Starting another year with the COVID-19 pandemic still looming over us and news of the Omicron variant spreading quickly across the country has the potential to make us feel despondent—but have hope. We can take solace in the fact that we have done this before and we can do it again—we’ll get through this and see better days ahead.
Looking back at 2021, it was a year that brought Covid-19 vaccines to the masses and a Return to Sport Restart that allowed us to get back to group rides, training camps, racing, and events that were so dearly missed in 2020. With much of the population now vaccinated, booster shots on the way, and the fact that we can do more now than we were able to just a year ago, 2022 should shape up to be an even better year for cycling.
Think back to the first half of 2021; British Columbians were still living under tight restrictions with adult sport limited to only four people outdoors and two indoors while maintaining 3 meters of distance on and off the field of play, unless you were from the same household.
The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic required us to keep group sizes small and socially distanced.
These restrictions on sport would eventually allow for an upper limit of ten people in the early spring of 2021 and up to 50 people by mid-June. The summer of 2021 would bring brighter days and a move to Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan which removed limitations on the number of participants for sport, the end of physical distancing on the field of play, spectators were allowed back, and travel for sport was okay again.
It was a welcome return to some semblance of normalcy for our sport. Things began to open up and riders showed up in droves as we returned to doing the thing we love most—riding bikes together—at events all across the province.
Photos:
While in-real-life racing was on pause at the beginning of 2021, riders from far and wide lined up to race in Cycling BC’s first-ever virtual BC Cup race series on the RGT virtual cycling platform. Photo credit: TLBVelo Photography
Cycling BC targeted athletes continued practising and developing their skills in 2021 as they awaited a return to racing. Photo credit: Cycling BC MTB Coach Adam Walker
Cycling BC’s iRide / Hop On youth cycling program returned to schools in 2021 to teach kids around the province about cycling skills and safety.
Jeremy’s Roubaix in Pitt Meadows popped the lid off BC’s 2021 road race season. Photo credit: TLBVelo Photography
BC Cup Downhill racing was back in a big way in 2021. Races at BC’s mountain bike parks saw an influx of new and seasoned riders as travel restrictions were lifted and races were able to resume. Photo credit: Clint Trahan
For the first time ever, an Adaptive Mountain Bike category was included as part of the Dunbar Summer Series. Photo credit: Clint Trahan
Riders and spectators alike were happy to have local races like Coastal Race Club’s Thursday night criterium series back again. Photo credit: TLBVelo Photography.
Members of the Tripleshot Cycling Club in Victoria, BC out enjoying a group ride in 2021. Photo credit: @tripleshotcycling
Escape Velocity Cycling featured a new venue for their Tuesday night crit series using the grounds of the PNE/Playland as the racecourse. Photo credit: TLBVelo Photography
2021 brought on a new sponsor and a new event for Cycling BC as Concord Pacific presented the inaugural Tour de Concord Metrotown in Burnaby. Photo credit: Blair Sheir
2021 BC Track Provincial Championships at the Burnaby Velodrome. 2021 saw the return of Provincial Championship racing after more than a year without new Provincial Champions. Photo credit: Filip Funk Photography
BMX tracks were busy this summer as fans young and old got a chance once again to watch some BMX racing. Photo credit: Dylan Davies
The end of summer also brought on a change in weather as the rain came down on riders competing for the 2021 BC MTB Cross-country Provincial Championships. Photo Credit: Filip Funk Photography
The rain continued to pour into cyclocross season bringing atmospheric rivers that would lead to devastating floods throughout the province. Race organizers turned races into fundraising events to help those in need in the most impacted areas. Photo credit: Filip Funk Photography
Cycling BC capped off the year with the release of its Strategic Plan which will serve as the organization’s guiding document for its strategic priorities over the next three years.
While things might look bleak today, we’re optimistic that we’ll be back to doing the things we love again as we ride out this wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
What we do now matters, so please be vigilant, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you on the start line in 2022.
Registration for 2022 Cycling BC membership is available now. Sign up today.
