Tour de Cure 2024 Recap

After a long, wet journey, the RGF “Market Cycles” successfully conquered the Tour de Cure, riding 200 kilometres from Chilliwack to Hope. The team was even bigger this year, consisting of Brett Simpson, Mark Neufeld, Jamil Chaudry, Bob Woodhouse, Don Mintz, Loni Batke, Chris Lal, Davis Poon, and Brent Vandekerckhove. It was a great mix of new and experienced riders and a fun two days of hard cycling, great laughs, and teamwork.

Day one began in Cloverdale, and at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, amid an atmospheric river of rain, we departed on our 100-kilometre journey to Chilliwack. The day started wet and we ended up soaking wet while we zig-zagged amidst gorgeous rural properties and endless farmland. We took advantage of several stops along the way to rehydrate, refuel with food, and wring out our soaked clothing.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. our group arrived to cheers from a boisterous crowd and amazing supporters at the finish line in Chilliwack. Throughout the remainder of the day, we took the opportunity to enjoy a hot shower, massage, and a delicious dinner. We were also treated to plenty of motivating speeches, including first-person stories of current cancer survivors riding this year. Camp was again set up at Chilliwack Heritage Park, and as luck would have it, our tents remained dry throughout the night. We enjoyed some Ping-Pong, poutine, and great music from a live local band before settling into bed, praying for sun on Sunday.

We set out at 7:30 a.m. sharp on day two and got off to a torrid pace. One of our riders was held up at the starting line, but after breakneck record time, was able to catch us at rest stop 1.

A light drizzle was with us for the first part of the morning, but as time progressed, our prayers were answered, and the sun finally shone through. Day two provided more elevation change throughout the ride, but our team was more than willing to handle the challenge. The finish route into Hope was a gentle slope down to Main Street, which was closed off to other traffic for five blocks. The ride through the “gauntlet” to the finish was lined with supporters, and the crowd was so loud that we could hear people cheering and music blaring from the top of the rise. Hope certainly gave us an amazing welcome!

The weekend was safe and successful, with no mechanical malfunctions or injuries to any of our teammates. The food provided by the BC Cancer Foundation was delicious, with plentiful goodies at rest stops along the way. Big thanks to the volunteers who came out on Saturday to support us – they help make these events a great success.

Our RGF team, the Market Cycles, raised more than $120,000 for cancer research, and we are thankful for everyone who supported the cause. The event raised over $7.3 million, with more donations pouring in by the day. Our new riders, Loni Batke, Chris Lal, and Davis Poon, did a fantastic job and we’re proud of them for their time and commitment. Bob Woodhouse, Jamil Chaudry, and Don Mintz were absolute beasts on the bikes as usual. Brett Simpson and Mark Neufeld also completed their 16th consecutive ride, which is a significant milestone. The entire team of riders and volunteers at RGF is extremely thankful for the support we received from our family, friends, clients, donors, and BC Cancer. We will continue to support the ride in the future.

Our team continues to grow, and new riders are always welcome. Everyone is already excited for next year’s ride. We are all looking forward to next August.