This past Saturday, made their way up Highway 99 for yet another RBC GranFondo Whistler. When it was all said and done, Calgarian John Li disrupted what would have been a Vancouver sweep in the 122-km race division by prevailing in three hours, 29 minutes and four seconds. Vancouverites Uli Mayer (3:29:22) and Spencer Hardy (3:29:36) were close behind to earn silver and bronze.
Jessica Law, also from Vancouver, was the top woman in 70th (3:49:05). Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder found himself well back, finishing 2490th out of 3283 riders in his category (6:41:27).
BC riders did clean up all the hardware in the 55-km Medio event. Mark Green locked up gold (1:52:00) just ahead of his fellow West Kelowna athlete Brian Buchholz (1:52:03) in second, while Mark Fenn of North Vancouver wound up third (1:52:21).
Six women made the top 16 in the shorter race, led by fifth-place finisher Kelly Garagan of Winnipeg (1:54:54). Aussie Raechell Foote was next up in ninth (2:00:45), and Susan Parker-Bower clocked in for 12th (2:02:47). Nipping at the Kiwi's heels was Richmond's own Shiyun Han in 13th (2:03:23), then Kendra Garagan from Burnaby in 14th (2:03:28) and Isabella Foote, the Australian in 16th (2:03:45).
Meanwhile, the 152-km Forte became a stage for cyclists from out east to shine. Oliver Dowd from Mississauga locked up the crown (4:27:42), and he was joined on the podium by fellow Ontarians Nickolas Hanif (4:31:37) and Tommy Feng (4:31:38).
Claire Robinson, a Vancouver native, reached the line in 55th (5:21:04) as fastest woman.
Full results are available
