Rider Info

The RBC GranFondo Whistler GranFondo will start in downtown Vancouver at the corner of Georgia Street and Burrard. Georgia Street will be closed for our staging area from Thurlow to Seymour from very early in the morning. The start chute opens at 5:30am and all riders are expected to be in position in the start corral by 6:45am. Ride starts at 7:00am sharp.

Riders will travel west on Georgia, through the Stanley Park Causeway, over the Lions Gate Bridge and up Taylor Way to get onto the Upper Levels Trans-Canada Highway with a right of way at all intersections. The journey then begins.

Rider Guide

A Rider Guide will be compiled to help out riders prepare for the 2012 RBC GranFondo Whistler. The guide will be packed with course information, a Schedule of Events, a route map and more.

Rider Number

All riders are asked to bring their Rider Number with them to Package Pickup to expedite their service. Please check back in the future for the 2012 Rider Number List.

Start Location - Medio

The following is an outline of how the Medio will start on event day:

• 8:30am - Start Corral OPENS
• 9:15am - Bag Check CLOSES
• 9:15am - All Riders in the Start Corral
• 9:30am - Medio Start

The Medio Start will be at Garibaldi Way at Highway 99 in Squamish. The Medio Start is not an aid station, however water and mechanical assistance will be available. The third aid station for RBC GranFondo Whistler will be located at the Alice Lake Chain up north of Squamish.

Complimentary Bag Check service is available at the Medio Start and Medio riders can pick up their Rider Packages at the main Package Pickup or at the Medio Start. All riders must be wearing their bike plates and wristbands before starting the event.

Start/Seeding Order for RBC GranFondo Whistler

The start corrals opens at 5:30am. Giro racers will be leaving at 6:40am and are asked to be at the start line no later than 6:30am.

All GranFondo riders are expected to be in position in the start chute before 6:45am. Ride starts at 7:00am sharp after the national anthem. All riders will be in a controlled start for the first several kilometres so remember to simply sit tight, settle-in and enjoy the escort out of downtown Vancouver.

Riders are asked to self-select an appropriate starting position within the start corrals. With thousands of riders, finding the right spot that best matches your fitness level, riding confidence and anticipated finish time is important for a smooth start for everyone. 

The first corral will be for the Giro Race for licensed riders only. The second corral is for our Alta Classe Riders. Each successive corral after that will be based on estimated finish time. Your time is based on total amount of time you are on the course. Riders should take into account estimated stop times at aid stations. Newcomers who are simply looking to complete the event should be positioned in the final corral. 

Remember, your official ride time only starts when you cross the start line so it doesn’t matter how far back you start.

Cut Off Times

GranFondo Canada has worked with the BC Ministry of Transportation and communities along the route to provide riders with a dedicated lane width from the start to the finish. To take advantage of the dedicated lane (adjusted for the last rider crossing the start line) riders will need to be clear of these locations by the following times:

Riders able to maintain an average speed above 25 km/h (including rest stops) will have no planned stoppages for the duration of the route (please be aware that emergency situations will have priority over the event, of course).

Riders able to maintain an average speed between 15 km/h and 25 km/h (including rest stops) will also have no planned stoppages, but there may be instances where traffic control flaggers or police will pause riders briefly to relieve backed up traffic.

Riders must maintain an average speed of 15 km/h (including rest stops) in order to stay within the event. If you are travelling below the 15 km/h average speed, you will at some point be passed by the “Fine Gara” or “End of Ride” vehicle (pronounced “finni garra”). This vehicle will be the first of the Sweep Entourage vehicles. All the vehicles in the Sweep Entourage and their respective roles are as follows:

1. Fine Gara - Represents the tail end of the official event. It is an indicator to riders, event staff, spectators etc. that all riders following behind it are following rules of the road (more details provided below).

