2021 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…

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…

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…

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…

After a big debut year in the Okanagan, the Gravel Explorer launched into year two with a big ride from Naramata to the edge of Kelowna, and back. The five-day XLT expedition racers were joined by the single-day Gravel Explorer LT field, a new event for 2022.  The mixed field made for exciting racing. Just 0.08 seconds separated Rob Britton…

Presented By Rapha Location – Kelowna to Penticton Distance – 76 km Vertical – 1176 meters Stage Five Results Day 5 presented by Rapha - What is in a moment, what is the emotion expressed at the end of a journey, especially a poignant journey that takes one on a whirl-wind tour of “everywhere a gravel bike can go”?? Day...

Presented By 3T Location – Kelowna and Crawford Trails Distance – 44 km Vertical – 1081 m Stage Four Results Our journey over the mountains yesterday, from Penticton to Kelowna has set us up for an another amazing circuit route today, around and within the Crawford trails. Once again, we return to the BCBR Gravel Explorer manifesto “everywhere a gravel...

Presented By Easton Location – Penticton to Kelowna Distance – 98km Vertical – 1416 meters (maybe more – check your GPS)  Stage Three Results  After two days of intense technical gravel riding, it was time to stretch the legs and cover some distance. Penticton to Kelowna is no mean feat. By the time you add in the warm-up and the commute...

Presented By Arcteryx Location - Naramata, Three Blind Mice Distance - 47.5 km Vertical - 1239 m Stage Two Results Today’s Adventure Ride would be a sampler pack if you used beer for a reference; a sustained road climb out of Naramata through the sun-dappled vineyards brought the racers up to the KVR (Kettle Valley Railway) and stunning views across...

Presented By Maxxis Location  - Naramata, Campbell Mountain Distance - 44 km Vertical  - 844 m Stage One Results Photo Credit: Chris Stenberg Day 1 – Presented by Maxxis - The inclement weather stopped at 9 am just as it was ‘go time’, the first-ever BCBR Gravel Explorer has begun!! Day one (1) certainly delivered on its promise to be more than a little different...