February News

Do you know any young cyclists who are looking to improve? The @axelmerckx youth #cycling series kicks off this year!

The Axel Merckx Youth Development Foundation is pleased to present its inaugural Youth Cycling Series for the 2012 season. This collection of events will allow the region’s promising 12 to 17 year old cyclists to race under a structured learning environment, while competing directly with their peers. Each event will include coaching seminars, athlete development lectures, and of course, age-group category races. The goal is to develop and steward the future of Canada’s young cyclists.

Link: http://amydf.org/

The Kelowna Apple Triathlon has been voted Western Canada's Number One Triathlon.

Link: http://www.am1150.ca/News/Sports/Local/Story.aspx?ID=1649739

Link: http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/70454/Apple-named-top-triathlon

The B.C. Cycling Coalition won Vancouver School Board support for a province-wide proposal to teach bicycle safety and education to youth.

Link: http://www.vancourier.com/Vancouver+School+Board+backs+province+wide+cycling+education/6121199/story.html

B.C.’s environment minister has rejected an appeal by the Okanagan Nation Alliance to reconsider withdrawing provincial support for a national park, at least for now.

Link: http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/138894324.html

Cyclist critical after collision with truck
A 62-year-old Kelowna man is in stable but critical condition after being knocked off of his bicycle early Thursday morning on Harvey Avenue.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-71112-1-.htm#71112

2012 Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan: Only North American Granfondo on the UCI World Cycling Tour

The 2012 Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan (VFGFAMO) has joined the UCI World Cycling Tour as its only North American stop. This new twist in the Granfondo category allows those riders who want to push their competitive limits to do so, and qualify for the chance to race at the UCI World Tour Final in South Africa – and possibly earn a UCI rainbow jersey!

Link: http://www.granfondoaxelmerckx.com/2012-valley-first-granfondo-axel-merckx-okanagan.php

Penticton expands park on Skaha Lake
Skaha Park is about to expand as City crews prepare to begin construction on a new park area.

Link:http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/139521953.html

You're never too old....

A 100-year-old cyclist from France has set a new age group world record for The Hour an incredible 86 years after his first competitive race.

Link: http://road.cc/content/news/52765-french-cyclist-breaks-age-group-record-hour-three-months-after-his-100th-birthday

For the last five years I have decided not to go for rides of more than 100km,” he went on, adding with supreme understatement, “There is no point going overboard. I want to keep cycling for some time yet.”

GranFondo pumps $650,000 into Squamish
Squamish has been known for some time as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada and now the organizers of the GranFondo Whistler have given the town an additional new title.

According to GranFondo co-founder Kevin Thomson, Squamish is the GranFondo Training Capital of North America.

Link: http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/granfondo-pumps-650000-into-squamish/Content?oid=2285173

Motorized and non-motorized groups aren’t exactly ready to hug it out, but a working group on trails in the regional district are bringing them closer to it.

Link: http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/139483328.html

Deceased cyclist unprepared
Kelowna RCMP say the death of a 62-year-old cyclist, while tragic, should serve as a warning to other cyclists.

Link: http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/71375/Deceased-cyclist-unprepared