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Agur and O’Boyle fastest at the Okanagan Granfondo Weekend

The 12th Annual Okanagan Granfondo in Penticton attracted more than 2,300 cyclists of all ages last weekend.

In just over a decade, the Okanagan Granfondo has gained national and international recognition and acceptance as one of the top cycling events in Canada.

Nestled between Lake Okanagan and Skaha Lake, Penticton, B.C. has been ranked as Canada’s top cycling destination. With over 60 wineries within a 20 minutes drive, a local farmers market, beautiful beaches and loads of festivals and events throughout the year, Penticton and the South Okanagan has something for the entire family!

“We’re already one of the largest events in Canada,” said event communications director Holly Bird. “Whistler has a big event similar to ours and so does Victoria. We’re biased of course and think we now have the best event!"

“There’s actually a global site called the Gran Fondo Guide and we were recognized as the No. 2 Granfondo in all of North America, only behind Big Bear in California one year. That was pretty special for us. One of the most popular attractions of the Okanagan Granfondo is the event attracts cyclists of all ages, talents and abilities, from beginners to professionals and former professionals", said Bird.

“I think one of the things that makes the event totally unique … is you have people who have literally just started cycling who come and join us as their first event,” she said. “Then we have a large group of people who are professionals and retired professionals who also come and join us year after year.

“The ability of cyclists is quite varied and the ages of our competitors is also quite varied. It’s really quite cool to see such a wide variety of people who come to support the sport of cycling with us.”

Former American Olympian and professional cyclist and hill climbing ace Phil Gaimon from California was in attendance.

With over 60 wineries within a 20 minutes drive

The number of people working the event, most in volunteer roles, is epic. It’s 400-plus. Even the day’s traffic control is epic, turning a system of roads and highways across the south Okanagan into a temporary bike course for a single day each summer. It’s a massive undertaking. But the most epic of all may be the mega-sized Granfondo aid stations, staffed by small armies of local volunteers ready to feed and assist anyone who pulls in and stocked with a stunning array of thirst-quenching, energy-recapturing goodies.

Like many of the other competitions, the Okanagan Granfondo offers different courses to meet the demands of the competitors.

By far the most popular race is the full-length 150km Granfondo, which stretches out through British Columbia’s wine region. There is more than 1,500 metres of climbing throughout the South Okanagan in this race. It offers the most spectacular scenery and the most challenges of any cycling event in the area. There are a lot of very fast, flat sections in this part of the race, offering gorgeous scenery.

The second race, called the Velocefondo, is 120 kilometres and covers much of the same route as the Grandfondo, there’s still a lot of difficult climbing as just over 1,200 metres. The Mediofondo is an 85 kilometre race which took competitors from downtown Penticton towards Summerland, then back through Penticton and towards Okanagan Falls, then back towards Kaleden to the finish line.

Local rider from Summerland, Lee Agur (who finished 4th at the Peach Classic Triathlon) attacked from the leading group and soloed to the finish (3:48:48) a minute up Bradley Bickley from West Kelowna (3:49:57) in second place, and Scott Bohachyk from Vancouver (3:50:35) in third place. Ex-professional cyclist Svein Tuft, who rode the Tour de France twice, came in 7th place.

In the women's race American Megan O’Boyle (Platform Pro cycling was fastest in a time of 4:02:13 with Jessica Yeoman from Vancouver second and Erin Tolfo from Surrey in third place. Boyle was one of six Vancouverites in the top ten females.

Brendan Reid and Alison Kenward won the 120km Velocefondo.

Garth Campbell and Katherine Brown were first in the 85km Mediofondo.

This year, the Piccolofondo once again reached its 300-child cap rather easily. One of the morning’s victors was 10-year-old William Harris of Kelowna, who parlayed a solid performance in 2023 aboard a mountain bike into a win in 2024 on a road bike his dad bought him in the off-season.

Link to 12th Annual Okanagan Granfondo Results: https://sportstats.one/results/140290

12th Annual Okanagan Granfondo Results