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The Gravel Explorer Blog

Gravel Explorer XLT Showcases the South Okanagan Gravel Scene and the Spirit of Gravel Adventuring

By 2022 Race Reports

Sore bodies and spent bikes enjoyed the fifth and final stage of the Gravel Explorer XLT, starting and finishing near the historic Kettle Valley Steam Train in Summerland. A classic day to finish a classic race 3T Stage 5 saw riders tackle a local favourite gravel loop in the hills above Summerland’s wine country. After 4 days of exploring the…

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Racers of Gravel Explorer XLT Among First to Ride New Gravel Zone

By 2022 Race Reports

Racers’ tired legs enjoyed the shortest distance stage of the 2022 Gravel Explorer XLT, but what was short in distance still featured some serious elevation on challenging technical, loose, and rocky gravel.  The route, newly created and connected by Course Designer, Jessy Hoffman, gave our intrepid racers the opportunity to be among the first ever gravel cyclists to cover this…

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Near Misses with Livestock, Mountain Meadow Views, and Autumn Colours Abound at Gravel Explorer Stage 3

By 2022 Race Reports

The Gravel Explorer XLT ticked over the halfway point during Rapha Stage 3 as racers climbed away from the shores of Skaha Lake in Okanagan Falls for a “classic gravel kind of day.”  Changing of the seasons Racers would start in Okanagan Falls, climbing all the way up into the surrounding mountains for Rapha Stage 3. Described by many as…

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Rugged gravel keeps Explorer XLT racers on their toes

By 2022 Race Reports

The Gravel Explorer LT racers departed after the first stage, but Gravel Explorer XLT still had 4 days of epic adventurous routes waiting.  Both the Open Men and Open Women’s fields started to see separations in the overall GC over 79 km of Summerland’s most adventurous gravel. L’Esperance takes time on podium favorites With a nail-biting sprint finish fresh in…

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An epic new cycling event from the team behind BC Bike Race

By BCBR Gravel Explorer

The second annual five-day Gravel Explorer set for the Okanagan including new one-day event Last summer amidst the pandemic, the team behind BC Bike Race and a hundred gravel-loving cyclists descended on the beautiful Okanagan Valley for a new adventure — the inaugural BCBR Gravel Explorer. This year, the event returns bigger and better than ever with the addition of a new one-day event…

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Introducing the Gravel Explorer LT

By BCBR Gravel Explorer
We're excited to introduce the Gravel Explorer LT for 2022.  It gives the racers who aren't ready to commit to the full 5-day XLT a "little taste" of the experience. Located in the South Okanagan wine Country of British Columbia, this new one (1) day event will pair nicely with the super successful five (5) day stage race and big brother,...
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The BCBR Gravel Explorer

The BC Bike Race Gravel Explorer Recap

By BCBR Gravel Explorer
With a successful first-year event just completed, a brief few weeks ago, it’s time to look towards next year’s event. Registration opens Tuesday, October 19th at 12 pm, PST. “Everywhere a Gravel bike can go” has been put to the test, and the riders put through the rigors of this exciting new route – and coming away, all of them, victorious....
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