Canadians McBride and Britton Take the Pot in the First TransRockies Gravel Royale

August 26, 2022

The Four-day off-pavement bike race Finished in Fernie, BC

Panorama, B.C. (August 26, 2022) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – TransRockies Race Series just completed a successful inaugural TransRockies Gravel Royale presented by Felt gravel stage race. The event brought 200 athletes from eight countries and 22 states/provinces with all different riding experience and abilities to enjoy the Kootenay Mountains on two-wheels.

The course created by the TrainsRockies team contained a large variety of terrain from pavement to technical singletrack. In total, the full four-day course covered 400 km (200 miles) and around 7,500 m (25,000 ft) of climbing. The routes were 84% gravel road, 10% pavement, 5% doubletrack and 1% singletrack.

After kicking off at Panorama Mountain Resort the course took athletes on remote logging roads, over steep mountain passes, by clear blue rivers and fun fast gravel. The other host communities Nipika Mountain Resort, Village of Canal Flats and the Town of Fernie were very inviting and a great backdrop for this one-of-a-kind gravel event.

“This was my first gravel stage race and the group from TransRockies did a heck of a job taking care of us. Done and dusted and happy to get a win at this race and my first win as a gravel pro.” Rob Britton, overall winner for the men’s division.

“This race is definitely unlike anything else I have experienced in gravel racing so far. The courses, the multi day aspect and the tent camping, it really all has been a fantastic experience and so fun to be surrounded by the gravel community all week.” Rach McBride, overall winner for the women’s division.

Women’s Division –

1st: Rach McBride, of Vancouver, British Columbia, with a time of 14:20:47

2nd: Lauren Cantwell, of Reno, Nevada, with a time of 15:13:11

3rd: Lindsay Glassford, of Panorama, British Columbia, with a time of 15:37:41

Men’s Division –

1st: Rob Britton, of Victoria, British Columbia, with a time of 12:05:38

2nd: Caleb Swartz, of Missoula, Montana, with a time of 12:14:45

3rd: Josiah Middaugh, of Vail, Colorado, with a time of 12:17:53

The TransRockies Race Series team will be back here in Fernie in a week for the start of Singletrack 6 running from Sept. 6 – 11.

For more on Gravel Royale follow along on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

For any additional information, please visit transrockiesgravelroyale.com.

It has been nearly 20 years since the first TransRockies Challenge mountain bike stage race first rolled out of Fernie, BC for an epic 7-day adventure taking riders over the Canadian Rockies to finish in Canmore, Alberta, helping to kick start the global mountain bike stage racing craze and the face of cycling in the Rockies. TransRockies Gravel Royale is the latest event produced by the company that brings endurance athletes the TransRockies Run and Singletrack 6, among others iconic events.

About TransRockies Race Series

The TransRockies Race Series operates 10 events over 32 days annually in the Western U.S. and Canada. Specializing in multi-day and endurance cycling and running events, TransRockies serves over 3,500 participants annually. The organization has operated over 200 days of stage racing since it was founded in 2002.