April 06, 2018 (Penticton, B.C.) – Now only weeks away, the 2018 edition of the Hayman Classic is shaping up as the best ever in the history of the event – and here’s why. The Hayman Classic will do double-duty again this year as the British Columbia provincial youth championship in the time trial, criterium and road race. A U13 category has been added to accommodate the championship.

This is the third time in four years that the Hayman Classic has doubled as the provincial championship, a testament to the event’s superior organization and ability to draw a top-notch field of competitors. For information on the Hayman Classic, visit here.

* Registration for the Hayman Classic is strong, with riders already on board from B.C., Yukon, Alberta and Ontario. Indeed, the 15 riders now registered from Ontario exceed the 12 who made the trek west to the Okanagan in 2017. Again, this ensures the three days of racing will have a strong field of competitors.

* Among the Hayman Classic’s many strengths, two in particular are noteworthy. The first is the venues, especially Area 27, the state-of-the-art racetrack at Canada’s newest motor speedway. No potholes here; this is 4.8 kilometres of sublime asphalt. Riders will take part in a circuit race on Area 27 on the afternoon of the first day of competition. The second strength is that the Hayman Classic is a stage race, so that the results in each event are combined to produce an overall winner in each age category. Think Tour de France on a smaller scale.

* The final day of the Hayman Classic on Sunday, May 27 marks the first day of a special Talent ID camp put together by Cycling Canada. This camp, set to run from Sunday through Tuesday, will be headed by national coach Kevin Field and will provide young riders with support and advice on making the transition from junior to senior levels of competitive cycling. For more information visit here.

* Coaches, trainers and parents may be interested to know that a special clinic is scheduled for the morning of May 26, the second day of the Hayman Classic, for young riders who wish to improve their skills on a bike. The sponsor for this free event is Cycling BC through its iRide program. For more information visit here.

* For both the Hayman Classic and the Talent ID camp, it is useful to consider the weather. The long-term forecast from Environment Canada calls for above-normal temperatures in late spring and summer for southern B.C. If you think you’ll need some extra heat to recover from the never-ending winter of 2017-18, this may be your chance to get warm.

* Finally, a few technical notes:

· Entry fees for U13 riders are reduced, yet still include a Saturday banquet ticket;
· Banquet tickets for u15 non-racing family members are available for $15. Be sure to book all banquet tickets online – our caterers require accurate numbers;
· We’ve added a lap to both U17/19 Races. The women’s race is now four laps (86 km) and the men’s is five laps (108 km). The first climb through the feed zone will be neutralized;
· The Technical Manual can now be downloaded from the Race Details website page here. Learn about equipment and gearing rules.