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16-year-old Romeo Bowie took the victory in the 85-kilometre Mediofondo during the Granfondo Okanagan on July 12th and 13th. (Photo submitted by Diane Elliott)<\/p>\n16-year-old Romeo Bowie took the victory in the 85-kilometre Mediofondo during the Granfondo Okanagan on July 12th and 13th. (Photo submitted by Diane Elliott)<\/p>\n
PENTICTON, B.C. \u2014 Two aspiring youth cyclists with roots in Fort St. John took the victory in a prestigious road race this past weekend.<\/p>\n
Cousins Romeo Bowie and Callum Horst participated in the Granfondo Okanagan cycling race in Penticton on July 12th and 13th.<\/p>\n
The race is now in its 13th year and has different classes, ranging from a child\u2019s race of up to five kilometres to the main event: a gruelling 155-kilometre trek through B.C.\u2019s wine country.<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old Bowie had planned to enter the child\u2019s Piccolofondo event back in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic forced its cancellation.<\/p>\n
Admitting he was \u201crelatively new to cycling,\u201d he jumped at the chance to participate this year, having been trained by his grandfather, Les Elliott, for around a month.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been looking forward to this race since I was nine years old,\u201d said Bowie. \u201cI have been running consistently for the past year and a half.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old Bowie outlasted all other entrants in the Mediofondo, a race of 85-kilometres, to take the victory in a ride he shared with his grandfather, who came in 22nd position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so glad that he\u2019s still in shape,\u201d said Bowie. \u201cHe was definitely one of the best mentors that I could have asked for.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, Bowie\u2019s 10-year-old cousin, Callum Horst, took the win in the Piccolofondo kids\u2019 race. (Photo submitted by Diane Elliott)<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bowie\u2019s 10-year-old cousin, Horst, competed in the Piccolofondo, also taking the victory and making the win a truly family affair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was super proud of him,\u201d said Bowie. \u201cHe worked really hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Granfondo Okanagan took place with some tragedy during 2025, a sombre reminder of the danger of road racing.<\/p>\n
Multiple news outlets reported a crash between cyclists and a motorist during the event, which left one dead and two taken to hospital.<\/p>\n
Bowie said he was ahead of the collision and was unaffected, saying he felt \u201clucky\u201d he was not involved.<\/p>\n