Blizzard club cyclist shatters 14-year-old time trial record

BALDONNEL, B.C. — A member of the Blizzard Bicycle Club stands alone after a record-breaking performance during this week’s time trial.

On Thursday, June 11th, Nigel Wray finished the 16-kilometre road circuit near Baldonnel Elementary School in 20 minutes and 52 seconds.

It broke Blaine Richter’s previous mark set in 2012 by four seconds.

Wray, who only began competitive cycling in 2023 after starting a fitness journey on an exercise bike, said the record has always been a long-term goal.

“I think the first time I ever rode that time trial route, I hit 26:04,” Wray told Energeticcity.ca. “By the end of the season in 2023, I [had] hit 23:04, and I thought I might have a shot.”

Wray’s time was also eight minutes ahead of the next competitor, Heather McCracken, who came in with a time of 28:17.

Rounding out the top five were Cal McCracken, Arjen Pos and Pat Ferris.

Ferris, a co-founder of the Blizzard Bicycle Club over four decades ago, said Wray “took advantage of excellent conditions” in handling the course in an e-mail.

In a phone interview, he spoke about how the wind plays a part in navigating the Baldonnel course.

“The weather and the wind play a huge factor,” said Wray. “Usually when you get a west wind, it can really push you out in the first half [of the course], and you can be flying.”

Last season, Wray raced across British Columbia and Alberta in an effort to raise his cycling ranking to category 1 and 2. He earned enough points to be upgraded based on his performances.

Wray says his schedule isn’t as intensive as a year ago, but he will still compete throughout the summer of 2026, including an appearance in the Stampede Road Race in the Calgary area on Saturday, July 4th.

“There’s a road race and a time trial that I want to go to there,” said Wray. “That will prep me and get me [where] I will see where I stack up against some of the better riders.”

He added that he will also race in the 2026 Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships, which begin on Friday, July 31st, in Calgary, Alberta.