The Gastown Grand Prix is a major cycling race in Vancouver’s Gastown district that’s part of the BC Super Week series of races in mid-July each year.
In 2022, for the third consecutive year, the Gastown Grand Prix was cancelled due to concerns about the coronavirus. The event returns, however, on Wednesday, July 12th, 2023.
Gastown Grand Prix Cycling Race
In 2020 the Gastown Grand Prix was going to take place on July 15th in the heart of Gastown. The event was unable to take place due to COVID-19, however, and it didn’t happen in 2021 or 2022 either.
The Gastown Grand Prix used to be one of a series of six major cycling competitions in the Lower Mainland in July. Given its tight circuit in the heart of Vancouver’s old town, it’s one of the most interesting to watch, and easiest to get to via public transit.
Other races in the BC Super Week of cycling races used to include the Tour de Delta, Giro di Burnaby, New West Grand Prix, PoCo Grand Prix and Tour de White Rock. As of 2023 most of these races no longer exist, and likely won’t happen again in the future. Out of the six original races, the Gastown Grand Prix still exists, but the others do not (except maybe for the Tour de White Rock for which details are to be confirmed.)
About the Gastown Grand Prix
Part of the USA CRITS Championship Series, the Gastown Grand Prix is one of the continent’s most historic cycling competitions. The event attracts as many as 20,000 spectators and offers the highest prize money of any one-day Canadian Criterium race of its kind.
The Gastown Grand Prix is an especially exciting competition to watch. Cyclists race multiple times in a loop around Vancouver’s old town.
The first race of the day begins at around 5:30 pm and they continue into the evening. There’s usually a Junior Race, Women’s 40-Lap Race and a Men’s 50-Lap Race around the 1.2 km/7 block course. The cyclists are close together and complete each lap at amazing speeds.
Schedule
See below for the schedule of events for July 12th, 2023:
- 5:30 pm – Youth Race
- 5:55 pm – Opening Ceremony
- 6:15 pm – Pro Women’s Race
- 7:30 pm – Pro Men’s Race
- 9:00 pm – Awards Ceremony
Other Information
To learn more about the Gastown event, click Gastown Grand Prix or visit the BC Super Week website.
For information on other BC Superweek cycling races in July, click Vancouver Cycling Races.
For other events taking place this month see Vancouver’s Best Places’ July Calendar, and for a list of other major events at different times of the year click Festivals and Events.
