NANAIMO DOWNTOWN CRITERIUM PROPOSED CIRCUIT UNVEILED

Last Sunday, a number of  MIVA members met in downtown Nanaimo to pick a course for the first criteriums to be held in the Harbour City Centre in over twenty years.  After riding around several circuits suggested by a number of people, they finally decided on a challenging 1.5 kilometre, clockwise course that includes a real uphill stretch of cobbles passing beneath the enclosed footbridge between the Convention Centre and the Main Library (after going under this crossing for forty times, the riders may lable it "The Bridge of Sighs"!).  Other features of this technical ride  include seven turns varying from an easy sweeping downhill bend to sharp left and right corners in rapid succession, and short, fast straights lined with cafes and restaurants.

The Nanaimo Downtown Business Improvement Association is being approached to help fund this exciting June 17th. event as many of its members could benefit a great deal from the crowds the race is bound to attract. There is also a Fathers' Day picnic in the area for Dads and sons and this classic series of criteriums will give them a close-up taste of top class bike racing at its best as the event is expected to attract elite riders from across western Canada and from Washington and Oregon.

For a video of the proposed race circuit, go here.