Gastown Grand Prix draws large crowd with promise of 5 more years
Posted July 13, 2016 11:28 pm.
Last Updated July 14, 2016 12:07 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — It was 40 laps for the men and 35 for the women; if a collision were to happen, the sharp corner where West Cordova meets Water Street is usually the spot.
This could have been the last year (again) of the #GastownGrandPrix but sponsors stepped up to fund 5 more years. pic.twitter.com/stkJ5N6FLq
— Stephanie Froese (@StephanieFroese) July 14, 2016
That’s where Paul O’Brien set up on the sidelines to watch racers lean into the cobblestone curve of the Gastown Grand Prix.
“This is a really strange corner. It’s a little more aggressive when the men are out I think. That’s not the real reason I’m out here, I’m just kind of new to cycling myself so I’m happy to see a very aggressive environment. Also in the spirit of things, the Tour de France on television right now.”
The mens race typically goes 50 Laps, or 60km, but was shortened for nightfall.
Women competitors made 35 Laps, or 42km.
Amidst the estimated crowd of tens of thousands of people were many athletes, cheering and ringing cowbells.
Port Moody rower Krista Guloien, an Olympic silver medalist, was out to see her sister compete.
“She actually started rowing before I did and then switched over to cycling. Her team is Trek Red Truck and they have an amazing women’s team of developing riders, some new riders, some older riders.”
Back in 1994 and again in 2009, the iconic Vancouver pro race was put on hold because there wasn’t enough sponsorship.
This year, sponsor GLOBAL RELAY announced they would renew enough support for the Gastown Grand Prix to continue until at least 2021.
Many people in the crowd either knew a competitor, or knew some of the big names on the roster.
One avid cyclist says, “it’s a blast to watch the races. It makes it more interesting when you know people in the field.”
