BC Bike Race 2023 - Back to the Coast - Part II - Mountain Bike Blog Post

Words: BC Bike Race

2023 BC Bike Race Day 4-7: Nanaimo, Cumberland and Campbell River

BC Bike Race 2023

While “The Ultimate Singletrack Experience” is never easy, this year has been extra hard. Other than a brief reprieve on Day 6, when Campbell River served up rolling terrain and cooler temperatures, Vancouver Island has pushed riders physically with heat and hard climbs as well as technically, taking on local classics on cross country bikes.

Stiff competition at the front of the race added an extra challenge for the pros. With lead changes and several different stage winners, the men and women were fighting hard for the BC Bike Race trophies all the way to the final finish arch in Cumberland

Pro Men: A Kiwi vs. The Canadians

Early on in this year’s BC Bike Race, New Zealand’s Craig Oliver built up a solid lead over an elite list of Canadian pros. Over the next four days of racing, Peter Disera and Andrew L’Esperance took turns taking shots at the race leader. It took a few days of trying, but cracks finally started to show in the otherwise unflappable Kiwi on Day 5 when Peter Disera earned a stage win in Cumberland. Sensing weakness, L’Esperance and Disera took turns attacking Oliver on the 8km rolling gravel run-in to the singletrack.

L'Esperance and Oliver amongst the Arbutus tress of Nanaimo — L'Esperance and Oliver amongst the Arbutus of Nanaimo *Dave Silver*

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Yeah, They’re just chipping away at me. They seemed like they were almost on the same page today. One would go up the road, one wouldn’t chase. The other would go up the road, and the first wouldn’t chase, just trying to work me over. Fair enough, that’s stage racing.—Craig Oliver

Peter Disera on Campbell River single track *Dave Silver*

Geoff Kabush chasing hard - a legend at work

Brett Tippie the watermelon pusher :) *Dave Silver*

Peter Disera took the win in Campbell River but with Andrew L’Esperance just a handful of seconds behind him. That put L’Esperance in the yellow jersey, but with Disera and Oliver both within 90 seconds overall. Far from a safe lead, and L’Espy knew it.

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Racing on this kind of terrain anything can happen. with this much single track, it’s amazing the amount of times that you’re just centimeters from trees and just on the edge of losing traction, all seven days.—Andrew L'Esperance

Sam Langridge - even the Media Team is having fun — Sam Langridge (POV Guy) - even the Media Team is having fun *Dave Silver*

Rob Britton on fire all week *Margus Riga*

“Anything” tends to happen more often when the legs are tired and the mind is foggy. In the final kilometres of Stage 7, both Oliver and L’Esperance had mechanicals on the very last short section of singletrack in Cumberland. That left Disera alone on the front and L’Esperance chasing with his bars more than slightly off-kilter. Even with his bars askew, L’Espy limited his losses enough to keep his lead in the overall.

Celebration after a hard week of battle *Margus Riga*

“To be honest, winning this version of BCBR is pretty special. It’s on the coast, it’s the original version. That coupled with the fact that we had a really strong field this year, it’s super special. The whole experience was great.”

Katerina Nash on form in Nanaimo *Margus Riga*

Pro Women: A returning champion versus a rising challenger

By the second half of the week, returning BC Bike Race champion Katerina Nash had a solid, but not insurmountable lead. While she had won each of the first three days of racing, Utah’s Evelyn Dong and Alberta’s Eva Poidevin were making the highly accomplished Czech-Californian work hard for her victories.

On Day 6, it was Poidevin finally able to unseat Nash. When the trio emerged from the last stretch of Campbell River singletrack together, the 23-year-old was the only racer with energy to put in one more dig.

Eva Poidevin, young talent on the hunt for victory *Dave Silver*

Evelyn going getting Rad with total focus — Evelyn getting Rad with total focus *Dave Silver*

A hard fought race right down the final finish line — A hard fought race right down to the final finish line *Jens Klett*

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Honestly, I was just trying to take it one kilometer at a time. Just get to the next kilometer and hold her wheel, and then get to the next kilometer and I was able to keep doing that. When it opened up I thought, it’s now or never, I may as well try!—Eva Poidevin

Buoyed by that success, Poidevin launched her attack early on Day 7 in Cumberland. The Albertan sprinted for a second win against Evelyn Dong. Nash trailed across the line 3.5 minutes later but, with her advantage going into Sunday’s racing, earned another BC Bike Race overall title by a solid margin.

