Transrockies
Encyclopedia
The TransRockies is an annual 7-day, 600 km mountain bicycle race from Fernie
, British Columbia
to Canmore, Alberta. Described as the "toughest mountain bike race on earth", the TransRockies has a reputation for tough climbs, long days, relentless mud and highly changeable weather.
Attracting riders from all over the world, the race has grown from 67 two-person teams in 2002 to a sold-out fields of 225 two-person teams in 2006, 290 teams in 2007, 240 teams in 2008 and 118 teams in 2009. The decline in teams in 2009 was attributed to the challenging worldwide economic conditions and the strong appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar.
For 2009 the organizers added the solo TR3 category allowing riders to compete without a partner. The TR3 riders only completed the first three stages of the race, finishing at the Nipika Mountain Resort.
In 2010 the race received UCI sanctioning with both the 7-day TransRockies and the 3-day TR3 granted S2 status. This change is expected to increase both the total number of riders and the level of competition in all categories.
Starting in 2005 the race categories were:
, Louise Kobin, Dick Woodbury, and Laurie Woodbury.
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie is a city in the Elk Valley area of the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on BC Highway 3 on the eastern approaches to the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Canmore, Alberta. Described as the "toughest mountain bike race on earth", the TransRockies has a reputation for tough climbs, long days, relentless mud and highly changeable weather.
Attracting riders from all over the world, the race has grown from 67 two-person teams in 2002 to a sold-out fields of 225 two-person teams in 2006, 290 teams in 2007, 240 teams in 2008 and 118 teams in 2009. The decline in teams in 2009 was attributed to the challenging worldwide economic conditions and the strong appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar.
For 2009 the organizers added the solo TR3 category allowing riders to compete without a partner. The TR3 riders only completed the first three stages of the race, finishing at the Nipika Mountain Resort.
In 2010 the race received UCI sanctioning with both the 7-day TransRockies and the 3-day TR3 granted S2 status. This change is expected to increase both the total number of riders and the level of competition in all categories.
Categories
From 2002 to 2004 the race categories were:- Open Men
- Open Women
- Open Mixed
- 80+ Men
Starting in 2005 the race categories were:
- Open Men
- Open Women
- Open Mixed
- 80+ Men
- 80+ Mixed
- 100+ (Open Gender)
Participants
Past winners include Olympians, national champions, and World Cup Racers. The race also attracts amateurs of all ages. Only 2 racers completed the first 7 races, 2002–2008; Ryan Draper and Paul Newitt. A further 2 racers, Simon Parker and Jim Seethram, have completed the 7 races between 2004 and 2010, and 6 racers have completed 6 races; Jeff Bandura, Pat Doyle, Andreas HestlerAndreas Hestler
Andreas Hestler is a Canadian professional racing cyclist. Hestler finished 31st in the Men's Mountain Bike Race at the 1996 Summer Olympics...
, Louise Kobin, Dick Woodbury, and Laurie Woodbury.