2025 BCBR: Day 1 / Prologue Cowichan Valley - Presented by Pearl Izumi

It’s Day 1 of the 2025 BC Bike Race

- year 19 of this Canadian classic - and we are back in the scenic Cowichan Valley for a sizzling-hot sample of what’s to come from this year’s racing. Monday’s Prologue featured a seemingly short 7-km of timed racing but, with 33km on tap in total and a glaring sun overhead, it took many riders by surprise. 

 

Past champs eek out early leads 

With a strong field of past-BCBR champions back and going head-to-head, the race at the front was fierce. Sandra Walter, 2022 winner and Sean Fincham, the men’s defending champion, were not to be caught off-guard and pull on the first Pearl Izumi leader’s yellow jerseys at the end of the day. 

“Today was fun! It was the same as 2023, and I felt good,” said Walter. While she takes the lead, the Canadian’s day was not without excitement. “I missed my start, so I had to pass a whole bunch of traffic on the climb.” 

While she starts Day 2 with an advantage, Walter is keeping her strategy open. “There’s no strategy, just see how the body’s feeling. But so far, it has felt really good so hopefully that continues. Just have fun and ride fast.” 

On the Men’s side, Sean Fincham leads after 7km on Maple Mountain. “It was a short day, but last year came down to 30-something seconds, so you have to fight every day for basically every second. There was a couple mistakes, but I’m stoked to be here and I gave it everything out there.”

Fincham starts 2025 with around the same lead he ended 2024 with. New Zealand’s Matthew Wilson trails by 34.7 seconds and Fincham’s teammate Andrew L’Esperance by 38.2. That sets up a tight race with two teammates at the front. Does that change the champ’s strategy at all? 

“The ideal situation would like last year,” Fincham hints, “where we can get a bit of a gap and race it out from there. There’s another couple strong guys this year so we’ll see if we need to help each other.” 

Putting drops in the bucket list 

Between the two Maxxis teammates, Auckland, N.Z.’s sits Matthew Wilson. Making a side trip north from a season of racing the Life Time Grand Prix in the U.S. was a no-brainer for the Kiwi racer. “I’ve only ever heard good things, and it’s a pretty Iconic race, I figured I might as well make time. On Day 1, he’s also handled the heat, and B.C. singletrack, well enough to make the podium

“It was super hot racing in the middle of the day, I’ll be happier tomorrow with a bit of an earlier start,” says Wilson. As for the trails? “It’s very different than what I’m used to riding back at home. A lot of rocks and roots.” 

Rob Britton is another rider mixing gravel racing and mountain biking. In fact, the Victoria, B.C. local returned from a podium finish at the five-day Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder just 14 hours before crossing the finish line in Cowichan on Monday. Despite the quick turn-around, the Overland racer was 11th on the Day. While a scant 7km on the clock might seem like nothing for a man that recently won the 350-mile Unbound XL, Britton said the Maple Mountain sampler was as sharp as it was sweet. 

“It was so much longer than I thought it was! By far, the uphill was the easiest part. The second we started going downhill, I was thinking ‘This bike has a mind of its own.’ These bars are not UCI-legal, we gotta cut ‘em down.” Those of you that follow enough road news to keep up with the Canadian’s humour will know going from ulta-endurace gravel to extra-technical XC racing. How does Britton adapt to the changing demands and tight time-tables? 

‘When I stopped racing road, I just wanted to do as much cool stuff as I could, just bang off as much of the stuff I wanted to do and as few things I don’t want to. So, it’s just having fun. And this is amazing.” 

Legends land on Vancouver Island 

We’re stoked that Britton counts BCBR as fun enough to continue adding to his schedule. Another rider that we’re thrilled to see on the start line, and usually on the podium, every year is Olympian Katerina Nash. How many times has she raced BCBR now? 

“Six? At least? There’s a reason, right? If you have a good time, you come back!” 

Despite many BCBR crowns, Nash still described Maple Mountain’s prologue as a “shock to the system.” And, while Nash claims her effort focused on pacing, “just trying to be smart in my older age,” her effort put her on the women’s podium. 

While we consider Nash a legend, the Czech Olympian was stoked to see another rider in the field. Past-world champion Maja Wloszczowska is racing in the team of two Open women’s race with Nathalie Schneitter. “I know some incredible people pass through here, Like Catharine [Pendrel] last year, but Maja is a legend!” said Nash of the Polish Olympic medallist. “They love riding bikes and adventure. When they reached out to me, I said they had to come try. We all raced World Cups together back in the day. It’s exciting to see them here! I think it’s pretty rad to have an Olympic medallist and former world champion here.” 

And are Wloszczowska and Schneitter enjoying the BCBR experience so far?

“When we arrived, it was a bit of a shock to the system,” Schneitter admits “But we’re starting to love it. That’s what we’re here for!” adds Wloszczowska. The duo lead the Team of 2 Open women ahead of Courtney McFadden and Lea Stralka after day one. “Priority #1 is to have fun,” says Schneiter, adding, with a laugh, “And to still be friends at the end of the week!” 

Rocky roads on the way to the Ultimate Singletrack Experience 

Racing as a team of two comes with a unique set of challenges. But at least you have a partner to help you deal with whatever adversity you face on trail. 2024 champion Maghalie Rochette was all on her own on course when she had to regroup after a set of crashes. 

“Today started pretty good actually,” says Rochette, “But towards the end I crashed. I’m not super proud of that because I told myself going into it that I needed to be controlled and I felt like I was doing a good job of that. But I overshot something and crashed. Then I was back on the bike and crashed again. I’m not hurting anywhere, though, so it’s fine.” 

“I’m super happy to be here,” Rochette adds. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since the finish last year. It’s such a cool place, it’s the best week of the year!” 

As for the racing? At the finish line, before racers saw times, the Canadian cyclocross star and mountain biker seemed confident. 

“I’ll see how far back I am, and if I can cook up a strategy to claw my way back from a not-so-great first day.” 

Whatever happened on Maple Mountain today, racers still have plenty of time, and many, many kilometres of trails left before the final finish line in Cumberland seven days from now. Each trail offers another chance to extend a lead, to find redemption, and to revel in what is the Ultimate Singletrack Experience. 

Day 2, that experience returns to Maple Mountain for a full serving after today’s singletrack sampler. The first full day delivers double-black gnar of Upper Maple Syrup, the full Xylem climb trail, and a full run on the easy speed of Phloem. At 33.1km and 10m shy of 1,000m of elevation gain, riders are getting into the meat of the week. 

Day 1 Prologue Results 

Open Women
1st. Sandra Walter 2:14:44
2nd. Katerina Nash 2:16:41 (+1:57)
3rd.  Maghalie Rochette 2:16:53 (+2:09)
4th. Lauren Zimmer 2:18:57 (+4:13)
5th. Starla Teddergreen 2:19:34 (+4:50)

Open Men

1st.  Sean Fincham 32:27.0
2nd. Matthew Wilson 33:11.7 (+44.7)
3rd. Andrew L’Esperance 34:12.6 (+1:45.6)
4th. Geoff Kabush 38:15.2 (+5:48.2)
5th. Peter Disera 38:16.5 (+5:49.5)