Submitted by the Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Club

Summer is rapidly approaching and so is the June 30 Early Bird Deadline for the 2014 edition of the Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo.

Early Bird registrants will receive a substantial discount for the event, which drew rave reviews when it was first staged in September 2013.

“We’re expecting to exceed the 271 that registered last year and made it such a great success,” says Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary member Glenn Dobie, committee chairman organizer for the Sept. 7 event. To date, registration is running ahead of last year and the total registration will be capped at 500 cyclists.

Taylor and Adams Chartered Professional Accountants will be the title corporate sponsor for the event, which attracted riders last year from across the Kootenays as well as the Okanagan, Vancouver, Alberta and Washington State.

Cyclists who register before the 11:59 p.m. Early Bird June 30 deadline will also have a chance to win one of two free flights from Cranbrook to Vancouver or Kelowna being offered by Fondo sponsor, Pacific Coastal Airlines. The final deadline for the event is 11:59 p.m. Aug. 31 and entrants can register on-line at: www.krgf.ca.

Three changes have been made to this year’s edition of the Gran Fondo to make it even more appealing.

All three routes will run through Kimberley’s historic Platzl. A Team Spirit Award sponsored by the Heid Out for the Best Dressed and Most Enthusiastic Team and the Pedal and Tap Restaurant in Kimberley is sponsoring the King and Queen of the Mountain Award. Everyone should check out the Tamarack Centre Gran Fondo display during the month of June and enter their name to win a Bike courtesy of the Tamarack Centre and Gericks Sports.

The Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Club is very appreciative for the local businesses support from both Cranbrook and Kimberley.

All cyclist registration fees after expenses will go towards supporting the North Star Rails to Trails and the Highway 3 beautification  ‘Paint The Train’ projects.

Last year’s Gran Fondo enabled the Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Club to make a $4,000 donation for maintenance work on the Kimberley-Cranbrook Rails to Trails route. This year’s edition of the Gran Fondo is expected to raise even more funds to enhance our local community.

The family-orientated event features three distances of 57 km (Piccolo), 102 km (Medio) and 152 km (Gran). All three routes begin and end at the St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino and there will be prizes, musical entertainment and a buffet dinner for all participants.

ABOVE PHOTO: Mathilde Klassen, from Nelson, will celebrate her 90th birthday along with her seven children and five grandchildren cycling in the second Annual Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo on September 7 in Cranbrook. Mathilde will be participating in the Piccolo Course (57 km) and would become the oldest person to participate in a Gran Fondo organized event worldwide. Organizers will be applying to the Guinness World Book Of Records to include this amazing accomplishment. Mathilde road across Canada at 69 years of age and continues to lead an active life. Cyclists are encouraged to ride with Mathilde by registering at www.krgf.ca.

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