UCI Awards The 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships To Vancouver/Whistler

2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships take place on September 12, 2020 along the established RBC GranFondo Whistler course from Vancouver to Whistler

VANCOUVER – October 4, 2017 – Recently, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Management Committee awarded the 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships to Vancouver/Whistler at a meeting in Norway.

In partnership with RBC GranFondo Whistler, and hosting partners in Whistler, Sport Hosting Vancouver submitted a bid to transform the highly successful annual RBC GranFondo Whistler into a World Championships in 2020. This will be the first time the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will be hosted in North America.

“Building off the success of the established RBC GranFondo Whistler, this two year window in advance of hosting the 2020 World Championships gives us an unprecedented opportunity to market and promote to international cyclists who travel to Vancouver in 2020,” explained Michelle Collens, Senior Manager, Sport Hosting Vancouver.

Already being North America’s largest Gran Fondo event, the RBC GranFondo Whistler takes place annually on the second weekend of September since 2010. This ride offers beautiful landscapes and a clear, traffic-free passage over the picturesque Lions Gate Bridge followed by a challenging climb to the Mountain Resort of Whistler. The same events team has recently launched the RBC GranFondo Silicon Valley in California; this event is poised for even more success.

“Being awarded this distinction so far in advance sets us up for success and provides a pathway to build momentum to culminate the 2020 experience for all RBC GranFondo Whistler participants with UCI World Championship qualifiers.  We can’t wait to showcase the beauty of the Sea to Sky corridor and the splendor of our existing world class event,” said Neil McKinnon, Founder and Chief Enthusiast of the RBC GranFondo Whistler.

The 2017 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships took place in Albi, France from August 24-27, 2017 and supported over 2,900 riders at the event. The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships has seen a steady increase in participants since 2011. Albi 2017 saw most of its riders travel from the United Kingdom (911 cyclists), and Canada was represented by 69 cyclists.

The 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships take place on September 12, 2020 along the established course from Vancouver to Whistler.

About the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale)

Founded in 1900, in Paris (France), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms, for all people as a competitive sport, as a healthy recreational activity, as a means of transport, and also just for fun. (http://www.uci.ch)

About Sport Hosting Vancouver

Sport Hosting Vancouver is a partnership between the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association, Tourism Vancouver, the BC Pavilion Corporation (operating BC Place Stadium and the Convention Centre) and the University of British Columbia. We attract, develop, and support world-class sport events in Vancouver through great partnerships, enthusiastic guidance and an innovative approach.