GranFondo Whistler

The GranFondo Whistler is a cycling event in September. The main race starts in Vancouver’s Stanley Park and ends with a party at Whistler‘s Celebration Plaza.

This article includes the following information about the GranFondo Whistler:

GranFondo Whistler

There are GranFondo cycling events in multiple places in North America, but the Vancouver-to-Whistler race is the biggest. The GranFondo Whistler goes along the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler. In 2025 the race happens on September 6th.

“Gran Fondo” in Italian means “big ride” which is appropriate considering the distance cyclists need to travel between the two locations!

GranFondo Routes

Cyclists have three route options to choose from that span different distances. There are the Medio, Gran Fondo and Forte races. They cover 55 kms, 122 kms and 152 kms, respectively.

Riders can also compete as part of a team rather than as an individual. Teams of four to eight cyclists fight together to try and claim the St. Regis Cup and other prizes in either male, female or mixed teams.

Medio Cycling Race Route

The 55 km “Medio” route starts and finishes in Whistler. Participants cycle to Whistler Olympic Park before making their way back to the main town. “Medio” is great for families and people who don’t want to cycle all the way from Vancouver.

That’s not to say that this is an easy route, because 55 km is still a lot! But it’s definitely more manageable than the other two if you’re not an expert cyclist.

GranFondo Race in the Early Morning — Heading to the North Shore

Gran Fondo Cycling Race Route

The most popular route, the “Gran Fondo,” starts in Stanley Park and ends in Whistler. It stretches 122 kms and cyclists gain a total of 1,900 metres in elevation. Participants are on the Sea to Sky Highway for much of the journey and can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Cyclists in this race don’t have to worry about traffic since the roads up are closed to cars for a good part of the day (which is great for them but not so convenient for people wanting to get to places along the Sea to Sky region by car). If you plan to drive somewhere on the day of the race, keep this in mind!

GranFondo on Lions Gate Bridge — On Lions Gate Bridge after Leaving Stanley Park

Forte Cycling Race Route

Lastly, the highly challenging “Forte” route spans an impressive 152 kms. Much of the “Forte” is the same as the “Gran Fondo,” with the exception of taking a detour up to the Cypress Mountain ski area before coming back down and joining their fellow “Gran Fondo” cyclists on the main route. As a reward for their efforts, “Forte” riders receive an extra-large medal once they finish (to go with their extra sore legs!).

DISCOUNTED ENTRY TICKETS!

You can pay full price to enter the GranFondo Whistler, or you can get discounted registration costs through the website StayVancouverHotels.com.

StayVancouverHotels is a site where you can get bonus gifts when booking rooms at qualifying hotels in downtown Vancouver. In 2025 the website is offering $75 off the entry cost to participate in the GranFondo Whistler when you book a two-night stay between the dates of August 27th and September 10th. You can choose to get a different bonus perk instead if you prefer. Also, if you change your mind later, you can always cancel your reservation anytime before August 14th!

For details about the website and its offers, visit StayVancouverHotels.com.

Celebration Plaza and Training

To honour each rider’s achievement, a big celebration takes place at Whistler Olympic Plaza from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on the day of the event. Lots of food and drinks are available and a beer garden is there too. Different performers are also on-site to keep folks entertained. The main live entertainment usually takes place from around 1:45 pm to 2:25 pm.

People interested in participating but lacking cycling experience have the option of signing up for training too. Ten-week programs for beginner to advanced level riders begin in June.