It is all about the expansive and dramatic terrain for cyclists.

乌鸦传媒淚 like the course. I like that you乌鸦传媒檙e really going to an awesome tour of the area,乌鸦传媒� said Kelly Servinski of Squamish, who crossed the finish line to complete the 160-kilometre Granfondo distance with Axel Merckx. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e not professional riders. It乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of fun, it乌鸦传媒檚 hard. The scenery is beautiful.乌鸦传媒�

Servinski, among 2,500 riders in last Sunday乌鸦传媒檚 event, said the people cheering on the riders from the sidelines provides a great atmosphere, as does the camaraderie with the other cyclists.

乌鸦传媒淧enticton is a beautiful place to come,乌鸦传媒� he said.

Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Peter Watson completed the 92-km Mediofondo distance and rode the course as a guide. He was asked by organizers to assist riders. Carrying extra equipment with him, Watson changed three tires and helped a couple of riders with dropped chains.

乌鸦传媒淚t was really fun to see a different aspect of the race,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭ypically I乌鸦传媒檓 more towards the front row and fast. Today was all about cruising along; chatted with people. It was really cool to see. Everyone was smiling.乌鸦传媒�

Penticton residents Sunette and Perold Louw finished the 55-km Cortofondo together.

乌鸦传媒淚 think the drafting is a lot of fun. Just the spirit of the fondo and everybody is welcome,乌鸦传媒� said Sunette, of what she likes most about Granfondo which was her third time participating. 乌鸦传媒淚t is always quite a high just to be part of the event. I think if you feel strong, you can ride hard. If you feel like you are not strong, you can ride slow and still have a good time. It乌鸦传媒檚 a very dynamic atmosphere.乌鸦传媒�

Her husband added its nice to ride in the crowd, but he also enjoys the drafting aspect and 乌鸦传媒渇lying down the highway.乌鸦传媒� He said the event creates a nice atmosphere.

Trevor Linden, president of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks, who completed the 160-km Granfondo distance, has participated every year.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 always a great day here in Penticton,乌鸦传媒� said Linden. 乌鸦传媒淚t was hot, but it was nice. I like to work hard and then eat hamburgers after.乌鸦传媒�

Merckx said it was another great year for the event as he received a lot of positive feedback from participants, the City of Penticton, sponsors and volunteers. The most important thing to Merckx is that everybody had a great time.

乌鸦传媒淭here is a lot of enthusiasm behind the event,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e are really proud of what we have done over the last seven years. We couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have done it without the support of the city. That is important to us. The feeling that I have is that it is actually becoming the city乌鸦传媒檚 event. This is their event. It乌鸦传媒檚 really cool to see people rally behind that.乌鸦传媒�

The event concluded Monday with a volunteer appreciation night.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a huge part, an important part of our event,乌鸦传媒� said Merckx. 乌鸦传媒淲e want to be thankful to all the volunteers.乌鸦传媒�

Piccolofondo a hit with families

The Piccolofondo on Saturday attracted 300 kids.

乌鸦传媒淚t is a huge part of our weekend,乌鸦传媒� said Merckx, whose wife, Jodi, is behind organizing that event. 乌鸦传媒淚t brings a lot of enthusiasm, not only to the participants, but I think to the local community also. A lot of local families sign up their kids. It is a cool event to be part of.乌鸦传媒�

William Lemieux, nine, experienced glory on the hot day, winning his race.

乌鸦传媒淭he race was hard. It was just quite easy to win,乌鸦传媒� said William, part of a riding group in Calgary.

The Piccolofondo is free for kids 12 and under as they participate in a race as small as 400 metres up to five km in a loop past Okanagan Lake and around Gyro Park.

Apex Mountain Hill Climb

Between 40 and 50 cyclists rode the Passo Apex Hill Climb Race last Saturday, which is 12 km featuring an elevation of 861 m with an average gradient of 7.9 per cent. said it is worthy of the Tour de France. Merckx agreed it was a difficult climb.

乌鸦传媒淚 took my time. It was a nice ride up there. It乌鸦传媒檚 kind of a nice warm up for the fondo,乌鸦传媒� said Merckx. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 just looking to have a good time with some friends.乌鸦传媒�

Merckx, who competed in the Tour de France, said the climb reminded him of the famous L乌鸦传媒橝lpe d乌鸦传媒橦uez climb in France. Merckx said Apex Mountain road is pretty steep in the beginning, hard in the start, and it gets better towards the end.

乌鸦传媒淚t gets less steep towards the end of the climb,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 wider and less switchbacks. On the grade side, it really reminds me of that climb.乌鸦传媒�

sports@pentictonwesternnews.com
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