New Venue, Routes, and Schedule released for 2026 Gravel Nats.

Jon Watkin
3 days ago
3 min read

Cowichan Valley, BC — Panache Cycling Sports is pleased to announce that the venue, routes, and full event schedule have been finalized for the 2026 Burnt Bridge Classic / Felt Canadian Gravel Championships, taking place Sunday, June 14 in the heart of the Cowichan Valley. The event will bring together Canada’s top gravel athletes, emerging talent, and recreational riders for a full day of championship‑calibre racing on Vancouver Island’s most iconic gravel terrain.

Cowichan Camp Confirmed as Official Venue

The 2026 Championships will be hosted at Cowichan Camp, a spacious, private outdoor venue located on Riverbottom Road West. The site offers a self‑contained event village, ample parking, onsite camping, indoor facilities for race operations, and direct access to the Burnt Bridge Classic gravel network—allowing riders to roll straight from the venue onto race‑ready terrain.

The venue’s open fields and natural amphitheatre layout provide excellent spectator viewing, a professional start/finish environment, and efficient flow for teams, media, and support crews.

New Championship Routes Through the Burnt Bridge Network

This year’s course design showcases the Cowichan Valley’s signature mix of fast forestry roads, punchy climbs, river‑side corridors, and rugged backcountry gravel. Three routes have been confirmed:

Elite / Masters A-B Championship Route – 123 km A demanding, selective course for Elite and Masters A-B Men/Women featuring long power climbs, technical gravel sectors, and decisive ridge‑line sections designed to crown the 2026 Canadian Gravel Champions.
Masters C-D / U19 Routes – 75 km A challenging but compressed route for U19 (Juniors) and Masters C-D that still provides racers with a balance of climbing, descending, and technical sections. competitive and recreational riders seeking a true Vancouver Island gravel experience.
U17 Route – 50 km An age appropriate route that still offers similar challenges to the other categories.
Ability Based Categories for Recreational Riders in the Open Fondo:

All routes start and finish at Cowichan Camp, minimizing transfers and maximizing rider safety.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Saturday June 13, 2026

10:00 am to 5:30 pm - Check in and race package pick-up
COWICHAN CAMP 5070 Riverbottom Rd W, Duncan, BC V9L 3X9

Sunday June 14, 2026

COWICHAN CAMP 5070 Riverbottom Rd W, Duncan, BC V9L 3X9
7:30am to 9:00 am - Check in and package pick-up
9:15 am - Greetings, Rider's Briefing
9:30 am - Championship Elite Men
9:31 am - Championship Elite Women
9:32 am - Championship U19
9:33 am - Championship U19
9:34 am - Championship Masters A (35-39/40-44)
9:35 am - Championship Masters B (45-49/50-54)
9:35 am - Championship Masters C (55-59/60-64), Masters D (65+)
9:36 am - Championship U17 Men / U17 Women
9:37 am - Championship Masters Women A/B/C/D
9:40 am - Open Esperto Fondo (Non Championship)
9:41 am - Open Intermedio Fondo (Non Championship)
9:42 am - Open Impulso Fondo (Non Championship)
11:00 am to 3:00 pm - Food Truck & Drinks
3:00 pm - Awards Presentations

A full technical guide, including route maps and GPX files, will be released to registered riders in the coming weeks.

A National‑Level Gravel Festival in the Cowichan Valley

The Burnt Bridge Classic has quickly become one of Western Canada’s premier gravel events. With the addition of the Felt Canadian Gravel Championships, the 2026 edition is expected to attract a deep elite field, national media attention, and strong community participation.

“The Cowichan Valley is one of the most dynamic gravel regions in the country, and this year’s venue and routes reflect that perfectly,” said event director Jon Watkin. “We’re excited to welcome riders from across Canada to experience this terrain at its absolute best.”

Registration

Registration is open now at bcgravelseries.com/burntbridgeclassic. Early registration is strongly encouraged due to field‑size limits for championship categories.