2025 Dirty Pecan, Monticello FL, March 1st!
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Record number of cyclists will ride in this year’s RBC GranFondo Whistler

A record number of cyclists will ride in this year’s RBC GranFondo Whistler, and most of them are new to the sport

Jennifer Hawkrigg has won several medals as a member of Canada’s national snowboard team. Yet it’s a new sport – road cycling – that has captured her heart

Beijing 2022 Olympian Jennifer Hawkrigg (Snowboard) is one of thousands of ‘pandemic cyclists’ participating in the 2022 RBC GranFondo Whistler.

Beijing 2022 Olympian Jennifer Hawkrigg (Snowboard) is one of thousands of ‘pandemic cyclists’ participating in the September 10 RBC GranFondo Whistler. The sport’s recent surge in popularity has resulted in a record number of riders registered

“I had actually never been on a road bike prior to the pandemic,” said Hawkrigg, who competes in Parallel Giant Slalom snowboard racing and was a member of Team Canada at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. “In 2020 our World Cup season was cancelled, and I was so bored with indoor workouts, so one day I grabbed my Mom’s old road bike, went for a long ride, and totally fell in love.”

Hawkrigg is not alone. On September 10, Hawkrigg will be one of thousands of new cyclists participating in their first-ever RBC GranFondo Whistler, a group cycling event and festival that is the largest of its kind in North America.

“There was a definite surge in cycling interest during the pandemic, and we’re definitely seeing that play out in our registration numbers,” said RBC GranFondo founder Neil McKinnon. “It’s amazing – in 2019, the last time we held the event, we had 4,500 riders. This year we already have 6,500 registered (and counting), which is more than we’ve ever had. And 40% of them took up the sport during the pandemic.”

Despite the large number of cyclists who will be participating in their first large group ride, McKinnon isn’t concerned about the logistics of moving so many riders from Stanley Park to Whistler Village within a mater of hours (the fastest event time recorded is three hours, 14 minutes).

“There are no cars for riders to navigate, and we have three distance categories (the 55km “Medio”, the 122km “Gran Fondo”, and 152km “Forte”),” said McKinnon. “We also have comprehensive nutrition, medical and mechanical support, and the spirit of a GranFondo is very supportive and collegial.”

The festival atmosphere starts with VeloSpoke – an international destination expo on September 9, and a post-ride party in Whistler’s Olympic Plaza.

“This will be my very first organized cycling event, and I’m really excited to experience so many participants with a shared love of cycling and the energy of riding with such a large group,” said Hawkrigg, “I’ve spent a lot of time on the snow at Whistler, but riding into that atmosphere at the village is a bucket list item for sure.”

Hawkrigg will be riding in the event with fellow Olympians John Smythe (Field Hockey, Tokyo 2020), and Darren Gardner (Snowboard, PyeongChang 2018) at the event, both of whom also started cycling more seriously during the pandemic. All three are part of the RBC Olympians program.

“We’re so excited to welcome so many new cyclists into our family, from Olympians in other sports to people who simply found our sport during lockdowns and got a taste of the freedom,” said McKinnon. “Now they can also experience its great social power.”

More than 30% of the 2022 RBC GranFondo participants are from outside BC, and a total of 25 countries will be represented.

For more information, and to register before close on September 7, visit rbcgranfondo.com/whistler

 
Tag: rbcgranfondo
 
Sep 30 2024 - NEWS: Gran Fondo Guide on Tour: Riding the Stunning Sea to the Sky Highway
Sep 19 2024 - NEWS: RBC GranFondo Whistler Celebrates a Record-Breaking 15th Anniversary Event
Aug 30 2024 - NEWS: We’re off to ride RBC GranFondo Whistler
Jun 25 2024 - NEWS: Tour de France Special Offer: SAVE $25 on RBC GranFondo Whistler Registration Fees!
Jul 09 2024 - NEWS: Save the date, RBC GranFondo Whistler are going to Mexico!
Jun 26 2024 - NEWS: WHO put those hay bales there?! The story of XFondo Whistler 2024
Jun 21 2024 - NEWS: RBC GranFondo Whistler announces YWCA’s Gear Up program as new official charity partner
Jun 12 2024 - NEWS: Introducing the new GranFondo Riviera Nayarit in Mexico
Jun 12 2024 - NEWS: Velospoke Expo Returns to Kick Off RBC GranFondo Whistler Weekend
Mar 21 2024 - NEWS: WIN the 7mesh/Landyachtz/XFondo ultimate giveaway!
Oct 16 2023 - NEWS: XFondo returns! 2024 Event date News Revealed
Oct 30 2023 - NEWS: 2023 RBC GranFondo Whistler Receives Rave Reviews
Aug 28 2023 - NEWS: Four-time Olympian eyeing up RBC GranFondo Whistler challenge this September
Aug 25 2023 - NEWS: Tips on riding a Gran Fondo from Olympian Darren Gardner
Aug 16 2023 - NEWS: Less than a month to go! The thrilling ride of RBC GranFondo Whistler: a cycling extravaganza you don’t want to miss
Sep 11 2016 - RESULTS: Gran Fondo Whistler: Around 4,500 cyclists participated in this years big ride up the Sea to Sky
Apr 05 2025 - EVENT: GranFondo Riviera Nayarit
 
Tag: xfondo
 
Jun 26 2024 - NEWS: WHO put those hay bales there?! The story of XFondo Whistler 2024
Mar 21 2024 - NEWS: WIN the 7mesh/Landyachtz/XFondo ultimate giveaway!
Oct 16 2023 - NEWS: XFondo returns! 2024 Event date News Revealed
Jun 22 2023 - NEWS: Let It Be XFONDO Saturday Forever
Mar 24 2023 - NEWS: Is this the West Coast’s coolest event?
Sep 01 2022 - NEWS: A record number of cyclists will ride in this year’s RBC GranFondo Whistler
Jun 04 2022 - NEWS: Handful of places left for XFONDO Whistler on June 18th
Jun 14 2025 - EVENT: XFONDO Whistler