2. Rider Bus - Will offer a ride to the finish line in Whistler to any riders following behind the Fine Gara.

3. Bike Van - Will transport the bikes of any riders accepting a ride to the finish line in Whistler.

All official, on-course event support will be closed after the Fine Gara passes. If you are passed by the Fine Gara, you will be stopped by the RiderBus and offered the opportunity to hop on a ride to the finish line and be fully supported in Whistler. The BikeVan in the Sweep Entourage will take your bike to Whistler as well.

If you do not accept a ride to the finish line and decide instead to continue riding, the following details are in effect for the duration of your ride to the finish line:

• You shall continue your ride according to BC’s Bike Sense Rules of the Road (Bike Sense BC), which means you must ride in the shoulder of the highway and obey all traffic signals

• The dedicated lane may be removed even while you are in it

• The special event traffic control implementation at intersections and along the route may be removed

• The event signage may be removed

• Water, mechanical, nutritional and medical support from the event may be unavailable for the remainder of your trip

• If you are unable to reach the finish line by 3:45pm, your finish time may be recorded as Did Not Finish (DNF)

NOTE: If for any reason you are able to speed up and pass the Fine Gara, please do so safely and then you are considered back in the event if you can hang on ahead of it to the finish line.

TIMING

All riders will receive an electronic timing chip. At the end of the ride, you’ll have information about your overall riding time. Results will be posted on our website by midnight on event day. Results will also be available in Celebration Plaza.

Please note, improperly mounted timing chips could result in no time being recorded. Ask our timing team at Package Pickup for a demonstration of how to properly mount your chip.

A team’s finishing time is based on the time the 5th rider crosses the finish line. For mixed gender teams, the team time must include the time of at least two males and two females. Teams of less than 5 members can participate, but will NOT receive an official team finish time. Instead, results for these teams will be reported as individual times.

Return Bike Transportation 

There will be an optional bike service for riders to get their bikes back to Vancouver from Whistler the day after the event. Please check back in the future for updates.

Package Pickup and Bag Check

All GranFondo riders will need to pick up their event package before the event at Package Pickup on September 6th and 7th, 2012. Medio riders are encouraged to pick up their packages here as well. Photo ID will be required for pick up and you will be asked to sign the event waiver in person. Only registered riders will be allowed to pick up the packages.

NO PACKAGE PICKUP FOR GRANFONDO RIDERS ON EVENT DAY!

Medio riders will have both options of picking up their packages at Package Pickup or at the Medio Start on event day.

Your rider package includes:

• Bike plate with timing chip (please remember to add your name and medical info here)
• Wristband - must be worn at all times to gain access to Aid Stations, retrieve your bike from bike parking, claim your bag at bag check in Lot 4, massage services and post ride nutrition
• Helmet sticker
• Wristbands for friends and family to enter Celebration Plaza
• One, pre-printed luggage tag for your bag check

Date: Thursday, September 6th and Friday, September 7th

Time: 12:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0C3

Complimentary Bag Check will only be available during Package Pickup on Thursday, September 8th and Friday, September 9th (limited to one bag per person, excluding bike boxes). Maximum size is 21.5 in. x 9 in. x 15.5 in. (standard airplane carry-on size). We'll give you a tag in your event materials to label your bag with your name and rider number. Have this tag clearly visible and in position before you hand in your bag at the Station. Put all items into one bag - no loose items will be accepted! Items can be collected at the finish line starting as of 11:00am.

For Medio riders only, Complimentary Bag Check service is also available at the Medio Start in Squamish.

Spectator Information

Spectators can be part of the RBC GranFondo Whistler experience too! Residences and businesses along the route will have front row seats as thousands of participants challenge themselves up the Sea to Sky corridor.

The following locations are recommended spectator areas:

• 7:00am (West Vancouver) - Cheer on the riders on Taylor Way Boulevard as they approach the 7 km mark and prepare for the first steep climb
• 8:00am (Squamish) - The riders will pass by Mamquam Road in Squamish at the 67 km mark. Spectators can watch curbside at Garibaldi Village Mall
• 10:00am (Whistler) - The first riders will cross the finish line on Blackcomb Way. Spectators are encouraged to join in the celebration from the new Whistler Olympic Plaza

Please plan ahead prior to the event and come early.