Kelowna training-grounds for GranFondo

It will be a sight to behold when hundreds of riders go whizzing along the Kelowna GranFondo route on July 16. Loosely translated from Italian as “Big Ride”, the Kelowna GranFondo is a 115 km event that will bring in riders from all around the province and, indeed, the country. This is the second GranFondo Canada race – the first one launched in Whistler last year and was such a success that this new one has been added for this year’s line-up. These kinds of rides are extremely popular in Europe, attracting thousands of cyclists, and are now gaining popularity in North America.

With just over 10 days to go before GranFondo, you’ll likely see droves of aerodynamically-clad cyclists hauling on their road bikes on bike lanes around Kelowna. When you do, be sure to send them supportive thoughts, cheering them on for their course success – and give them a good amount of road space, too!

There are amazing roads to train on in Kelowna – orchard-lined backroads in places like South East Kelowna, East Kelowna, Glenmore, and Lake Country; and then of course roads with dazzling lake views. Make no mistake, when the participating cyclists meet the course and experience riding through some gorgeous Okanagan landscape on a dedicated lane, the sensation will be Road-Ride-Heaven. It will no doubt be “a scenic and challenging ride… with an approximate elevation gain of 1200 m. It will be a ride to remember and promises to become a Canadian classic,” in the words of GranFondo organizers.

Cyclists will be fully supported along the way with aid stations providing nutrition, mechanical support, and a small army of volunteers tasked with keeping the event going smoothly. True to the general nature of those interested in the sport of road-riding, the RBC GranFondo Kelowna is a “bottled water-free” event, requiring cyclists to carry re-usable water bottles that can be filled at water stations along the way, as to avoid leaving behind a wake of litter.

The full GranFondo route is mapped out on their website, where you can also find all sorts of other useful bits of information about the event. Or simply show up at Waterfront Park on July 16 to celebrate the victory of the riders’ accomplishment along with cyclists, volunteers, and the community.

If you’re a participating cyclist from out of town, be sure to stop by the Visitor Centre at 544 Harvey Ave (corner of Ellis)  in order to get all sorts of info about places to visit while you’re in town. Our Visitor Counselors will be pleased to help you enhance your stay in Kelowna and get the most out of your GranFondo weekend!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.