Course distance: 1.3 km
Date: Thursday, July 16
Time: 6 p.m. race starts
Oh, summer – days free of responsibility and full of possibility. It’s when Sundays become sun-daze, and the best stories are left unwritten. We kicked off the Burnaby Heights summer in style with Hats Off Day, but the fun doesn’t end there.
On Thursday, July 16, Giro di Burnaby takes off! Named in honour of Italy’s most prestigious cycling race, Giro d’Italia, it is one of the premier events in Canadian cycling and is a nod to Burnaby’s vibrant Italian community.
As part of B.C. Superweek, more than 150 professional racers from around the world will be gathered on the Heights. Whether you are a cycling fan or a friendly neighbour, there is excitement for everyone.
The Girolino (Kidz Zone) at 3 p.m. gives you an early start on the fun. Bring your kids down to the corner of Willingdon and Albert to enjoy games and activities hosted by Burnaby Parks & Recreation, HUB, Pedalheads, and the Burnaby Neighbourhood House.
The Giro Breve (Youth Race) at 5:30 p.m. features many young and aspiring cyclists aged 12 to 16 years old from all over the Lower Mainland. These pros of tomorrow will have a chance to get out on the course and rub shoulders with the pros of today.
The Women’s Race begins afterwards at 6 p.m., followed by the Men’s Race at 7:20 p.m. Come watch these men and women duke it out for the top spot on the podium! Find your spot along the fences to watch them zoom by.
Don’t forget to also check out the Giro Expo, starting at 5 p.m. on Hastings and Madison. The expo will feature many of The Heights’ finest vendors, a beer garden, and a Giro tent where you can buy official Giro di Burnaby merchandise. To accommodate all of the action, Hastings Street will be cleared of all vehicles starting at 4 p.m.
Be sure to include Giro di Burnaby on your summer bucket list! It’s definitely on my list, because summer is all about getting together with friends and family, enjoying the outdoors, and if you’ll be a first-time goer to the Giro like me, exploring new experiences. Lastly, summer is all about the heat. What better way to bring the heat than with one of the hottest cycling competitions in B.C.?
For more information on Giro di Burnaby, visit www.girodiburnaby.com.
Katrina Ma is the summer 2015 marketing and events assistant with the Heights Merchants Association.
