North America’s top professional cyclists will descend on Vancouver in July for the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix – and you’re invited to watch them fly by, all for free.

Canada’s most famous annual criterium bike race – a multi-lap race held on a short closed course – will take place on Wednesday, July 13.

The challenging 1.2-kilometre course starts and finishes next to Gastown’s famous steamclock – and with riders speeding past at 50 km/h, spectators should expect a few crashes.

Riders will head up Water Street, around the hairpin turn at Cordova Street, around the Gassy Jack statue and back up Water Street.

The women’s race is 35 laps, or 42 km, while the men’s race is 50 laps, or 60 km.

Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix

Where: Start/finish line next to Gastown’s steamclock, spectators can line route down Water and Cordova streets

When: Wednesday, July 13

Time: Youth race at 5:30 pm, opening ceremonies at 5:55 pm, women’s race at 6:15 pm, men’s race at 7:30 pm

Daily Hive Vancouver is a proud sponsor of Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix