Roughly 85 participants endured a gruelling 43-kilometre uphill and downhill mountain bike race Sunday during the BC Enduro Series’ stop in Williams Lake.
The event, which took place on trails throughout the Westsyde Trail Network, attracted mountain bikers from throughout the province.
Riders competed over a five-stage race course where, once finishing a stage, they were shuttled to the next.
Whistler’s Wei Tien, 12, told the Tribune following stage two of his race he was having a blast.
“We came up here last year to ride just for fun and then we found out there was an enduro here so I really wanted to come,” Tien said. “It’s just awesome riding.”
Thomas Schoen, chair of the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium, said it’s been a phenomenal weekend for Williams Lake.
He said all of the hard work that’s been done building and maintaining the trail networks is finally paying off as the city receives provincial recognition for its vast and desirable trail network.
“Lots of people in town,” Schoen said. “It’s nice to see so many out of town riders in town. It’s just an awesome weekend for Williams Lake. All of these events are putting us on the map more and more.”
Awards and a dinner and party will follow after 3 p.m. at the Potato House in downtown Williams Lake.
Tomorrow, shuttles will be available for mountain bikers to Desous Mountain where there will be group rides with enduro particpants taking part.
The BC Enduro Series will continue with one final event in Kamloops on Sunday, June 4. It already made stops in Penticton and Vernon.