Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria on Sunday is expected to attract up to 1,500 cyclists and result in rolling road closures throughout Greater Victoria.
The bicycle tour has three routes that are based on fitness levels.
The Christie Phoenix Challenge is a 45-kilometre jaunt for the entry-level crowd, the Trek Legend is a 90-km ride that would appeal to the enthusiast and the Harbour Air Seaplanes Epic is a challenging 140-km ride meant for the experienced cyclist.
All the events take place on public roads with vehicles held back at intersections.
Motorists should expect traffic delays of up to 20 minutes as participants make their way through Victoria, the West Shore and the Saanich Peninsula.
Expect delays at Sayward Road and the Patricia Bay Highway, with lesser delays on Willis Point Road and on Sooke Road between Happy Valley Road and Glen Lake Road.
The Epic ride starts at 7 a.m. and the Legend at 8:30 a.m., both on Belleville Street in front of the legislature building. The Challenge ride starts at 10 a.m. at the Sidney Spit Ferry dock at 2540 Beacon Ave.
All three tours end on Belleville Street.
Victoria police will use cameras “in support of our operations to ensure public safety.” The cameras will be removed after the event.
Victoria-raised Hesjedal is one of the best-known cyclists in Canada, having won the Giro d’Italia in 2012.
The event is organized by Ryder’s Cycling Society of Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting cycling.
For more information, go to tourdevictoria.com
Sunday road closures
Rolling road closures, listed by municipality and time:
Victoria — 6:50-7:10 a.m. and 8:20-8:44 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Belleville Street, Government Street and Gorge Road East.
Saanich — 7:05-7:20 a.m. and 8:35-8:55 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Gorge Road West.
View Royal — 7:10-7:30 a.m. and 8:40-9 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Island Highway and Old Island Highway.
Colwood — 7:15-8:05 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Ocean Boulevard, Lagoon Road and Metchosin Road.
Metchosin — 7:30-9 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Metchosin Road, Duke Road, William Head Road, Lombard Drive, Rocky Point Road, Liberty Drive, Lindholm Road and Happy Valley Road.
Langford — 7:55-9:30 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Happy Valley Road, Glen Lake Road, Leigh Road, Dunford Avenue, Station Avenue and Atkins Avenue.
View Royal — 8:15-9:40 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Atkins Avenue and Burnside Road West.
Saanich — 8:15-9:50 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the direction opposite to what cyclists will be travelling on Burnside Road West, Prospect Lake Road and Munn Road.
Highlands — 8:20-11 a.m.
• Munn Road — Vehicle traffic permitted in the direction opposite to what cyclists will be travelling.
• Millstream Lake Road and Ross Durrance Road (between Munn Road and Willis Point Road) — Northbound traffic only.
• Willis Point Road — Two-way traffic will be permitted on Willis Point Road controlled by traffic-control personnel to allow residents from Millstream Road and Willis Point Road to exit to Wallace Drive.
Saanich — 8:45-11:15 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the direction opposite to what cyclists will be travelling on Wallace Drive. (Two-way traffic will be permitted on Willis Point Road managed by traffic-control personnel to allow residents from Millstream Road and Willis Point Road to exit to Wallace Drive.)
Central Saanich — 8:50-11:30 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the direction opposite to what cyclists will be travelling on Wallace Drive, Garden Gate Drive, Benvenuto Avenue, West Saanich Road, and Old West Saanich Road. (Two-way traffic will be permitted on West Saanich Road.)
Saanich (west of the Patricia Bay Highway) — 9 a.m.-1:20 p.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the direction opposite to what cyclists will be travelling, with two-way traffic allowed on West Saanich Road when needed. Cyclists travel on Old West Saanich Road, Spartan Road, Prospect Lake Road, Burnside Road, Charlton Road, Granville Avenue, Hastings Street, North Road, Interurban Road, Hector Road, Conway Road, Quayle Road, Beaver Lake Road, West Saanich Road, Old West Saanich Road, Oldfield Road, Doyle Road, Forest Hill Road, Elkwood Road, Brookleigh Road and Hamsterly Road.
Saanich — Pat Bay Highway and Sayward Road — 9:40 a.m.-1:20 p.m. — Intersection will be managed by traffic-control personnel. Traffic will be able to travel the highway in both directions, but expect some delays. Eastbound traffic on Sayward Road will be closed on both sides of the highway.
Saanich (east of the Patricia Bay highway) — 9:40 a.m.-2:15 p.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the direction opposite to what cyclists will be travelling. Cyclists travel on Sayward Avenue, Cordova Bay Road, Ash Road, Grandview Drive, Ferndale Road, Gordon Head Road, Arbutus Road, Queenswood Drive, Telegraph Bay Road and Cadboro Bay Road. Cadboro Bay Road between Sinclair Road and Beach Drive will allow two-way traffic when needed to relieve traffic buildup.
Oak Bay — 10 a.m.-2:50 p.m. — Full road closure on Beach Drive and King George Terrace. However, residents of Beach Drive, King George Terrace and roads that can be accessed only via these roads will have access to their homes when there are breaks in the flow of cyclists. Access to Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Oak Bay Marina, Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Victoria Golf Club will be managed by traffic-control personnel.
Victoria — 10:25 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Full road closures on Crescent Road, Hollywood Crescent, Dallas Road and waterfront perimeter of James Bay including Erie Street, St. Lawrence Street, Kingston Street, Montreal Street, Quebec Street, Pendray Street and Belleville Street.
Residents who live on a waterfront road or a road that can be accessed only via a waterfront road will be allowed to access their homes when there are breaks in the flow of cyclists.
Sidney and North Saanich — 10-10:20 a.m. — Vehicle traffic will be permitted in both directions on Fifth Avenue and Lochside Drive. Please drive with caution as there will be up to 250 cyclists riding from Sidney Lions Food Bank southbound toward Central Saanich.
Central Saanich — 10:10-11:30 a.m. — Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction cyclists will be travelling on Lochside Drive, Martindale Road, Welch Road and Hunt Road.