Champagne for the fastest! Evelyn Dong, Katarina Nash, and Eva Poivedin. — Champagne for the podium! Evelyn Dong, Katarina Nash, and Eva Poivedin. *Margus Riga*

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You never know until you cross that finish line, right? I don’t mess around, I don’t take it too easy. But I was definitely running out of energy and had to manage the last two days. Today was hard because they gave it from the start and I couldn’t keep up. But that’s part of stage racing, you have to forget the first five minutes and focus on yourself and that’s what I did today. I believed I still had something in me to win the overall, and it worked out.—Katerina Nash

For some a race, for others an accomplishment, for all a victory *Jens Klett*

BC Bike Race: One course, different challenges and many victories

Everyone who starts BC Bike Race rides the same course, from pros to the last riders across the finish line. But every rider experiences their own personal highs, lows and victories throughout the week.

For some, a standout section of trail is enough to count the week as a win. Panama’s Victor Cortese was beaming as he exchanged high-fives and fist bumps after whipping and scrubbing his way down Max Power on Day 4 in Nanaimo.

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“That was the best trail ever! That just made the entire week worth it, already!” And it’s only day four!—Victor Cortese - Panama

Always hard, but the fun factor is large! — Always hard, but the fun factor is also large! *Jens Klett*

Father son duo, Nicolas and Jerome Sanfacon had a blast riding together *Dave Silver*

BCBR23 7 2017 DS 0 — **A well earned week of amazing experiences** *Dave Silver*

JK 08956 copy.jpeg?VersionId=BNVU2y55w7P — **The Stats** *Jens Klett*

BC Bike Race is about creating a challenge, and through overcoming challenge together, you create community. Alexandru Cristea, up from Mexico, was the final rider across the line in Cumberland. While he might not have finished as fast as some, there’s a reason everyone that finishes BCBR gets one of the iconic finisher’s medals. This event is about more than time on the clock.

“It’s an amazing feeling, because finally, I feel like I’m entering a community, not just a Canadian community, but an international community of mountain bikers. I am super proud to be here! So thank you, thank you BC Bike Race!”

JK 08496.jpeg?VersionId=JnyQydb3cC — **Remi Gauvin stepped out of his comfort zone to embrace Challenge** *Jens Klett*

BCBR23 5 0081 DS.jpeg?VersionId=mwi7WWxu.OQ VgGq18COsNplhyS — **The Legendary climbing trail, Sobo no Michi** *Dave Silver*

Iconic West Coast woodwork *Dave Silver*

After an early awards ceremony, racers recovering in the beer garden and tent area were treated to two full sets of live music from Barney Bentall. Yes, the Barney Bentall. No matter how tired the legs and lungs were in the audience, how much they left on the trail, physically and emotionally, the racers watching have never felt more alive.

If that sounds like the way you’d like to spend a Sunday afternoon, or a full week on Vancouver Island, registration for the 2024 BC Bike Race opens at 10:00 AM PST on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. This year was nearly at capacity, don’t miss out on your chance to take on the challenge of “The Ultimate Singletrack Experience.”

Barney Bentall brought racers back to life with two sets of live music. *Margus Riga*

One final night in basecamp *Margus Riga*

No more chicken till 2024 - see you then! *Margus Riga*

2024 BC Bike Race Registration

Race Reports

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Brett Tippie and BCBR staff kept the stoke high all week. *Dave Silver*

2023 BC Bike Race - Day 7 Results

Open Women’s Results: Day 7
Eva Poidevin - 1:55:17
Evelyn Dong - 1:55:17 (+0.00)
Katerina Nash - 1:58:45 (+3.28 )

Open Men’s Results: Day 7
Peter Disera - 1:34:38
Andrew L’Esperance - 1:34:55 (+0.17)
Craig Oliver - 1:35:11 (+0.33)

Will you be the next rider to earn a BCBR finisher's belt buckle? *Dave Silver*

2023 BC Bike Race - Overall

Open Men’s Overall
Andrew L’Esperance - 10:45:47
Peter Disera - 10:46:29 (+0.42)
Craig Oliver - 10:47:34 (+1.47)

Open Women’s Overall
Katerina Nash - 13:07:44
Evelyn Dong - 13:12:58 (+5.14)
Eva Poidevin - 13:20:33 (+12.49)

Full Results