The Vancouver to Whistler GranFondo bike ride is 122 kilometers of winding, rolling road, complete with 1,700 meters of climbing. Last Saturday more than four thousand cyclists turned out for the 6:45am start of the big ride.
Most were there for the personal challenge. Some for the pleasure of cycling the Sea To Sky Highway while a lane was reserved just for bikes. Others were more competitive, and riding in formal racing teams.
MEC staff fielded 41 regular GranFondo riders, including one keener who flew in from London, Ontario to participate. We also had a nine-member racing crew, dubbed Team Quad Squad for the hyper-developed leg muscles they grew from all their pre-Fondo training.
For training all our riders, MEC had a secret weapon on staff in the form of Stania Juriga, an experienced road racer. She provided a steady stream of motivational emails and training tips. Passing on some of her passion was extremely fulfilling, “If I can get just one person to believe in spandex, skinny tires, and drop handles, my life is complete.”
For MEC rider Melissa Purich, it was about the camaraderie. She’d switched from marathoning to road racing after some leg problems. “At first, I wasn’t having much fun, always out there by myself. But then as more people signed up for the team, training became this incredible group experience, all of us going through – and getting through – this shared challenge.”
On GranFondo day, the cyclists enjoyed perfect weather, with the rising sun bathing them in a golden light as they crossed the Lions Gate bridge.
Just under three and a half hours after the start, the first riders began to cross the finish line in Whistler. Racer John Irvine of Team Quad Squad burned 4,500 calories hammering in his 3:35:38 time. Fortunately, steins of a barley-based replenishment formula were available not far from the finish line.
Team Quad Squad did impressively well, coming fourth, one rider away from a place on the podium. We’re proud of them and all our riders. And we’re already plotting for next time.
Click to view slideshow.Filed under: Activities, Cycling, Events
