September 17, 2008 – Victoria’s Olympians Simon Whitfield, Ryder Hesjedal and Alison Sydor will lead our next generation of cyclists and potential Olympians at the Tim Hortons Timbit Challenge at the Times Colonist Cycling Festival this weekend. The Timbit Challenge, at 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 21 at Bastion Square gives kids from ages 5-10 the opportunity to participate in a free, fun, non-competitive event.

“The Timbit Challenge is the cycling equivalent of the Times Colonist Kid’s Fun Run,” says Drew MacKenzie, Times Colonist Cycling Festival race director. “With thousands of spectators along the route cheering, it’s quite an event for the kids.”

The Tim Hortons Timbit Challenge takes place at 11 a.m. before the Elite men’s and women’s criterium races at the Bastion Square Grand Prix. Timbit challengers ride alongside Olympic athletes on the closed-to-traffic 900-metre route around Bastion Square.

“While the focus is on fun and enjoying physical activity, sometimes a young rider gets the cycling bug and may just well turn out to be the next Alison, Simon or Ryder,” says MacKenzie.

All Participants will receive a medal, waterbottle, snack pack of Timbits, a cycling handbook, and a T-Shirt. There is no registration fee, but participation will be limited to the first 150 registered (as of Sept 15, there are about 70 spaces left). All riders must pre-register through the TCCF website at www.victoriacyclingfestival.com. For more info, check the website or call 250.744.3583 ext. 301

Other Times Colonist Cycling Festival events include:
– Thursday, Sept 18 — Bear Mountain Hill Climb, 6 p.m. Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa
– Saturday, September 20 — Oak Bay Bikes Criterium, Windsor Park, 8:30 to approx. noon
– Sunday, September 21 — 100.3 The Q Bastion Square Grand Prix, 8:20 a.m. to approx, 2:30 (women’s elite race at noon; men’s at 1 p.m.) Bastion Square.

Times Colonist Cycling Festival Traffic Impacts
Bear Mountain Hill Climb, Sept 18 – From 6 p.m. to approx. 7:30 p.m., a bike lane will be marked off on the right-hand lane of Bear Mountain Parkway, Jack Nicklaus Drive and Rockhampton Crescent for the Bear Mountain Hill Climb. Roads will not be closed, but please watch out for riders (traveling a few minutes apart in single file). The event starts at Longspur Drive and finishes on Woodhampton Rise.

Oak Bay Bikes Cops for Cancer Criterium, Sept. 20 – the perimeter roads (Windsor, Currie, Transit and Newport) around Windsor Park will be closed to traffic from 7:30 a.m. to approximately noon. Residents needing access are asked to park their cars on nearby streets.

100.3 The Q Bastion Square Grand Prix, Sept. 21 – The perimeter roads around Bastion Square (Fort, Government, Yates and Wharf) will be closed to traffic from 7:30 a.m. to approx. 2:30 p.m. Up to 3,000 spectators will be lining the course – pedestrians will be marshaled across the course at specified crosswalks to allow for safe passage of the cyclists.

For more information about the Times Colonist Cycling Festival please visit www.victoriacyclingfestival.com.