The Bicisport Cycling Club is opening its 2019 season with two races in Olds and area.
The Hay City Road Race will take place May 4 near Eagle Hill.
And a criterium will be held May 5 in the southwest industrial park. A criterium is a bike race consisting of several laps around a circuit that's usually between one and two kilometres long. Riders do a set number of laps or as many laps as they can within a certain time.
Organizers say the goal of the two races is to promote the sport of cycling and showcase Olds and area. They note Olds already has a connection with the sport, having served in 2016 as the finish for stage 2 of the Tour of Alberta, a race for professional bike racers.
Race coordinator Jason Proche says these two races are the first on the calendar this year.
He's expecting about 175 participants to enter. Spectators are welcome.
Proche says the two races are vastly different.
"The criterium, it's a surge-y race. It's on a flat course," he says. "You're probably going to see the pack stay together versus on the road race course that we've selected."
Proche says the road race will be way different.
"Because you'll see lots of elevation, there's going to be some real selective points on the course where you'll see different strategies employed. So you'll see riders attack hard on the hills, breakaways will form," he says.
"You'll see that race come apart is the term they use, versus the criterium. You may see some splits and breaks, but generally, that selection will be based just on the strength or formation of some groups.
"There's some attrition, just because of the amount of time out on the road. The hills and the wind can really wear riders down."
Proche says Olds and area were chosen as the first place to hold races this year for a couple of reasons.
One reason is because Proche's wife Jenn (nee Turcott) is from Olds.
The other is that during a dinner party at Christmastime, local resident and cycling enthusiast Mike Fix suggested holding a race here.
Organizers took a bike ride in the area and loved what they saw.
"We just kind of thought, 'well, if they could have a pro race finish there, we should be able to have some uptake for more of a local race,'" Proche says.
He says the land west of town is especially good for a road race.
"As you move towards the north and the west there's some really remarkable terrain -- some good, sustained climbs, nice elevation changes. And pretty scenic too," he says.
The road race is anticipated to run May 4 from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m.
The start and finish line is the Hainstock Community Hall. The course is a 29-kilometere (K) counterclockwise loop along Twp. Rd. 332, Rge. Rd. 22, Twp. Rd. 234 and Highway 766.
Roads will remain open for traffic.
"We just ask that drivers be aware of cyclists, yield for race support vehicles, and drive with care," organizers say.
The criterium takes place in the southeast industrial park, south of the Olds Auction Mart, on May 5.
It too is expected to run from 9 a.m. to around 4 p.m.
In this case, the racecourse is a 1.2-K loop down 57th Street, along 48th Avenue, up 60th Street and along 47th Avenue.
During the race, vehicle access in the area will be restricted. Volunteers will be on-site to help direct traffic, letting people know when and where it is safe to proceed onto the racecourse.
Fix is looking forward to both races. He anticipates lots of riders and is serving as volunteer coordinator for the events.
"Usually when it's the first race of the season, they're pretty excited to get out," he says.
Fix is hopeful the races will attract good crowds, which will spur the economy and help put Olds and area on the map.
"If this one's successful I think it'll probably happen every year. Usually that's how they work, as long as the club that organizes it is willing to do it again," he says.
"It is pretty good for Olds, just to get those people," Fix says. "Because a lot of them are from the city -- Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer -- and they get to see what we have to offer out here."
