Ben Chaddock is back for the week that jump-started his professional cycling career.
The Richmond native, who recently won his Canadian criterium championship, shocked everyone with his victory on the Tour de Delta prologue (time trial) event, is once again competing in B.C.
Superweek, which started last weekend in Delta and includes other races at Gastown, UBC, Burnaby and White Rock. It gives Chaddock ample opportunity to wear his new Canadian jersey as a national champion.
"Coming back as a national champion is a very special honour," said Chaddock, who races professionally for Team Exergy.
He earned his pro contract with an impressive win at the Tour de Delta two years ago, topping Canadian Olympian and Europen-based Pro Tour rider Svein Tuft, who also returns to BC Superweek this year, in a prologue.
"In 2010, I knew I completed a great prologue performance, but was in total shock with the result," Chaddock recalled. "That boost in confidence carried me through the weekend and the rest of the year.
"A result like that gives that extra positive self-talk of 'I know I am the strongest rider in the race over a certain distance.' So going into BC Superweek this year my goals are centered around performing to the best of my ability and just letting the results take care of themselves."
A former competitive skier and strong sprinter, Chaddock knows that wins won't come easy at B.C. Superweek this year, even with three strong teammates from Team Exergy, which won the inaugural UBC Grand Prix last summer, and hopes to defend that title this year.
With the historic Gastown Grand Prix also back on the schedule, and $105,000 up for grabs over nine races, Chaddock expects a long list of top North American professional teams to send strong riders.
"Money talks. A lot of riders and teams have been talking about B.C.
Superweek this spring, especially with the return of Gastown to bolster the series into a very impressive nine days of racing," said Chaddock, who didn't race the last Gastown Grand Prix in 2008, but has been preparing by watching YouTube footage.
"I know there will be teams of two to four from all of the strongest criterium teams in North America. We all know each other well, as we race in the NCC and USACrits series together each weekend, but racing at home in Canada will be extra special. I look forward to enjoying the moments before and after the race while putting on a good show once the gun goes off."
In addition to top pro teams, Chaddock can expect some stiff competition from fellow Canadians chasing his maple leaf jersey as Criterium Champion.
That includes the riders who finished behind him at the National championships - Cody Canning, who rides for the local Trek Red Truck team, and Nic Hamilton, a Victoria native riding for Jelly Belly Pro Cycling - as well as some of Canada's top cyclists, home from around the world to race BC Superweek.
That list is topped by Svein Tuft, an eight-time Canadian Tim Trial champion, and Christian Meier, his teammate on the Australia-based Orica-GreenEDGE Pro Tour team.
It also includes Ryan Anderson and Will Routley, who have been racing in Europe for Steve Bauer's Spidertech powered by C10 team, as well as a couple local pros on U.S.-based Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies - Marsh Cooper and Sebastien Salas, who like Chaddock used a strong showing at B.C. Superweek to earn a contract, and then won the King of the Mountain Jersey as top climber at the prestigious Tour of California this
"It is a special week as it is our one chance per year to race at home," Chaddock said of the locals. "But don't discount younger riders in the Vancouver area. There are some serious young talents eager for their shot, so there should be some fireworks."
Chaddock is proof of that possibility - and what it can lead to.
