The Ontario Cup (OCup) Road Series has finally arrived and will kick into high gear on May 14th. For the 2023 OCup Road Series, Ontario Cycling is partnering with Performance Driven Events for three OCups and the Provincial Championships. Riders will be racing on two new courses in Bradford and Lansdowne and be back to race fan-favorite Northumberland again for 2023.
Registration is opening soon. Make sure to take advantage of the series registration package, which provides a discounted rate for all three events and is available until Tuesday, May 9th, 2023.
Henderson Classic Road Race to get back into the saddle.
Just 25 minutes off Highway 400/401, the new Henderson Classic will feature a 12 km loop of smooth county and rural roads with rolling hills. “This year’s series opener will be a fantastic course for new riders and beginners to get off-screen and race outside. It is well balanced with a reasonable lap distance and approximately 90 meters of elevation for each lap,” said Greg Rawson, Owner of Performance Driven Events. The race will start from the newly built Henderson Memorial Park, just off of Line 9, north/west of Bradford West Gwillimbury. A significant safety component that will be part of the Ontario Cup series will be the support of the South Simcoe Police, which will ensure riders are protected while on the racecourse.
Henderson Classic Road Race coursemap and elevation
Northumberland Road Race coursemap and elevation
We will return to Baltimore, ON.
The second race of the Ontario Cup Road Series will stop in Baltimore, ON, for the Northumberland Classic. The start and finish will be out of the Baltimore Recreation Complex to head off on some of the best roads in the country. The hybrid loop (15.2 km) features 194 m of elevation and an 8.5km out and back section from start to finish. Riders will experience picturesque views of Northumberland, including St. Ann’s Spa and renowned equestrian facilities. A huge benefit is the access to the indoor washrooms and changing rooms at the Baltimore Recreation Centre.
Second Newcomer to the series
The second new race course this season will be the Lansdowne Road Race. The 14-kilometre lolly-pop-style course is located just 30 minutes east of Kingston, ON and features only 20m elevation with a 4 km out and back section from the start/finish at the Thousand Islands Elementary School. “Same as the first OCup, the Lansdowne Road Race is a great race for beginners and new riders who are interested in racing as this is by far the flattest road race of the year,” Rawson continues. This road race will also be a perfect opportunity for all sprinters in the province to find the provincial’s, unofficial green jersey owner.
Lansdowne Classic Road Race coursemap and elevation
Provincial Championships Road Race coursemap and elevation [North Bay]
Provincial Championships Criterium coursemap and elevation [North Bay]
Closing the season with the biggest highlight of the decade
The 2023 Provincial Championships will return to North Bay as a triple header event starting on Friday of the August long weekend. This year’s Provincials will incorporate the Individual Time Trial Championships 20 km south of North Bay at the Municipality of East Ferris. The course will be familiar to back-to-back participants from last year as it will utilize some roads of last year’s Provincial Road Race. Riders will start in the Town of Corbeil, ON, heading south along Corbeil Road, which features over 100 metres of climbing every 10 km, for roughly 11km until the turn-around point at the Wasi Cross Country Ski Club, making their way back along the same stretch.
Right in the heart of North Bay is the spot for the Provincial Criterium Race. Well-paved roads will be the framework for this exciting spectacle. The mix of sweeping and technical turns will draw attention from the local community and spectators who spend the long weekend in the area.
The weekend will be rounded up by the Provincial Road Race just outside of town. Revisiting the course from last season, riders will make their way onto the 15 km circuit leaving from the East Ferris Municipality Office. The finish line of the course, which features rolling hills with approximately 150 metres of elevation per lap, will be located on Champaign Road, right beside the KRMP Wellness Studio. The Ontario Provincial Police will be on-site to ensure rider safety during the event.
Be part of the OCup Series.
With registration opening soon, we encourage everyone to take advantage of the series registration, as the series registration offer expires on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023.
However, please note that in order to sign up for the 2023 Provincial Championships Road Race, a rider has to have participated in at least one road race at one of the 2023 Ontario Cup road series events.
Participation at the 2023 Criterium Provincial Championships is linked to a rider’s participation in at least one regional criterium. Other than the Road Race and the Criterium, there are no requirements for the TimeTrial. Riders can sign up for the 2023 Time Trial Provincial Championships without obligation.
In addition, there will be an exemption application form for anyone who requires an exemption due to injury, illness or any other extenuating circumstances.