At least 10 cyclists rescued during race from brutal weather in B.C. Kootenays
Heavy rainfall during a treacherous bike race resulted Fernie Search and Rescue saving at least 10 cyclists over the past 72 hours.
“We slightly lost count, but I think it would be between 10 to 15,” said Fernie Search and Rescue leader Simon Piney.
The Tour Divide is a gruelling 4,300 kilometre cycling race that runs from Banff to the Mexican border along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
It started last Friday with cyclists trekking their way through rough weather conditions in Alberta and then through heavy rainfall and even snow at higher elevations in the Kootenays.
“People in various stages of hypothermia, which is obviously a life-threatening condition and we don’t have a lot of time to get people out there,” said Piney. “We had a few people fall off their bikes, a couple who sustained head injuries.”
Piney told CTV News the conditions for the race were the worst he’s seen them in the past 15 years. Some of the rescues, he said, required difficult helicopter extractions.
The race doesn’t require a formal registration and it’s unclear who operates the event, which appears to be co-ordinated by a grassroots group of cycling enthusiasts. Piney says the lack of organization with the race led to communication issues.
“We’re happy to help but there’s a bit of a feeling that at least at the organization level, there could have been more co-ordination to prevent that significant drain on our resources,” said Piney.
The Fernie area saw approximately 80 millimetres of rain in two days resulting in flooding concerns along the Elk River. Approximately 200 cyclists from all over the world are taking part in the race.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.