Quinton Disera and Katerina Nash mark BC Bike Race 2023’s return to Vancouver Island with Prologue wins

BC Bike Race launched into its 2023 edition back on its home turf on Vancouver Island with a short, but spicy prologue. While the distance on the clock was under 10km, on the technical Maple Mountain trails that was enough to create an early, if slight, separation between the top riders.

This year’s stacked men’s and women’s start lists are shaping up to be battles between returning champions and new contenders. One of each, Katerina Nash and Quinton Disera, earned wins in Monday’s prologue racing.

Quinton Disera makes fast BC Bike Race debut

On the men’s side Quinton Disera (Pivot Cycles-OTE), younger brother of 2022 BCBR winner Peter Disera, narrowly edged out New Zealand’s Craig Oliver and 2021 winner Andrew L’Esperance. The younger Disera gets the week’s podium in his first BCBR appearance, but just 11 seconds separate first and third.

“It’s my first time back to what I consider the original BCBR. The organization did a great job putting on a great event in the Okanagan but I think this is the BCBR so it’s special to be back here,” Andrew L’Esperance said before the start. He faces a new location and a deep field of racers this time around. “It’s back to the days when there were 10 guys fighting for the win. We’ve got [Geoff] Kabush, we’ve got off-road Rob [Britton], a little international spice with Craig [Oliver] and some World Cup XCO speed. I don’t know where I’ll fit in there – if I‘m a gravel guy, an XCO guy or what – but regardless, it’s going to be a good time.“

Another past champ, Geoff Kabush, sits close behind.

“I really love going back to all the places I rode as a young kid, and I’m excited to head back to Cumberland where I first started,” the veteran Canadian racer said ahead of Monday’s start. Before Kabush can get to his hometown, he has three days of racing against a strong field of past and aspiring champions.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys, it’s going to be one of the most competitive fields we have had in a while. This week, the singletrack is a little more relentless. Hopefully, that gives me a bit of a chance to recover a bit and hang in there. I’m excited to see how it goes.”