After 14 years, the Okanagan Granfondo in Penticton, B.C., has been cancelled indefinitely.
Since 2011, the annual event has been a place where thousands of cyclists from around the world gather to race or ride leisurely, said Jodi Cross, the fondo’s founder and executive director.
“It definitely was a hard decision, but it was the right decision right now to just shift our focus,” said Cross.
At the Okanagan Granfondo’s final race in July, a group of cyclists were hit by a person driving a vehicle. One woman was killed and two others were seriously injured in the collision.
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A motor vehicle crash during the Okanagan Granfondo race in Penticton, B.C., over the weekend and another fatal crash involving a cyclist in Prince George last week have sparked renewed concerns over cyclist safety this summer.. Rose Gardner, executive director of advocacy organization HUB Cycling, says more education is key for other road users as more cyclists hit the roads in warmer weather.
Cross said the tragedy did not have an impact her team’s decision to end the event. Instead, significant increases in costs for traffic and safety management had made the price of registration and demand for sponsorship too high.
Gran Fondos are held around the world. The road cycling races are typically longer than 120 kilometres and attract riders of all skill levels, who depart en masse. Some include full or partial road closures, while others are held on open roads.
Cross said her company, OG Events, is not folding and will transition away from the road to organize gravel cycling races in the future.
Dustin Quigley, a leader in Kelowna’s club cycling community, has raced in the Okanagan Granfondo for the last four years. Until reading the email sent by Cross and OG Events on Thursday, he was hopeful the event would return next year — letting it finish with a celebration rather than tragedy.
Dustin Quigley (right), pictured with his teammates after the 2024 Okanagan Granfondo. (Photo by Deon Nel/Submitted by Dustin Quigley)
“As soon as I saw the news there was that kind of that heavy sinking feeling in my heart,” said Quigley. “I’m just disappointed.”
As a group-ride leader for two clubs in Kelowna, he said he takes safety seriously and felt the Okanagan Granfondo did too.
Quigley said all cyclists know how dangerous riding on the road can be, and many seek out fondos and races because participating in organized events can feel safer than riding alone, among vehicles.
“You’re much more likely to get into trouble when you’re on your own,” said Quigley.
“At an event like this there’s flagging all over the place, there’s police present, you’ve got marshals everywhere. It’s the safest I’ve ever felt on a bike,” he said.
“Anybody who wants to ride their bike [now in the Okanagan] — you’re just kind of riding socially with your local group or you’re driving to Vancouver or Washington to go do any events.”
Kelowna, about 45 kilometres north of Penticton, has already lost its criterium series, weekly time trial events and fall cyclocross races.
As a race director with the Interior Running Association, Quigley knows how challenging and expensive it is to hold an event in the Okanagan.
He said community-building events like the Granfondo help people to step outside of their comfort zones, get outside and get active.
“At the end of the day we just want a happier, healthier society where we can all kind of enjoy what we wanna do,” he said. “Losing these events — it really takes away from that.”