Co-founder of the influential Symmetrics team, Kevin Cunningham, dies at 62
The cycling supporter and businessman passes after a long battle with cancer
Photo by:
Cunningham Family
Kevin Cunningham, one of Canada’s most important figures in the country’s professional cycling scene, died at 62 on June 28.
The Montreal-born businessman had been battling cancer since 2021. He leaves behind his wife Kelly and their two sons, Maxton and Rhett. Cunningham moved to British Columbia as a child with his parents, the late Shirley and Jack and his siblings, their late brother Gary, Mark, as well as sisters Judi and Lorraine, and Randy, Terri and Stephen.
Along with his brother Mark, Kevin Cunningham founded the Symmetrics cycling team, which revitalized the careers of riders such as Svein Tuft, Eric Wohlberg and Andrew Randell and launched the careers of riders like Cam Evans and Christian Meier.
Cunningham will be remembered for his spirit, his optimism and his love of cycling. He got into the sport by way of triathlon, and along with his brother Mark, began racing local races in British Columbia. After a few years, they both decided to start the Symmetrics team in 2003.
Collector’s item: The Symmetrics Pro Cycling Team comic book
The team became the talk of North American cycling in 2006, with Tuft, Randell, Andrew Pinfold and Wohlberg combining for seven wins, including Tuft’s national championship time trial title. In 2007, Symmetrics was incredibly dominant. In the UCI America Tour, the team won the individual rider title with Tuft and the overall team title. The team also won nine races overall including the elite and under-23 national road race titles. Tuft would win the Tour of Beauce and also place second at the professional world time trial championships, missing out on the win after a flat tire.
The team would keep going until 2008 and will always be considered one of Canada’s best professional cycling teams. Some of his riders like Tuft and Meier, would go on to race in the WorldTour, racing in the Tour de France.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation. As well, they have asked for anyone who knew Kevin to share their stories and pictures of Kevin as a keepsake for his family at Kudoboard.com
