From May 1st - 3rd, twelve members of the Diversion racing team headed south to Wenatchee, Washington for Tour de Bloom - the premier stage race in the Pacific Northwest.
Departing Vancouver on Thursday, the Diversion team and supporters headed south to Wenatchee, Washington for 3 days of racing in the beautiful Wenatchee plains and mountains of Washington state. With four stages - two road races, a hill climb time trial, and a criterium in downtown Wenatchee, spirits were high as the team piled into a shared airbnb to talk strategy, fuelling, and prep their bikes for the first stage, the Waterville Road Race.
This weekend we were supported by Forecast Coffee who provided us with the use of their van to transport bikes and gear between our accommodations and each stage and coffee to fuel the team before every race.
Day 1 - Waterville Road Race
The Tour de Bloom kicked off Friday morning with the Waterville Road Race, a 45 km course featuring a mix of flat stretches and rolling terrain, totaling nearly 500 metres of elevation gain. The route offered fast, open sections where positioning and teamwork were crucial, as well as punchy climbs that tested early-race legs.
Our very own Sarah Thackray in the Cat 4/5 women's category broke away from the main group with 25km left and rode solo to her first ever victory at the Tour de Bloom.
Day 2 - Mission Ridge Hill Climb Time Trial & Wenatchee Crit
Day two was the biggest test of the weekend, featuring a doubleheader: the Mission Ridge Hill Climb Time Trial in the morning, followed by the fan-favorite Wenatchee Criterium in the evening.
The morning's mass-start hill climb was a true lung-burner—6.5 km with nearly 500 metres of elevation gain. Riders dug deep on the relentless ascent. Sarah Thackray, in the pink leaders jersey, delivered another impressive ride to take another win on stage 2. Drew Priesnitz also shone with a strong 9th-place finish.
That evening, the streets of downtown Wenatchee came alive as the community turned out in full force to cheer on the action-packed criterium. The 1 km, four-corner circuit was fast, technical, and chaotic—crashes and sprint finishes added drama throughout. Our riders kept it upright and raced with grit, putting in standout performances amid the mayhem.
Day 3 - Plain Road Race
The final day brought more sunshine—and some very tired legs—as riders took on the challenging Plain Road Race, winding through forest roads north and west of the town, including the picturesque North Shore Drive along Lake Wenatchee. With a twisty uphill finish to cap it off, riders had to dig deep and leave it all on the road.
Wearing the pink leader’s jersey, Sarah Thackray continued her consistent and dominant form, finishing second on the stage and securing the overall win in the Women’s Cat 4/5 category. A huge accomplishment!
Trips like this are what make racing—and being part of DIVERSION—so special. From the team camaraderie that gets everyone to the start line, to bunking together in a single Airbnb, and swapping stories over fast food and diner breakfasts, it’s these shared experiences that build lifelong memories.
A huge congratulations to our racers — Sarah Thackray, Drew Priesnitz, Erik Hauner, Kyle Smith, Jake Prapavessis, Matt Atkinstall, Noah Chauvin, Brandon Velestuk, Alex Southam, and Emily Neill — for an incredible weekend of racing. Each one of you brought determination, grit, and team spirit to every stage. We’re proud to have such a strong, supportive crew representing Diversion and the ENROUTE community.
Special thanks to our partners MAAP for making the best looking skinsuits at the Tour and Forecast Coffee for fuelling the team with caffeine and good vibes.
Here’s to more adventures, more podiums, and more miles together—see you at the next start line!
