Racers can ride up to 114km in Paris to Ancaster Bike Race in April

The countdown is on 2025 Paris to Ancaster Bike Race, where thousands of riders will hit the local trails and farmer’s fields on April, 27.

The race first took place in 1994, inspired by the Paris to Roubaix race in northern Europe.

There are three races as part of the event: the Paris to Ancaster Cento, Classic and Brève courses with each race covering a different distance.

Cento stretches as far as 114.3 kilometres, with the start of the race beginning at the Paris Fairgrounds and finishing at the Ancaster Rotary Centre next to the Robert E. Wade Community Park.

The Classic race runs a distance of around 68.1 kilometres, starting at Waynco Aggregates at North Dumfries Township in Cambridge and finishing at the Ancaster Rotary Centre.

The Brève course being the briefest at around 44.7 kilometres long is planned to start at the South Dumfries Gaukel Memorial Community Centre near St. george Arena in St. George, where it will finish at the Ancaster rotary Centre.

John Thorpe, the co-race director for the Paris to Ancaster Bike Race, says he is amazed with the support coming from the various landowners along the track, with some going back generations.

“The amazing thing is the continuity and the support from the City of Hamilton, the County of Brant, the County of Oxford now – all the landowners that we have along the way…is still welcoming us back,” he said.

Racers also have the opportunity to take part in the race as part of the UCI Gravel World Series, it could qualify them to finish their season at the Grave World Championships in Nice, France in October.

The race is also partnering with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation and The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton to raise funds for health research.

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