The Giro di Burnaby (pronounced GEE-ro) is part of BC Superweek, the richest event in Canadian cycling, drawing professional racers from around the world. The Giro di Burnaby comprises of just one cycling event - the Criterium - a race of several laps on a closed circuit, which is open to male and female cyclists. This year, the race was held on Thursday, July 14.

To add to the excitement, the Criterium features numerous "Primes" (pronounced PREEms), short sprints whose winners are awarded cash prizes. A "Crowd Prime," consisting of spectator donations, was collected during the race and was split between the winner of the prime and a charity. In 2007, the Crowd Prime raised more than $400 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

This City of Burnaby event is quickly drawing attention from athletic and promotional circuits around the world, doubling the number of spectators and drawing an impressive number of cyclist entries.The quality and safety of our course, the generous prizes and "Primes" (short races with prize money) and the unique atmosphere of the Heights neighbourhood have all contributed to the event's burgeoning reputation.

New this year - The Kids Area (west side of Hastings St. at MacDonald Ave.)
Families dropped by The Kids Area, which was on the west side of Hastings Street at MacDonald Avenue for fun activities, including a bike decorating station. The Purple Pirate, who also performed at Hats Off Day, entertained little ones about bike safety.

Also new this year was a coupon sheet featuring various Heights merchants.

A special thanks to the following merchants for their generous support of the volunteer dinner: Akira Sushi, Anton's Pasta, Bombay Beat Restaurant, Double One Chinese Restaurant, Fortuna Bakery, La Villetta Ristorante, Lotus Café, Sfinaki Greek Taverna, Starbucks Coffee Company & Valley Bakery.

A big thank you also to the following businesses who sponsored primes, which helped make every lap exciting:
Anton's Pasta Bar, Burnaby Dental Centre, Burnaby Heights Integrative HealthCare Inc., Carter Fiat, Chevron Canada, Cioffi's Meat Market & Deli, Cobbett & Cotton Law Corporation, Dentistry at the Heights, Eagle Creek Dental Centre, Golder Associates, North Burnaby Massage Therapy Clinic, North Burnaby Podiatry, Pagnanini Edwards Lam Chartered Accountants, Scotiabank, Valley Bakery & Vancity Savings Credit Union.

For more information, please visit www.girodiburnaby.com