As we’ve reported already this week, Sunday’s Canadian gravel championships were cancelled mid-race due to heat, and the effect of that heat on riders.
Temperatures were hot. A daily heat record was set for the nearby town of Duncan, which hit 33.9 C. On the nationals course itself, conditions were even hotter.
Jon Watkin, the race director of Burnt Bridge Gravel Fondo and an organizer with 25 years of experience hosting regional and national events, has followed up his initial statment explaining the decision to cancell racing with a new statement providing additional details about the conditions on course leading up to the decision to cancel racing.
Conversations online and in comments sections have become quite heated. Both questioning the way in which the decision was carried out and the perparation leading into the event. Since Watkin is is citing “disinformation and misguided rhetoric posted online” that has “mischaracterized what happened,” we are going to publish his statement in full. You can read that below.
We have reached out to Watkin for comment. He has declined to comment beyond his statement at this time.
Statment on cancellation of Canadian Gravel Championships:
Since releasing our original statement on the unfortunate cancellation of the Canadian Gravel Championships, we were heartbroken to see disinformation and misguided rhetoric posted online that completely mischaracterized what happened and how the extremely difficult decision was reached. It is important to us that people take time to get the facts before reaching their respective conclusions.
The event team spent the entire week preparing for a forecast of 28-30°C, following all UCI Extreme Weather Protocol requirements. Prior to race day, we made every effort to notify and warn participants through email communications as well as the riders/managers meeting on June 13. In that meeting (which was in person and available to watch online), we clearly communicated that high temps of up to 30°C were expected on race day and that participants plan accordingly. Safety protocols were also communicated which included how to handle any emergency situation, locations of radio relay points/medical/food stations/on the course, and explaining the emergency evacuation protocol for fire/heat/air quality. A 1:30pm mandatory cutoff mid way at aid station 2 / course lap junction was also highlighted and explained. Further Details of the bottle drop were provided that allowed Championship racers to arrange to have their own feed bag/bottles dropped off on race day early morning and taken to any of the aid stations for them to access. From that point, we were comfortable that the event could proceed as planned.
However, race‑day conditions rose far beyond what we and the majority of racers predicted. While regional and start/finish air temperatures reached 35°C, riders were experiencing recorded peak temperatures near 40°C on the steepest and exposed parts of the course where the radiant heat was almost unbearable. Water stations were depleting quickly from participants of all ability levels underestimating their respective consumption rates and were experiencing obvious heat‑related distress. Medical teams reached capacity while responding to multiple incidents and could no longer guarantee safe response times in the very remote areas of the course. Numerous calls for numerous racers requiring pick up and transportation mid-race reached a critical point, adding a new risk situation where introducing more vehicles on course would pose a further risk to racers, especially on the steep downhill gravel sections.
The event team reviewed conditions against UCI Extreme Weather Protocol criteria where on course measurements and medical reports confirmed air temperatures ≥ 35°C, heat‑related medical cases were rising, medical teams were overloaded, response times were delayed, and water supplies were depleting faster than expected.
These conditions met the threshold requiring race cancellation. The collective decision was made to cancel the event in the interest of rider safety. Radio operators activated the emergency evacuation protocol and instructed riders to return to the start/finish via the shortest route. A coordinated pickup caravan was deployed to retrieve riders who were unable to return on their own due to heat distress.
At the end of the day, the decision to cancel was the only responsible choice. When temperatures spiked far beyond all forecasts and the majority of riders of every ability level began experiencing heat‑related distress, our duty was clear……protect the athletes. We stand by that decision wholeheartedly.
Panache Cycling Sports has always taken pride in an impeccable safety record, built over years of careful planning, professional standards, and respect for every rider who lines up at our events. That commitment guided us here as well.
We are deeply disappointed that we could not properly recognize on race day the incredible effort and dedication so many athletes brought to this championship. No one is more devastated than we are. But your safety will always come before results, podiums, or expectations and that is a principle we will never compromise.
Jon Watkin
President and CEO
Panache Cycling Sports Ltd.