Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix and 5 other BC races cancelled

Organizers of BC Superweek announced this week they have cancelled this summer’s road cycling race series for COVID-19 public health safety reasons.

Six of these races were scheduled from July 9 to 18, including the Tour de Delta, New West Grand Prix, Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix, Giro di Burnaby, PoCo Grand Prix, and Tour de White Rock.

It is billed by organizers as one of the largest professional cycling events in North America, attracting elite cyclists from around the world.

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The Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix, in particular, draws the series’ largest crowds, with annual attendance hovering at approximately 30,000 spectators lining the streets of Gastown in downtown Vancouver.

“With the likelihood that measures related to COVID-19 will continue for the foreseeable future, we must act responsibly to protect the many people who come together for BC Superweek from being at risk,” said series director Mark Ernsting in a statement.

With the pandemic continuing to escalate both locally and abroad, there continues to be uncertainty over when exactly restrictions on mass gatherings, as well as general physical distancing and self-isolation practices, will be lifted.