Emma Boggio and Graeme Hill Take Victory at the 2026 Cowichan Crusher
Riders were greeted by a crisp but beautifully clear Sunday morning as the 2026 Cowichan Crusher Gravel Fondo got underway in Mesachie Lake. Although the early hours carried a chill, the temperature rose quickly as the sun climbed above the surrounding mountains, setting the stage for fast racing across all distances.
Mesachie Lake, BC — June 2026: The day began at 7:00 a.m. with the start of the Fondo Plus (150 km), followed by the Full Fondo, Medio, and Piccolo categories. With this year’s venue change, the opening sections of every course were completely redesigned — including an all-new 25 km Beginner route. Rider feedback across all distances was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the smooth surfaces, scenic forest sections, and well-marked routes.
At the finish, riders gathered in the lakeside park to enjoy warm pizza, cold drinks, and a relaxed post-race atmosphere — a perfect end to a spectacular day of gravel racing on Vancouver Island.
The Cowichan Crusher is the first stop in the BC Triple Crown of Gravel series. Next up is the 11th Annual Kettle Mettle Dirty Fondo in Princeton, where riders can save $30 on registration using promo code GFG-KM30.
FONDO PLUS (150 km)
Graeme Hill powers away for a commanding win.
The longest and most demanding event of the day set off at 7:00 a.m., and it didn’t take long for the front group to splinter on the early climbs. Graeme Hill rode with patience through the opening third before launching a decisive move on the long gravel ascent past Cowichan Lake.
From there, Hill rode solo for nearly 90 km, extending his advantage all the way to the line to take a dominant victory in 5:12:33.
Behind him, Loic Meier and Brian Hendry battled for the remaining podium spots, with Meier pulling clear in the final hour to secure second.
2026 Cowichan Crusher – Fondo Plus
10, Jason Simmons, Chilliwack BC, 7:03:23, +1:50:50
FONDO (100 km)
Logan Wiebe attacks early and never looks back.
The men’s Fondo saw fireworks from the gun. Logan Wiebe surged clear on the first major climb, forcing a selection that only a handful of riders could follow. By the halfway point, Wiebe was alone — and he stayed that way.
His winning time of 2:45:40 was unmatched, with the chase group unable to close the gap despite working together through the rolling mid-race terrain.
In the women’s race, Emma Boggio delivered one of the standout performances of the day. After a steady opening, she surged on the long gravel climb past Bear Creek, distancing her rivals and riding solo to the finish in 2:53:47.
MEDIO (60 km)
Charles Hervieux takes control on the climbs; Ferneyhough unstoppable
The Medio men’s race stayed together through the opening flat kilometres before the first major climb shattered the field. Charles Hervieux pushed the pace, cresting the climb with a small gap and extending it through the fast gravel descents. He held strong to the line, taking the win in 1:43:38.
In the women’s race, Jennifer Ferneyhough rode a perfectly paced effort. After shadowing the early leaders, she surged clear on the mid-race climb and never looked back, finishing in 2:03:29.
PICCOLO (25 km)
Fast and furious: Patrick Jadan and Catherine Sayers sprint to victory.
The Piccolo race delivered the day’s fastest action. Patrick Jadan lit up the opening climb, breaking clear with a small group before attacking again in the final kilometres to take the win in 36:06.
In the women’s race, Catherine Sayers set a blistering pace from the start, riding away from the field and finishing in 36:20, one of the fastest times ever recorded on the Piccolo course.
2026 Cowichan Crusher Photo Gallery
