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2,000-plus cyclists in 10th Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria under blue skies

Ryder Hesjedal was all smiles as he watched group after group of cyclists cross the finish line at the 10th anniversary Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria cycling event on Belleville Street on Saturday afternoon.

Ryder Hesjedal was all smiles as he watched group after group of cyclists cross the finish line at the 10th anniversary Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria cycling event on Belleville Street on Saturday afternoon.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day to be cycling,” said the retired racer. “We rolled the dice when we changed the date from August to October due to COVID-19, but it played out spectacularly.”

Just over 2,000 cyclists of all abilities, ranging in age from two to 91 years old, joined in the eight rides that made up the event. Adults and children could choose to join rides of 15, 30, 45, 60, 100, 140 and 160 kilometres. Children between two and 10 years old had their own Kids Ride, with parents allowed to run alongside them. Around 130 children got a chance to meet and ride with Ryder Hesjedal, some in tricycles or run-bikes.

Matthew Ishikawa, 9, joined the adults riding in the 60-kilometre event. This was his third Tour de Victoria; he completed the 15- and 30-kilometre distances previously. During the event, he met Noah Barton, another nine-year-old, who has cycled since he was five.

Meeting new friends is not confined to the young.

Rob Blackie took up cycling to get fit and lose weight, and discovered a new circle of friends in the process.

“My wife and I were new to the city three years ago and cycling was a great way to meet new people,” said Blackie, 38. “I was new to cycling as well at that time and joined the Tripleshot Cycling Club for their group rides.”

This was his first Tour de Victoria cycling event and he was feeling a little bushed, but happy, after completing the 140-km ride — his longest to date. He said the route was challenging for him, with an elevation gain (hills) of approximately 1,800 metres. Most riders in this group took between four and eight hours to complete.

“The different routes in the event are what makes the Tour de Victoria unique,” said Seamus McGrath, tour director. “We have a Tour de France level event staged on a variable landscape that can take you through a rainforest one moment and along a beach the next. It’s not a race, so you can just enjoy the scenery on a traffic-controlled route.”

He said that while international riders were common in previous years, out-of-town riders this year mostly came from the Lower Mainland.

The ride is a fundraiser for three charities. The Ryders Cycling Society of Canada is hoping to raise $10,000 to promote local and national cycling initiatives. Opportunity International is hoping to raise $100,000 for its microfinance initiatives in developing countries. World Bicycle Relief is hoping to raise $19,700 to purchase 100 specialty bicycles for students, health-care workers and entrepreneurs.

The smile is still on Hesjedal’s face as watches even more cyclists trickle in.

“I still remember when we started the event 10 years ago,” Hesjedal said, as he watched more cyclists arrive at the finish line. “I said ‘Build it and they will come,’ ” said the 2012 Giro d’Italia champion. “And they did.”

parrais@timescolonist.com