Welcome home Tour de Rock riders at the Esquimalt firehall

Tour de Rock riders (left) Matt Arnsdorf of CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue and SLt Antoine LeBlanc of the Military Police Unit Esquimalt pose for a photo during a stop in Comox, Sept. 26. Photo by Matt Rutherford, Tour de Rock

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Cyclists riding in the Tour de Rock will make a 20-minute pit stop at CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue this Friday on the final day of their two-week journey.

Guided by a police motorcycle escort, the riders will ride through the bay doors at 9:45 a.m. and into the rear parking lot to a hero’s welcome.

Esquimalt-based riders Matt Arnsdorf, of CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue, and Sub-Lieutenant Antoine LeBlanc, of Military Police Unit, are part of the 22-member team of police and first responders that are currently in the midst of a 1,100-kilometre journey across Vancouver Island in support of Cops for Cancer and pediatric cancer research and support programs.

Last week, Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Geordie Douglas was kept busy organizing the event and said he is encouraging the entire defence community to turn up and cheer on the team.

“The whole department is really excited to see the riders coming to our station house,” he said.

Throughout their journey riders have been getting logistical support from 2017 Tour de Rock Rider Chris Day who is taking part in this year’s ride as a member of the team’s support crew.

On Oct. 3 the riders will traverse the Malahat Pass before attending events in Sooke, West Shore, Oak, Bay, Esquimalt and Saanich and finishing off with their Grand Finale in downtown Victoria at Centennial Square on Oct. 5.

For more information about the Tour de Rock visit their Facebook Page or website at www.tourderock.ca