The Yaletown Grand Prix was first held in 2004 as a joint venture of Team Trek Red Truck Racing and MJG Breweries. In its first year, the race attracted thousands of spectators and over 200 racers. In 2005 a new course and date change to Canada Day helped the event take a giant step forward in participation, attendance and public profile.

The redesigned race course provided better racing with a high speed pass along Pacific Boulevard and a ride down the full length of Mainland Street's converted loading bays. The many on-course restaurant and bar patios of this former warehouse district made for an ideal spectator venue. Despite less than perfect weather in 2005, the racing was great, the crowds large and enthusiastic and Yaletown truly buzzed with the excitement of bike racing.

Make sure that you are in Yaletown next Canada Day and every one after that, because the Yaletown Grand Prix is set to become one of Vancouver's definitive July 1^st events.
 

Criterium racing is the most action-packed, spectator-friendly form of bicycle road racing. The race course is generally less than 1.5 km long and the overall race length is rarely more than 90 minutes for the pros, and much less for amateur categories. All of this combines for high-speed, high-intensity racing.

The criterium is a chess match of strategy played at high speeds. Teams must decide whether their best chance of a victory is in keeping the field together for a mass sprint to the finish line on the last lap, or whether they are best served by getting a strong rider into a smaller breakaway group of racers. Of course, rival teams have different strategies and must adapt to the tactics and counter-tactics around them - all at speeds of up to 60 km/hr.

Race Day: Wednesday, July 1^st, 2009
Racing starts: 1:00pm
Racing ends: 7:00pm

Copyright © 2006 Yaletown Grand Prix. All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Greg Descantes Photography