Over 1,000 cyclists celebrate at the 8th Bluewater International Gran Fondo

Cyclists rode along the shores of Lake Huron in Sarnia, Ontario at the Sold-Out 8th Annual edition raising money for Palliative Care.

The annual big ride which raises funds for palliative care begins and ends at Mike Weir Park in Sarnia’s Bright’s Grove.

“We had 1,020 registered,” said chairperson Ken MacAlpine, “and we were turning people away.”

The event, which has routes ranging from 30 km to 150 km, began in 2016. It missed one year during the pandemic but has been held annually, otherwise.

MacAlpine said that to go from the Granfondo’s humble beginnings, where they wondered if they could get 100 people to attend, to what it has become “is really amazing.”

Groups of cyclists began leaving the starting line along Lake Huron at 7 a.m. Sunday and after the rides everyone gathered with music, food and beverages back in the park later that day.

“We had a new band this year, Shelly Rastin,” MacAlpine said. “We went for a bit of a country flavour.”

Over 1,000 cyclists celebrate at the 8th Bluewater International Gran Fondo

The Bluewater Granfondo includes timed sections but not start and finishing times found in traditional racing formats. That allows cyclists to take their time between timed sections, stop at fuel stations along the route and enjoy the ride.

Entries were equally split between local cyclists and those from outside of Lambton County, MacAlpine said, “We had more out-of-town riders this year than we’ve ever had before.”

"There's a large contingent from London as well as Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area," he said. "We have people from Windsor, Chatham, Stratford, as far as Sault St. Marie, Ottawa and all across Canada."

There were roughly 100 riders in the 150-km event, 400 in the 100-km, 400 in the 50-km and 120 in the 30-km event, MacAlpine stated.

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MacAlpine credits its popularity on the event’s organization and the “value for money” it gives participants, “With the sponsors and volunteers we have, we can give them exceptionally good value and still have money left over to give to our charities,” he said.

More than $450,000 has been raised to support a conference for palliative care staff, St. Joseph’s Hospice Sarnia-Lambton and palliative care at Bluewater Health.

Donations have gone to other local charities from the proceeds of additional events the group holds during the year, including a Slow Roll and a gravel road ride held earlier this year.

As for the annual Gran Fondo, “we could get bigger but we don’t want to,” MacAlpine said.

Along with safety considerations, a larger event would put additional stress on its 220 volunteers, he said.

“We know how to manage 1,000 comfortably,” MacAlpine said.

B.I.G.was proud to continue to host the Ontario First Responder Road Cycling Championships (Fire - Police - EMS). Their ride consisted of B.I.G.’s 100km route with three timed sections which was raced to determine the fastest male and female crowned champion.

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Photo: Sarnia Fire Fighters @sarniafirefighters

In the 150km Bluewater Gran Fondo, Chris Caruana was fastest over the 4 timed sections in a time of 40:32, with Chris Zhang was second (40:39), with Nicholas Dwyer in third place (42.06).

Chris Caruana said afterwards, "This is the kind of event that makes cycling fun again! It's great to have something for everyone! Cycling is so much more than a race or group ride, this event show cases perfectly exactly what cycling is all about! Don't believe me, come check it out for yourself! It was a highlight in my cycling calendar and I'm sure it will be in yours too!"

In the women’s category, Anna Staruszkiewicz was fastest in a time of 43:04, ahead of Tammy McCormick in second place (54:16), with Cheryl Parsons in third place (56:42).

In the Lambton 100km Medio Fondo, Henry Maas was fastest overall in a time of 28:43, and Laura Drope was fastest in the women’s category in a time of 30:59.

In the Sarnia 50km Piccolo Fondo, Taylor Wales was fastest in a time of 13:14 and Lori Caruso-MacKinnon was fastest in the women’s category in a time of 14:11

In the First Responder Championship, Todd Hoover was fastest in a time of 29:14 ahead of Scott Moore (33:32) in second place, with Timothy Vancowenberg in third place (34:00).

In the First Responder Championship women’s category, Soo Owens was fastest in a time of 36:06, ahead of Dani Girard (37:31) in second place and Carley Warner in third place (38:09).

Link to 2024 Bluewater International Gran Fondo results: https://www.timingshack.ca/20240804-bigf

“We had a new band this year, Shelly Rastin,” MacAlpine said. “We went for a bit of a country flavour.”