The Giro race at this year鈥檚 Whistler GranFondo saw a new record and a photo finish.
The event, with a $50,000 purse, is the race that attracts pro-level riders, and this year the overall winner, Jack Burke, reached the finish line in Whistler faster than anyone.
鈥淭here was a new course record set at three hours and 12 minutes,鈥� said GranFondo president and 鈥渃hief enthusiast鈥� Neil McKinnon. 鈥淭he lead rider鈥� he did a great job.鈥�
Burke, who rides professionally, is originally from Ontario and now based in Squamish. He started at age 11 with mountain biking before switching to road racing. He came in almost two-and-half minutes ahead of the pack that followed.
He told The 麻豆社国产 he felt ready for the event, as he had just taken part in the five-day Tour of Alberta race.
鈥淎ll the training and preparation was built around that,鈥� he said.
It was on the women鈥檚 side, with a host of top-level pro riders though, that things got interesting.
鈥淚t was a nail-biter,鈥� McKinnon said. 鈥淚t was probably the race to watch.鈥�
Last year鈥檚 fastest female, Joelle Numainvile, of Laval, Que., technically ended up in second to Abbotsford鈥檚 Alison Jackson in a photo finish that saw four riders log identical times of 3:54:48. The next three riders were only two seconds off the pace and several others only a second or two behind that.
The Giro and the other GranFondo races start in Vancouver and make their way through 麻豆社国产on the road to Whistler. In all, an estimated 4,500 people signed up to ride, with most of the riders taking part in the actual GranFondo.
鈥淥ur numbers are up pretty substantially,鈥� McKinnon said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting to see.鈥�
Matthew Van Nostrand won the GranFondo, while Kelly Jablonski took the Forte, which included the tough Cypress Mountain climb, and Bruce Philippi took the Medio.
McKinnon was pleased that between the organizers and the public, some extra vigilance this year meant that the race did not have any of the problems resulting from someone having thrown tacks on the road prior to the race, as was the case the last couple of years. Again, he emphasized the stretch through 麻豆社国产and its spectator areas are a favourite among riders, as onlookers come out to ring cowbells and cheer on the competitors.聽
鈥淎s per usual, 麻豆社国产is the highlight,鈥� he said.
There was the bacon station once again, and some were handing out watermelon slices.聽
One of the highlights for the riders passing by was Kelly Thompson鈥檚 sign that said 鈥淏eer 50 KM ahead,鈥� which brought laughs and thumbs-up from many cyclists. One could be heard saying it was the best sign he had seen.
She also had made a sign for her sister Katie Fox, who was riding in the race, along with her dad Paul Thompson.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty proud considering I whipped these up five minutes ago,鈥� Thompson said.聽
There were also musicians along the way to urge the riders on, including a small group with a tuba player near Furry Creek that stepped in when a drummer could not make the event.
All in all, McKinnon was happy with the turnout and the weather, even the fact the riders picked up a bit of tailwind around Squamish.聽
鈥淭he spirits were very, very high,鈥� he added.
