2023 COURSE INFO

TOTAL DISTANCE: 13.4km

ELEVATION: 421m

DETAILS: ~3km neutral start/finish

Once you’ve registered, today is about warming up your legs and body and making sure your equipment is ready for the week. After a neutral roll-out, you will start your singletrack journey with some panoramic views of the Cowichan Valley before dipping back into the trees. Once you reach the high point you will be treated to your first flowy descent of the week on Phloem, Solar Coaster, and Loggers Lane. A relaxed neutral pedal will get you back to Basecamp.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 42.9km

ELEVATION: 1,266m

DETAILS: Start on the clock, ~9km neutral return

Starting on the clock from Basecamp racers will traverse up through Mount Richards and some local farmland, only opened up for this event. Ascending “A Grand Traverse” on Mount Tzouhalem you will make your way up to the Arbutus-covered ridge line trails Field of Dreams and Rocky Mountain Ridge. After a few technical descents and some punchy climbing, you will be hooting and hollering down Double D, one of the most popular trails in the region. A short neutral ride will get you back to Basecamp.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 25.2km

ELEVATION: 921m

DETAILS: Entire course on the clock

Stage 3 will get you back into the Maple Mountain trail network. Once racers cross through the totem pole arch, they will be treated to 18km of pure BC singletrack. From the top of Maple Mountain riders will make good use of their dropper posts navigating Upper Maple Syrup filled with rocky descends and punchy climbs back into the flow of Phloem. A short gravel road ascend will get you into Lower Maple Syrup, followed by an up-and-down singletrack Bonanza, and a gravel road finish back into Basecamp.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 35.5km

ELEVATION: 1,034m

DETAILS: Short neutral start, ~3km neutral return

Rolling out from Vancouver Island University, today’s stage will lead racers into unique forests and endless rock bluffs. With three distinct climbs, you will get to experience a lot of the local favorites like Gatekeeper, Rollercoaster, and Shenanigans. The Finish line will be on the shores of Westwood Lake. Enjoy a quick dip before your neutral spin back to Basecamp.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 41.3km

ELEVATION: 1,348m

DETAILS: Entire course on the clock

Starting in Cumberland you will make your way up a short section of gravel double track to spread out the field. Then it’s onto Sobo no Michi, a masterpiece of a purpose-built climbing trail, which will get riders to the upper trail network. From here it’s mostly down with the occasional punchy climb to connect some of the best trails the network has to offer. Field of Dreams, Blue Collar, and the Trent Canyon Trail are only a few gems of the day. Once you get to the top of Nikkie Mountain you’ll be descending all the way back to the village of Cumberland.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 44.9km

ELEVATION: 735m

DETAILS: Entire course on the clock

Today’s stage is a classic epic XC ride. Around 45km of up and down through the phenomenal second-growth forest of the Snowden Demonstration Forest and Elk Falls Provincial Park. The course immerses you in the green room all day on a sliver of brown trail as you skirt alongside remote lakes and out onto open rocky bluffs. Some highlights of the day will be Jabberwocky, Rotary Rock and Roll, and Mudhoney.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 31.3km

ELEVATION: 957m

DETAILS: Entire course on the clock

Your final stage of the BC Bike Race! This is a shorter course that takes in some of the best descending Cumberland has to offer. After climbing Sobo no Michi you will be hitting over 2km of Vanilla, the trail that’s on everybody’s ride plan. From here, a gravel road climb will get you to almost 5km of mostly descending. Starting on the slightly spicier Blockhead and Bear Buns, onto some high-speed riding down the local favorites, Scat, Brat, and Bonestorm before crossing the finish line to celebrate your week and accomplishments.