June 24, 2010 – The Tour de Delta will celebrate a decade of world-class bike racing in July by crowning four new Canadian champions as part of three days of wheel-to-wheel cycling action that will kick off the 2010 BC Superweek in style.

Having a Canadian title on the line for the first time at BC Superweek is expected to boost what has always been an impressive field traditionally loaded with the top riders and teams from the North American professional circuits.

“Four of the five best US teams will be represented,” said long-time Tour de Delta recruiter Jamie Davidson, listing off a who’s who of top North American teams, including Bissell, United Healthcare, Jelly Belly and Kelly Benefit Strategies.

Those teams include a handful of Canadian directors and top riders, many who have enjoyed success at BC Superweek races in the past. In fact, for several of them, success at the high-profile local races paved the way to top US teams.

Now Vancouver-area riders like Olympian Zach Bell and Ryan Anderson (both with Kelly Benefit), multiple BC Superweek race winner Andrew Pinfold (United Healthcare), and Will Routley (Jelly Belly) are coming back to compete for a national title. Add in the exciting return of ProTour riders Christian Meier and Olympian Svein Tuft, who race for Garmin-Transitions in Europe, and $25,000 in prizes, and the 10th anniversary Tour de Delta will be something to celebrate.

“These guys are going to put on a great show,” said Davidson.

The Canadian champion jerseys will be unveiled at the Tour de Delta Sponsor’s Reception next Tuesday, June 29, and on the line for men and women at the senior and under-23 levels during the Brenco Criterium on Saturday, July 10.

Media are invited to attend the jersey unveiling at the Delta Town and Country Inn (6005 Highway 17, at the intersection of Highway 99), at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 29. Some above-mentioned racers will be available for interviews.

The reception will also serve as an opportunity to talk to Tour de Delta organizers about another important new initiative to measure and offset the event’s carbon footprint. Urban Impact will be unveiled as the official Environmental Sponsor in this effort, with the carbon measurements being done by EARTHsport.

The Tour de Delta will also celebrate a decade of sponsorships from companies like Brenco Metal Processing and Fabrication, Lehigh Cement, Safeway, Delta TV, Delta Optimist, South Delta Leader, and White Spot, as well as important ongoing partnerships with MK Delta Lands Groups and Vancouver Port Metro, which will sponsor the top Young Rider Awards for the first time this year.

The Tour de Delta kicks off with the MK Delta Prologue on July 9, with riders on special time trial bikes blasting down a large steel ramp and onto a quick three-km course, with top speeds expected to reach 60 km/hour. It continues with the Canadian titles on the line at the Brenco Criterium, a multi-lap race through the streets and tight corners of Ladner’s fishing village on Saturday, July 10, and wraps up with the gruelling White Spot Road Race on Sunday, July 11.

BC Superweek then continues with three more races from July 16-18 at the 31st Tour de White Rock, a challenging three-event weekend (HomelIfe Hillclimb, Bosa Properties Criterium and Peace Arch News Road Race) with a history of top riders that includes serving as Canada’s pre-Olympic camp in 1992.

For more BC Superweek information visit our website at www.bcsuperweek.ca.