RBC GranFondo Whistler looking to change start line

The RBC GranFondo Whistler has applied to the Vancouver Parks Board for permission to start the 122 km ride from Vancouver to Whistler in Stanley Park this year.

The event has been held since 2010 and has always started downtown on West Georgia Street before going through Stanley Park, but organizers would like to start the race in a more iconic, scenic area. They’re hoping to begin the ride near the Totem Pole parking lot off Stanley Park Drive.

The change of route has already been approved by the the city and the police, according to the Vancouver Sun. It now needs to be approved by the Parks Board, who will vote on the application at their meeting on March 10.

The Sept. 6 event runs along the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler in a lane blocked off and dedicated for riders. In its first three years, the event has grown from 4,000 to 7,000 participants.

Roads that the event runs along in Vancouver will be closed between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. on the day of the event, with riders starting off at 6 a.m.

New in 2014 will be a 152 km option that features a much larger elevation gain compared to the usual 122 km route.