Stage 3

Route: Port Alberni - Cumberland

Today's route kicks off with a pace lap around the track at the Port Alberni Multiplex. Then, leave Multiplex with the impressive Mount Arrowsmith in the background and cycle through the streets of Port Alberni with police escort before hooking into the first taset of singletrack.

Be prepared for a small climb up and out of Port Alberni on a mix of trail and old road with beautiful views looking back over the Alberni Inlet.

Cruising on toward Horne Lake you will be riding over some of the most beautiful caves on Vancouver Island - if you have a support team be sure to let them know about this worthy underground scenic adventure.

Riding up a gradual grade alongside the Qualilcum River you will be surrounded by beautiful second growth Douglas Fir. Coming off this you may get your feet a little wet as you cross through Rosewall Creek and enter into a relatively flat portion of the course with the Beaufort Range on your left and the Johnstone Strait on your right.

Taking a bridged crossing over the mighty Tsable River, you will begin a 10km climb that set you up for a beautiful descent into the technical singletrack that Cumberland is famous for. The first trail you’ll experience is Bucket of Blood which was named after one of the pubs from Cumberland's early mining days. This trail is downhill-tending with a fast open rock section to start that gives way to 'forest dump', the technical crux of the trail, which delivers you into the shadows of a dense forest and tight old-school singletrack. You'll also get a taste of the newest of the new Cumberland trails - Steam Donkey and Entrails.

The last section of trails you ride before rolling into the finish line were last year's favourites - Soggy Biscuit, Matt's Trail, Black Hole and Space Nugget. This string of trails will no doubt be the highlight of the day as they offer some fast and fun downhill sections interspersed with old-school singletrack and technical challenges that will leave you wanting more as you roll out onto the paved streets of Cumberland for the finish of Day 3.

*Stage & Route details subject to change.

Base Camp Directors' Insights

After a restful sleep in Port Alberni and some great riding up Vancouver Island, you'll join us in the village of Cumberland. Our finish line for Day 3 will be right in front of Base Camp at Village Park.

Base Camp at Cumberland’s Village Park is a great place to sit back and relax after a hard day of riding. There you will find washrooms, showers, a playground for kids, the Bike Storage and, of course, your tent. The Cumberland Recreation Centre, a quick 5 blocks from Village Park, also has showers and washrooms for BCBR Racers and will be our host for meals and awards. Enjoy the lovely walk past village heritage buildings and sights. You will also be able to look up at some of the hills and say that you have ridden them.

Top 10 Moral Support Crew Teasers

Check out these tempting options to keep your moral supporters busy from point-to-point today! And for more travel/tourism information about this area, contact the Comox Valley Visitor Centre.

• Go for a swim in Comox Lake
• Enjoy a “world famous” Cumberland Donut
• Mountain bike some of the amazing trails in Cumberland
• Rock climb at the Comox Lake Craigs
• Enjoy a cold, refreshing beverage at the historic Waverly Hotel
• Take a scenic chairlift ride at Mount Washington
• Hike in the oldest Provincial Park in the province, Strathcona Provincial Park
• Kayak Comox Harbour, Baynes Sound
• Take in the Cumberland Museum, Abbey Art Gallery, Magnolia Art Gallery, Courtenay Museum and/or the Comox Valley Art Gallery
• Enjoy a pottery tour on Denman Island
• View sea lions basking in the sun on the log booms south of Fanny Bay on the old Island Highway (19a)