The Okanagan Granfondo has been a huge event for cyclists in South Okanagan for 14 years, but event organizers have decided to cancel it indefinitely.

During this year’s Granfondo race in July in Penticton, a cyclist was killed and two were critically injured in a collision with a vehicle.

Okanagan Granfondo executive director Jodi Cross said the decision to cancel the race had nothing to do with the crash. She said it had to do with the cost increases for running a race like the Granfondo.

“I'd already had plans that it was going to be done,” she told iNFOnews.ca. “Since COVID pandemic, traffic safety and management costs have increased 200 per cent.”

She said the main cost for running the race was hiring a company to run traffic control.

“A lot of people don't understand what it costs to put on an event like this, 155 kilometres of road that has to have (traffic control) on every corner... that costs money to have those people standing there doing that for 10, 12 hours in a day.”

Cross said that she had tried to find a sponsor to help pay for the cost of the race, but it didn’t work out and she didn’t want to sell her company, OG Events, since she’s planning on turning her attention towards a gravel race for 2026.

“A lot of cyclists are getting into gravel riding, getting away from road riding,” she said. “It was time to just shut it down and move on to something else.”

The gravel race is still in the early planning stages and Cross said she’s waiting on permits.

The choice to shut down the classic Okanagan Granfondo was difficult.

“This decision wasn't easy, but it feels like the right moment to shift gears. (Okanagan Granfondo) Events will be exploring new ways to bring cyclists together, including possible gravel ride and race opportunities right here in the Okanagan. As the cycling world evolves, we're excited to evolve with it,” Cross said in a press release issued today, Oct. 2.

More than 25,000 cyclists have ridden in the Granfondo since its first race in 2011. The race raised more than $400,000 for the Desmoid Tumour Foundation of Canada through Athina’s Ride in the past five years.

Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said it’s sad to see the signature event come to an end.

“After 14 years, the Okanagan Granfondo has etched its place into Penticton’s sporting event history. While it’s tough to see this chapter come to an end, it’s a reflection of how the event landscape and community interests continues to evolve,” Bloomfield said in a written statement.

“Okanagan Granfondo will be remembered fondly in Penticton. Thousands of you gave your time as volunteers, trained hard to participate, or cheered from the sidelines – whether it was for friends, family or complete strangers.”

Travel Penticton’s executive director Kevin Pearce said it took a lot of effort to turn the Okanagan Granfondo into a race with a worldwide reputation.

“Hosting an event of such global recognition right here in the heart of Penticton has been nothing short of extraordinary. Bringing an event of this magnitude to life is no small feat. It takes passion, perseverance and an incredible team of visionaries, organizers, volunteers and community champions,” he said in a statement.

When the crash happened on a bend of White Lake Road on July 13, it left members of the cycling community reeling. The driver involved in the collision stayed at the scene and cooperated with police.

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