Be prepared to have your patience tested Sunday if you plan to head out on area roads.
Traffic will be blocked, rerouted or controlled in many places to accommodate the estimated 2,600 riders taking part in the Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan.
Road closures in the north end of Penticton will begin at 6 a.m. but should be lifted by 10:30 a.m. Other routes, like Skaha Lake Road and Main Street, will have partial closures and traffic control throughout the day.
In addition to the road closures in Penticton, there will also be bike traffic on Highway 97 and other routes throughout the South Okanagan.
The ride starts at 7 a.m. with a short trip out to Upper Bench Road, then back to Highway 97 north to Summerland. Following a loop through that community, riders will then head south on Eastside Road en route to Okanagan Falls and Oliver.
They’ll return to Penticton using the Fairview-White Lake Road before jumping back onto the highway near Kaleden.
There are two shorter circuits as well, so some riders will be away from the main pack. The last of the cyclists is expected to cross the finish line in downtown Penticton by 6 p.m.
Full traffic information is available on the Granfondo website.
