The Tour de Delta could get a shot in the arm with the return of the Gastown Grand Prix this summer.

The return of the Gastown race could mean more teams and riders making the trip to the Lower Mainland to compete in B.C. Superweek events, said race director Mark Ernsting.

"I think it's a positive step for B.C. Superweek in general," he said. "The more events we can bring in during the course of the week, the more powerful the series becomes."

It was announced last Friday that Global Relay, a Gastown-based technology services firm, signed a multi-year commitment to bring back the Gastown Grand Prix.

The event, once won by Lance Armstrong, is now called the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix.

The Tour de Delta, July 6 to 8 this year, kicks off Superweek, which also includes UBC Grand Prix, Giro di Burnaby and Tour de White Rock.

Although the Delta and White Rock races have operated on a consistent basis on consecutive weekends, the absence of midweek races in recent years has impacted the strength of fields.