BC Superweek is a series of pro-cycling races that includes the Gastown Grand Prix and Tour de White Rock in Metro Vancouver in the summer.

Unfortunately, the race in White Rock hasn’t happened for a few years. The series also used to include the Tour de Delta, Giro di Burnaby, and PoCo Grand Prix, but not anymore as of 2023.

There are also cycling races in the Lower Mainland that are unrelated to BC Superweek. They include the Rotary Ride for Rescue, Tour de Concord Bike Festival, and Whistler GranFondo. The first of these is a fundraising event that goes up Cypress Mountain in June. Second is a fun festival at Concord Pacific Place in July with races, food trucks, live music and more. The third event is a race that goes from Vancouver to Whistler in September. Other fundraising cycling events are the Rotary Ride for Hearing, GearUp4CF and Tour de Cure (all of which are not competitive).

Cycling Races and Events in Vancouver

Taking place in five Lower Mainland cities over the course of ten days, BC Superweek is one of the most prestigious cycling competitions in North America.

Professional cyclists race through city streets, climb challenging hills, travel at speeds of up to over 70 kilometres an hour and compete for more than $120,000 in prize money.

BC Superweek

BC Superweek takes place most years in July. In the past it has included the following races, most of which no longer happen.

• Tour de Delta – three days of cycling races in Delta. (Cancelled)
• Gastown Grand Prix – cycling races in Vancouver through the streets of Gastown.
• Giro di Burnaby – a closed circuit cycling race in downtown Burnaby. (Cancelled)
• New West Grand Prix – a fast-paced 935-metre circuit in New Westminster. (Cancelled)
• PoCo Grand Prix – cycling races in Port Coquitlam. (Cancelled)
• Tour de White Rock – two days of racing in White Rock. (Cancelled)

The BC Superweek of Cycling cancelled most of its Lower Mainland races in 2023. Only the Gastown Grand Prix took place. The same appears to be the case in 2024. It looks like the cities of Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, White Rock and Port Coquitlam cancelled their races permanently.

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Whistler GranFondo

GranFondo is a series of cycling races in North America. The biggest event of them all is the GranFondo Whistler. It features three races and a celebration that usually runs in September.

The one-day event features routes spanning 55 km, 122 km and 152 km. The shortest route takes place within Whistler, while the longer routes begin at Stanley Park and finish in Whistler. Most roads along the routes are closed for the races. After the cycling portion of the event is finished, there’s a celebration at Whistler Olympic Plaza with food, drinks, live entertainment and other activities.

To learn more about this event, see our article about GranFondo Whistler.

Rotary Ride for Rescue

The Rotary Ride for Rescue isn’t one of BC Superweek of Cycling’s events. It’s not an overly competitive race either. It’s more of a fun, social event, and one where the most important prize is seeing who can raise the most money for charity. And the biggest winner of the event is North Shore Rescue which is the charitable beneficiary of the event!

The Rotary Ride for Rescue is hosted by the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise on a weekend in June. The video below shows what the race looks like. As you’ll see, cyclists have to ride from the bottom of Cypress Mountain to the top. At the end there is a celebratory party which usually includes a pancake breakfast.

To learn more about the event, see our article about the Rotary Ride for Rescue.

Tour de Concord Bike Festival

The Tour de Concord Bike Festival is a fun outdoor event in the summer. It happens at Concord Pacific Place and features all kinds of family-friendly activities in support of the new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

The festival includes races for different ages and levels of cyclists. All races take place in a loop that’s about 1 km long, with some races requiring more laps than others. There’s also food trucks and a beer garden serving alcoholic beverages. The event features live music and other activities as well.

For more information about this event, click Tour de Concord Bike Festival.

GearUp4CF

GearUp4CF is a fundraising event for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. The bike ride usually happens on the Father’s Day Weekend in June. It’s not really a race, but more of a fun way to support an organization trying to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.

Participants collect donations and then ride their bikes from South Surrey to Abbotsford, before returning back to South Surrey. The route is mostly flat and close to 100 km most years. There’s also an option to ride half the distance by starting in Abbotsford.

To learn more about the fundraising event, check out our GearUp4CF article.

Rotary Ride for Hearing

The Rotary Ride for Hearing is another fundraising event for a great cause. This one supports Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in British Columbia.

The event normally takes place in July with two different routes to choose from. There’s the main ride covering 100 km from Vancouver to Richmond and back to Vancouver. The second option is an easier route of 7.5 km in Vancouver. It’s a good choice for families and folks who aren’t ready for a long ride yet.

To help motivate everyone, there are draws to win prizes. The more money everyone raises, the better the prizes become.

For more information, see our Rotary Ride for Hearing article.

Tour de Cure

The Tour de Cure is one of the largest cycling events in Metro Vancouver. It’s a fundraiser supporting the BC Cancer Foundation.

The event takes place over two consecutive days in the summer each year. Participants raise money for an excellent cause and then get to cycle one of two routes. There’s a two-day option from Surrey to Hope, with the full route measuring 260 km. Folks can also choose the one-day route from Chilliwack to Hope. In addition to the cycling, there’s live entertainment and meals for participants to enjoy.

To learn more about the fundraising event for the BC Cancer Foundation, see our article about the Tour de Cure.

More Cycling Events

In addition to the bike rides and races described above, more cycling events in the Lower Mainland region are listed below.

• Bike the Blossoms – a Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival event in April.
• World Naked Bike Ride – an “alternative” event in the summer (where clothing isn’t required).
• Bike the Night – a cycling event in September.

Other Information

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

• Places for a Walk, Jog or Cycle
• North Shore Bike Park
• Outdoor Recreation in the Lower Mainland
• Vancouver’s Calendar of Events
• Lower Mainland Festivals and Events