7 days ago
A year after massive water main break, Tour de Bowness celebrates Heritage Day with a bike race
Participants in the 2025 Tour de Bowness wait for the starting gun Sunday.
Bowness was thick with bicycles Monday, as the Tour de Bowness rolled through the community to an exciting conclusion.
It's the 22nd edition of the popular event, which combines high level competitive cycling with a community festival.
Tour de Bowness race director Bob Grunewald, who also runs Bow Cycle says it takes a lot to organize the event, which drew 202 participants from as far away as Yukon and Germany, but that it's worth it.
'It's a lot of work, but it's an absolute blast watching the racers, getting a reason for all these people to come out and watch some awesome bike racing,' Grunewald said. 'It's pretty, pretty happy for me.'
Bob Grunewald, Tour de Bowness
Race director Bob Grunewald helped organize the 22nd Tour de Bowness, which ended Monday.
(Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary)
The participants compete on a one-kilometre circuit that features seven sharp turns through Bowness. It's the largest amateur cycling event in the province.
The three-day event which concludes at 5 p.m. Monday, also features a community street festival featuring food, artisanal vendors, street performers and a live music stage.
'We've got over 100 vendors,' said Kelly Freeman, executive director of the Mainstreet Bowness Business Improvement Area (BIA) .
'We've got our Zoomy Zone face painters, balloon artists, live music, and, of course, our epic races.'
Kelly Freeman, Tour de Bowness
Kelly Freeman, executive director of Mainstreet Bowness BIA, spoke about the Tour de Bowness, which ended Monday.
(Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary)
One year ago, Bowness was hit by a massive water main break but Freeman said that challenge didn't dampen enthusiasm for the Tour de Bowness.
'It's amazing how resilient Bowness is,' Freeman said. 'So last year we did have our Tour de Bowness, and it was like that (water main break) didn't even happen.'
Tour de Bowness, Aug. 4, 2025
The Tour de Bowness concluded Sunday afternoon.
(Tyler Barrow, CTV Calgary)
'Everybody came out, they supported they we had over 4,000 people come out last year, and we're hoping for five to 7,000 this year.'
For more about Tour de Bowness, go here.
With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
