Canadian Gravel Championships Descend Into Chaos After Mid-Race Cancellation

June 15, 2026

The 2026 Canadian Gravel Championships in Duncan, British Columbia ended in controversy on Sunday 14 June 2026 after organizers cancelled the championship races amid extreme heat concerns, leaving riders, teams and supporters frustrated over the handling of the event.

The championships were scheduled as part of the Burnt Bridge Classic Gravel Fondo in the Cowichan Valley on southern Vancouver Island. The event attracted elite and amateur gravel racers from across Canada for what was expected to be the country’s premier off-road national championship weekend.

Temperatures reportedly climbed as high as 40C, according to organizers, with concerns raised about rider safety on the exposed gravel roads and remote forest sectors. The Meteorological Service of Canada reported a record high of 34C near the start-finish venue. Organizers ultimately stopped the race before national titles were officially decided, but after some results were briefly posted on Webscorer.com — then pulled — confusing competitors. GRAN FONDO DAILY