About 1,800 cyclists braved Sunday’s pelting rain and bracing wind to take part in Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria.
Cyclists had a choice of three circuits — 50, 100 and 140 kilometres — each with its own starting point. All finished in front of the legislature.
Hesjedal, the 32-year-old winner of the 2012 Giro d’Italia, greeted cyclists taking part in each circuit, stopping at feed stations and other points, and was available at the finish line for those wishing to say hello.
“The Tour de Victoria is the city’s ride, the people’s ride,” Hesjedal said afterward.
The weather Sunday included heavy rainshowers and strong winds — “classic Victoria weather,” said Hesjedal, who grew up in Greater Victoria.
“You’ve got to earn it out there. That’s what the Island gives you. It’s not always a free ride and that makes you work hard,” he said.
The riding community is drawing more people as cycling gains popularity, he said.
Hesjedal attracted a steady stream of well-wishers and autograph-seekers.
“People were at the 50-km start just waiting to get going and when Ryder rode on through, everyone got pretty excited,” said tour spokeswoman Kim Van Bruggen.
This was the third time 60-year-old Brenda Baker and friends travelled from Whistler to take part in the 140-km tour, and the weather this year made it challenging.
Baker, wrapped in a black blanket, was a little wobbly as she pushed her bike away from the finish.
“It was very tough because of the weather — I’m still hypothermic,” she said.
The course and volunteers along the way were fantastic, she said. “It was absolutely perfect, except for the weather.”
Dan Zabloski, a 61-year-old from Victoria, tackled the 140-km circuit for the first time this year, “and the first 50 km was a good challenge. Everybody was really happy on the course.”
Calgarian Dave Putnam, 54, was new to the Tour de Victoria. “The weather was horrible,” he said. “My wife had hypothermia [waiting for the start].”
Nancy Gould tapped clapper tubes at the finish line as she waited for her husband, Gary, to show up. The couple splits their time between Campbell River and Vancouver.
“I went back for a blanket for him because it was so cold and wet and now the glorious sun has come out,” she said.
The numbers of participants was up from last year, said Van Bruggen. The exact number was not immediately available because there were a number of last-minute entries.
The tour affected traffic flow in many parts of Greater Victoria.
West Shore RCMP said there were no incidents involving cyclists other than spills causing minor road rash. Some motorists were upset by the intermittent road closures, police said.
At about 1,800 riders, it was the largest registration total yet for the three-year-old event. Cyclists contributed more than $10,000 to Ryders Cycling Society of Canada for area charities. Cheques were handed out Sunday to the Victoria BMX Club, the GoodLife Kids Foundation, the Cowichan Valley Trail Stewards and up-and-coming sixteen-year-old local cyclist Joel Taylor.
