Organizers of the GranFondo are asking the public to be on the lookout for someone who may try to drop tacks on the route again this year.聽
Last year, tacks that were purposely placed on the road prior to the race created a potential hazard.聽
鈥淭he tacks are a real pall to the people that get them,鈥� said GranFondo president Neil McKinnon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 actually a real safety hazard.鈥澛�
In one instance, a father was upset after he took a wheel off his bike and gave it to his son, only to hit more tacks on the route.
There were problems with another race, but after organizers let the public and volunteers know what had happened, the hazard disappeared, possibly from having more people available to keep an eye out for suspicious activity prior to the race鈥檚 start.
This year, organizers have taken some advance measures to prevent the same problems.聽
鈥淲e did involve the police this year,鈥� McKinnon said.
Still, with the GranFondo stretching 122 kilometres, between the Lower Mainland and Whistler, there is a lot of ground to cover. There will be a sweep in advance of the race to look for problems on the route.
Also complicating the situation is the fact the area in question is flat and fast, making it hard for riders to be aware of the tacks.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e very hard to see,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to see the tacks in advance of hitting them.鈥�
The 麻豆社国产section of the annual GranFondo is one of the most popular among riders in the race.
McKinnon is hoping that by getting the word out this year, people in the 麻豆社国产area, especially those watching the race, will keep an eye open for anyone doing anything suspicious near the route. He is not sure who might be responsible, but wants to be clear that it is not necessarily a local resident.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying it鈥檚 a 麻豆社国产person,鈥� he said.
Despite the route challenge, McKinnon reiterates that the section of the course that runs through 麻豆社国产remains a favourite of the competitors.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a highlight of the ride,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he riders love it.鈥�
There are many great locations to view the competitors riding by, and local people set up their own aid stations, with one family even handing out bacon as a protein fix to the riders.
A major change for this year鈥檚 race is that the Medio race, which covers about half of the longer course, has reverted to having the start in Squamish, meaning racers end at the finish line in Whistler with everyone else. Last year, it started in Vancouver and ended in Squamish.
Racing starts at 6:05 a.m. on Saturday with the Forte, 152-kilometre race that climbs up Cypress Mountain. The Giro race starts between 6:40 and 6:45 a.m. The GranFondo, itself, and the Medio get going at 7 a.m.
The first riders are expected to finish in Whistler around 10 a.m., with awards set for 1 p.m.
