Calgary's Tour De Bowness challenges cyclists with gruelling hill climb and rainy street race

Each Heritage Day Weekend, the Calgary neighbourhood of Bowness hosts the Tour De Bowness, a premier cycling event and provincial championship, featuring three events.

Organized by the Alberta Bicycling Association, the three-day amateur racing event includes a 22 km race in Cochrane, a gruelling hill climb along Mackay Road and a criterium–a short circuit road race– starting and finishing along Bowness Road.

The event attracts cyclists from across Canada, Europe and the United States. See race results here.

Grigoriy Ichshenko, with the Calgary Carnkmasters Cycling club, competes in the gruelling Tour De Bowness Montgomery Hill Climb, a kilometre-long, steep race. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Brendan Walsh, with the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club, climbs Calgary’s kilometre-long Mackay Road in 1:47.86. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Ryan Jaket, with the Calgary Crankmaster Cycling Club, races up the gruelling kilometre-long Tour De Bowness Hill Climb in 1:50.72. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Axel Lecompte placed second in the U17 Tour De Bowness Hill Climb race in Calgary. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Kathryn Durrell finished second in the Women’s Category Four Tour De Bowness Hill Climb race up Mackay Road, finishing in 2:12.05. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Maine Gruener wins the Women’s Category Four Tour De Bowness Hill Climb race up Mackay Road, finishing in 2:03.93. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Michael Stimson charges up the gruelling kilometre-long Tour De Bowness Montgomery Hill Climb, finishing in 1:48.10. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Erik Loewen, who races for Vectra Heavy Haulers p/b CO2 Brewing, pedals up the kilometre-long Tour De Bowness Montgomery Hill Climb, finishing in 1:49.05. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

The top five women racers in Category Four line up to race a second time up Calgary’s kilometre-long Mackay Road. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Children, along with some of their parents, line up to compete in the Tour De Bowness’ Kids Crit race along Bowness Road. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Children race along Bowness Road as part of the Tour De Bowness’ Kids Crit race. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Women racers round a corner in the Tour De Bowness’ Criterium, a fast-paced race along a short circuit of city streets in Bowness. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF

Category Four men race in the rain during the Tour De Bowness’ Criterium, a fast-paced race along a short circuit of city streets in Bowness. PHOTO: CALGARY JOURNAL STAFF