Vancouver Island’s BC Bike Race Concludes with Unpredictable Final Day
In the world of stage races, the final day usually solidifies standings, but this year’s BC Bike Race proved to be an exception. The men’s competition saw the top two contenders separated by less than a minute as they approached the final day in Cumberland, B.C. Meanwhile, the women’s race was a whirlwind, with the top two overall contenders failing to make the podium. The race in Cumberland was marked by new stage winners, mechanical and biomechanical issues, and an incredibly tight contest for the Fox Timed Downhill titles, making for a thrilling conclusion to a week of racing on Vancouver Island.
Drama in the Pro Women’s Race Electrifies Cumberland Finale
This year’s pro women’s field was highly competitive, with the leader’s jersey changing hands daily until Stage 5, when Evelyn Dong managed to retain it for consecutive stages. Maghalie Rochette then launched a successful solo attack in Campbell River, reclaiming the yellow jersey by the end of Stage 6, setting up an exciting final showdown.
Knowing no lead was safe, Rochette, a multi-time Canadian cyclocross national champion and former BC Bike Race winner, took the offensive early on the final day. In hot pursuit were Haley Smith, who found a late burst of speed, and veterans Katerina Nash, Catharine Pendrel, and Hannah Simms. With stage wins and overall standings at stake, Rochette faced fierce competition.
Evelyn Dong, unfortunately, was not among the frontrunners. Battling food poisoning, Dong struggled to limit her losses. “Yeah, I had a rough night. But everyone’s worn out by the end of a stage race. This happens. I just gave it my best shot,” she said. “I didn’t have much of a strategy. Warming up, I knew I couldn’t go all out. I tried to hang in at the start, but once I couldn’t keep up, I just backed off and rode my pace.”
Despite her illness, Dong finished just 95 seconds behind Rochette. However, the pair ended up fourth and fifth, respectively, rather than vying for first and second. “Today, I had a minute and a half lead, but I knew Evelyn would be charging. I started fast to build a buffer,” Rochette recounted. “With 5 km to go, I thought I could ride easy, but then my wheel broke. I tried to fix it, but it wasn’t working. My husband caught up and offered his wheel, which I took.”
Since Rochette’s partner, David Gagnon, was also racing in the men’s pro event, the wheel transfer was legal. Both Rochette and Dong maintained their 1-2 positions overall and shared the top step at the awards in recognition of their efforts.
Haley Smith capitalized on the leaders’ misfortunes, winning the stage and securing third overall. Katerina Nash took second, and Hannah Simms, seizing the opportunity when Pendrel had a flat tire, finished third, marking her first BCBR podium.
Maxxis Factory Showdown in the Men’s Race
The men’s race was a duel between Maxxis Factory Racers Sean Fincham and Andrew L’Esperance, who balanced teamwork and competition all week. Fincham held a slight lead entering the final stage, but L’Esperance, the defending BC Bike Race champion and Canadian marathon national champion, was determined to retain his title.
Tyler Clark led the initial climb, pushing hard despite being out of contention for the overall win. His effort paid off as he moved into third overall, although he was eventually overtaken by Fincham and L’Esperance, finishing third on the day.
The BC Bike Race concluded with an intense final day, highlighting the unpredictability and excitement of stage racing on Vancouver Island.
