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Week gets downright super

Canada's biggest week in cycling will have a new look this year. B.C.

Canada's biggest week in cycling will have a new look this year.

B.C. Superweek will once again be anchored by its two main events, the Tour de Delta and the Tour de White Rock, but will add a new race in Vancouver and welcome the return of another in Burnaby.

"The return of Giro di Burnaby is fantastic," says Tour de Delta race director Mark Ernsting. "It was a key event during the week that was dearly missed."

In all, Superweek will feature eight races in four communities over 10 days as professional cyclists go wheel-to-wheel for a total prize purse of $65,000.

The midweek races linking the two weekends provide even more action and are expected to help draw a top field of international racers.

Superweek begins this Friday with the Tour de Delta's MK Delta Criterium. It's the first time North Delta has played host to a criterium as the race replaces last year's prologue.

The Delta weekend also includes the Brenco Criterium on Saturday evening in Ladner and the White Spot Road Race that concludes in Tsawwassen on Sunday morning. The Tour de Delta boasts a $25,000 purse.

Superweek continues on Tuesday, July 12 with the first-ever UBC Grand Prix.

"With the addition of UBC, it's a real strengthening factor in B.C. Superweek's organization in order to attract teams and have them stay longer and justify the opportunity for them to come up."

A 1.5-kilometre criterium course will see riders race through the heart of the UBC campus for a $10,000 purse.

The Giro di Burnaby returns to B.C. Superweek on Thursday, July 14 after a two-year hiatus. A fast and challenging 1.85-kilometre loop will be set up along Hastings Street in north Burnaby as riders compete for a $15,000 purse.

The Tour de White Rock, a fixture on the cycling scene since 1980, will end Superweek with a Friday night hill climb, a Saturday evening criterium and a Sunday morning road race from July 15 to 17.

For more on B.C. Superweek, visit www.superweek.ca.