January 28, 2009 (Vancouver, B.C.) – The BC Bike Race (BCBR) – The Ultimate Singletrack Experience is proud to announce a brand new route for 2009. The BC Bike Race will kick off 2009 with a ride over the Lions Gate Bridge – from downtown Vancouver to the legendary trails of the North Shore.

Built in 1938, the landmark Lions Gate Bridge connects the city of Vancouver to the North Shore Mountains and communities. The Lions Gate Bridge is the gateway to BC’s singletrack and will provide a spectacular start to the 2009 BC Bike Race.

“To be the best mountain bike race in the world we must include the North Shore”, stated Dean Payne, who originally brainstormed the BCBR. Payne had always envisioned a stage on the trails of the North Shore but navigating the hoops and hurdles of big city bylaws without a track record was prohibitive in years one and two. Now that the BCBR has two solid successful years under its belt the time has come to incorporate the North Shore trails.

A few preliminary phone calls to BC Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon and a few more to District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton set the wheels in motion. Mayor Walton, known to some as the “mountain biking Mayor”, immediately embraced the concept and shares Payne’s overall vision of the future for both the BC Bike Race and Vancouver’s North Shore.

The North Shore, considered one of mountain biking’s birthplaces, has produced numerous professional riders, cultivated a range of riding styles and developed innovative trail building techniques that are currently in use the world over. And now the BC Bike Race will showcase some of the classic mountain bike trails that have been staples since the earliest days of riding ‘The Shore’.

Vancouver’s North Shore now joins the list of the other amazing BC Bike Race venues that reads like the ‘where’s where’ of the finest in West Coast mountain biking – Vancouver Island, Cumberland, the Sunshine Coast, Squamish and, of course, Whistler.

The event sold out in February last year and with 68% of available 2009 entries already snapped up, it won’t be long before the BC Bike Race is sold out again!

Additional BCBR route changes include a new Stage 2 and a variation of Stage 3, while the remainder of the race route remains the same. With these modifications, some longer fire road sections will be removed and more singletrack – what riders really want – will be added; better still, the arrival and departure logistics only get easier for participants.

BC Bike Race would like to thank the Stage 1 and Stage 2 towns visited over the last two years for their enthusiastic participation and support: Victoria, Sooke, Shawnigan Lake, Shawnigan Lake School, Lake Cowichan and Port Alberni.

Spring Training in Nevada & Utah With Dre
Looking for a great opportunity to kick your training up to the next level this spring? Why not check out the exclusive 8-day mountain bike training camp this March offered by Big Mountain Bike Adventures and coached by BCBR’s own Andreas Hestler?!

“I believe that the difference between amateur cyclists and professionals is dedication and focus,” says Hestler. “During this training camp, we will have one unified goal, to gather miles and learn skills over a concentrated period of time. These skills can be applied to racing or everyday riding.”

Off the bike, Dre will share his secrets about goal setting, nutrition, seasonal periodization, stage racing and more. For those training for a multi-day event or just looking to improve their skills and fitness, this is not to be missed!

Remembering Mr. Stan Hagen
The BC Bike Race family was saddened to learn that highly-respected, longtime British Columbia politician, Mr Stan Hagen, died suddenly of a heart attack last week. Mr Hagen was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the BC Bike Race when we were merely a twinkle in founder Dean Payne’s eye. Back in 2007, Mr Hagen was the BC Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts and wholeheartedly endorsed our event and Dean’s vision along with it.

Our deepest condolences to Mr. Hagen’s family.

For more information: www.bcbikerace.com