Cancer sucks. 

There’s no other way to put it. And for the 906 riders who came out to conquer Cypress Mountain this year, that truth was the fuel behind every pedal stroke.

But while the goal was serious, raising over $825,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation through the Cypress Challenge, the atmosphere was anything but solemn.

We showed up differently this year.

Inspired by the Tour de France’s most iconic climbs, where fans line the roads in costume, waving signs and roaring encouragement, we decided to bring a bit of that chaos and colour to our local mountain.

So we got to work.

We watched the greats. Took notes from Alp d’Huez. And built our own version — 20 costumes, 25 custom signs, cowbells, a tent village, and a crew armed with energy.

From the first wave of riders to the last, we sprinted beside them. We cheered like maniacs. We handed out high-fives, mechanical support, and the kind of unfiltered stoke that reminds you why events like this matter.

It was loud. It was ridiculous. And it was powerful.

Yes, this event is about raising funds for cancer research and this year’s total was extraordinary. But for two hours on that climb, it was also about something else:

It was about joy. Connection. Play. Showing people that even in the face of something as serious as cancer, we can show up with heart and humour.

Because when you’re 6km into a 12km climb, what you need isn’t just motivation, you need community.

And a guy in a hotdog suit yelling your name doesn’t hurt either.