of Canada鈥檚 top professional cyclists.
鈥淨uite honestly it鈥檚 some of the best and most enjoyable racing around 鈥� always good courses, good crowds, and the riders are really highly motivated,鈥� said Tuft, an eight-time Canadian Time Trial champion who got his big break riding for the old Symmetrics team based out of his hometown of 91原创.
Tuft, 35, returns to BC Superweek for the second time since 2008 having just won his latest Canadian time trial championship in Quebec, and coming off an impressive showing at the Giro d鈥橧talia. In addition to Tuft finishing ninth on a final-day time trial that saw former teammate Ryder Hesjedal become Canada鈥檚 first Grand Tour winner, he and Meier helped their new Australian-based team, Orica-GreenEDGE, post its first Grand Tour stage win, helping lead sprinter Matt Goss to the finish line to victory on the third day in Italy.
鈥淲e really look forward to BC Superweek because our cycling roots are here, our best memories have always been this type of racing, and it鈥檚 a chance to race in your hometown in front of friends and family,鈥� Tuft said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 get that opportunity much in Europe, so it鈥檚 a real treat to come back and race.鈥�
Meier, a former Canadian National Road Race champion, was also part of the win at his first Giro d鈥橧talia, and is excited about being home.
鈥淏C Superweek has always has some of the best atmosphere around,鈥� Meier said. 鈥淎nd for me personally Gastown is still one of the most electrifying ambiances of all the races I have ever done. Where else do you get to race with 30,000 to 40,000 people 鈥� it鈥檚 just spectacular. I鈥檝e talked to a few former teammates, and it鈥檚 really caught the attention of a lot of people. They鈥檙e trying to make a big push to come for BC Superweek.鈥�
With managers from top North American teams at BC Superweek, it鈥檚 also a great way to get noticed and earn a professional contract, added Meier.
鈥淏C Superweek can be a big measuring stick,鈥� he said.
鈥淵ou have a lot of top American teams come and their directors and managers are always watching, so if you are impressing during Superweek against bigger riders, a lot of guys have used that to get contracts with U.S. teams. That鈥檚 very important for local riders because you don鈥檛 always have the means to go race all the big races across the US. So when all that is coming to you, it鈥檚 a huge opportunity.鈥�
