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Mock Tour de Rock sets the stage for the real thing

Riders on the road again preparing for the Sept. 24 start
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Simon Douthwaite with Chemainus 49th Parallel Grocery manager Paul McGregor. (Photo by Art Carlyle)

The real Cops For Cancer Tour de Rock is getting ready to roll again.

After two years of a limited tour due to COVID, the regular route and a full team of riders are on the agenda again for the 25th anniversary of the event.

The tour begins Saturday, Sept. 24 in Port Alice and winds its way through communities around Vancouver Island toward the conclusion in Victoria Oct. 7. Ladysmith and Chemainus stops are on the schedule for Monday, Oct. 3.

There are no riders this year from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP or emergency services personnel in the Cowichan region.

A mock tour was held Saturday, Aug. 20 to prepare riders for what lies ahead. It was a hot and long 130 kilometre excursion, but the riders pedaled hard and were inspired by kids and families, honks, cheers, waves and generous support.

The mock tour began in Nanaimo at the Thrifty Foods location on Turner Road and made two stops in Ladysmith before a break for lunch at the 49th Parallel Grocery in Chemainus.

After that, it was back on the road to Duncan and a turnaround north to finish on Turner Road in Nanaimo again for dinner at Boston Pizza.

“Mock Tour is our version of a full dress rehearsal,” noted Simon Douthwaite, Cops for Cancer specialist at the Canadian Cancer Society. “The team is excited to get a feel for what it’s like to ride as a group with an escort and visit some of our dedicated supporters during practice community stops.”

After a tough couple of years, excitement is building to see the Cops for Cancer team members come through communities again. The 2022 Tour de Rock team consists of 20 police officers, first responders and guest riders.

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Tour de Rock’s mascot gets in on the action. (Photo by Art Carlyle)
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Riders on the Oak Street roundabout heading toward 49th Parallel Grocery. (Photo by Art Carlyle)
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The riding group poses outside the 49th Parallel Grocery. (Photo by Art Carlyle)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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