ROAD CLOSURES

Merritt Crown Bike Race

June 15, 2024
Coutlee Plateau |  Merritt & Thompson Nicola Valley
access via 4.8 km up Midday Valley Road

The annual Merritt Crown XC Bike race offers three races on the mountains surrounding Merritt, in the Thompson Nicola Valley Regional District. The full crown is a 120 km bike race at 3,000 elevation. The half crown is 60 km at 1,500 elevation. The 2p/4p relay race is 30-40km at 750 metres elevation.  While the majority of the race is along trails in the mountains and grasslands surrounding Merritt, there are a few locations where the race intersects Merritt’s road network.

1. From 31.5 KM to 41.5 KM riders are riding along the road starting on Hamilton Hill Road, turning onto Princeton CutoN Road and crossing the Princeton-Kamloops highway just before 38 KM. This stretch has an aid station before it, and riders will be reminded about road safety.
2. At 54 KM riders will ride along a short stretch of Lundbom Lake Access Road (also preceded by an aid station for warning). They will cross another short section of service road from 58 KM – 60 KM
3. At 70 KM riders will ride along Nicola CutoN Road until 79 KM, at which point they will take a left turn around 80 KM and ride alongside the Kamloops-Merritt Highway 5A, crossing the Coquihalla at 88 KM and then entering the Tom Lacey Trail at 89 KM
4. At 95 KM riders will ride along Nicola Avenue for 1 KM before taking a right to cut through town and connect with Lindley Creek Road which they will be on for ~10 KM.

The Yellow Markers in the map below show where the riders will be using or crossing the roads.