What if your favourite part of this year's ride isn't the climb? Or the descent.

Or even the finish line.

What if it's discovering how your ride was a force for good in 2026: behind the stories of one of the route's most transformative communities... knowing your ride directly helped support local families... celebrating another year of leading the way in sustainability... feeling the support of local businesses... and crossing the line to a finish you'll hear long before you see it...

This year, there are more reasons than ever to feel good about being part of RBC GranFondo Whistler.

Below are the stories that show you why:

Every great ride has places that stay with you.

This year, one of those places will be Britannia Village.

Nestled between the mountains and Howe Sound, it sits alongside one of British Columbia's greatest environmental restoration success stories. Previously a thriving mining town established in the 1900s, Britannia was nevertheless impacted by decades of runoff pollution from the historic and important mine itself. Today however, the area has been transformed and restored through an extraordinary partnership between government, industry and private landowners.

One of those visionaries was Rob MacDonald and the Macdonald Group, whose decision to return thousands of acres of former mine lands to the Province helped create a pathway for environmental and cultural remediation to take place, while also breathing new life into the storied Britannia Village itself.

Today, riders experience a place where history, community and nature come together in a truly unique way. For the first time in decades, spawning salmon have again been seen in Britannia Creek, attracting other key wildlife species like seals and eagles to the area.

We're excited to continue welcoming as Britannia Village one of the signature rest stops on the route, led by our fantastic volunteer captains, Rob and Gord. They've turned this stop into a rider favourite, where great food, infectious energy and plenty of encouragement combine to create an atmosphere you'll hear before you even arrive.

This year, that experience will be elevated even further with a refreshed food offering inspired by the local businesses in the village. Much more than just athlete food - you'll just have to discover for yourself what surprises we have in store this year!

This September, when you roll into Britannia Village, take a moment to look around. You're not just stopping for a break: you're riding through one of British Columbia's greatest comeback stories.

One of the most meaningful moments from last year's event happened after the finish line.

Together, we rescued more than 1,083 kilograms of unopened, edible food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Instead, it was donated to support people in our local community through the Whistler Community Services Society Food Bank.

It's a powerful reminder that the impact of our event doesn't end when the last rider crosses the finish line.

As we look to the future, we're proud to be expanding that commitment.

From the 2027 event onwards, Squamish's Helping Hands will become the official charitable partner of RBC GranFondo Whistler. Together, we'll help ensure surplus food from the event continues finding its way to local families who need it most.

While the ride ends in Whistler, the impact helps benefit the Sea to Sky.

The Sea to Sky is one of the most spectacular places in the world to ride, and looking after it is something we all share.

For the second consecutive year, RBC GranFondo Whistler has achieved official Zero Waste status, diverting 90.73% of all material from landfill.

That achievement belongs to our riders, volunteers, partners and AWARE's Zero Waste Heroes, who continue proving that world-class events can also tread lightly.

We're proud of what we've achieved together.

Looking after the Sea to Sky is a key part of the journey. We hope you'll join us in leaving it a little better than we found it.

One of the things we're most proud of isn't measured in kilometres.

It's measured in who shows up at the start line.

Since launching our 30by30 initiative in 2024, we've been working to make RBC GranFondo Whistler more welcoming, more inclusive and more representative of the cycling community we want to see. Every year, more women are choosing to take on the challenge, and every year, that community continues to grow.

Whether you're chasing a personal best, riding with friends or taking on your very first GranFondo, there's a place for you here.

We think the best events aren't defined by who rides the fastest.

They're defined by who feels they belong.

Great rides demand more than determination.

They demand good preparation.

That's why we're stoked to welcome back Blonyx as the Official Hydration Partner of RBC GranFondo Whistler.

Founded in North Vancouver by exercise physiologist and Squamish local Rowan Minnion, Blonyx was built on one simple idea: athletes deserve products backed by science, not hype.

You'll find the upgraded Hydra+ drink at aid stations across the course, helping replace the electrolytes lost through sweat from Vancouver to Whistler.

Built here.

Ready for the ride from Sea to Sky.

💡 All RBC GranFondo Whistler riders save 10% at Blonyx with code RBCGRANFONDO.

What riders can expect from the upgraded Hydra+:

• More efficient hydration support: Hydra+ now contains 2g more carbohydrates per serving, for 9g in total. Working alongside sodium, these additional carbs help support faster fluid absorption.

• A better bottle experience: The upgraded formula mixes more completely in water, giving you a cleaner mix and a smoother drink.

• A taste built for the long haul: A lighter, more balanced blend of mango, passionfruit, and coconut water helps Hydra+ stay more refreshing as the kilometres add up.

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Every great ride has a soundtrack.

The hum of tyres on smooth pavement. The rush of rivers. The cheers of complete strangers willing you towards the finish.

This year, we're bringing back another unforgettable sound.

We're ordering 1,000 complimentary aluminum cowbells to be given out at the finish line, helping create one of the most memorable and electric finish-line experiences in cycling. Take yours home as a keepsake, bring it back next year, or ring it loud for a friend chasing their own dreams.

We'll bring the cowbells - you bring the noise!

We've partnered with Type II Studio - a Vancouver studio that turns real GPS routes into handmade 3D map artifacts - to commemorate your RBC GranFondo Whistler.

Each piece is the exact route you rode, Vancouver to Whistler, rendered in true topographic relief. Your name, your finish time, your distance and elevation: framed, and finished by hand. A programmable tag sits inside every one: tap it to pull up your Strava, your race-day photos, your finish-line video.

Order by September 11 with code GFW2026, and we'll include a $50 gift card, yours to pass to the friend who rode beside you.

Browse the collection → https://typeii.studio/collections/rbc-granfondo-whistler-2026

P.S. Code GFW2026 ends September 11. The gift card never expires.

This year, we invite you to stay connected to this remarkable place, meet extraordinary people and leave knowing your ride made a positive impact, right here in our backyard.

Along the way, you'll be welcomed by volunteers who return year after year, fueled by products created by local innovators, supported by businesses that call this region home, and inspired by communities that continue to show what's possible when people come together.

That's what makes RBC GranFondo Whistler special.

It's local people supporting local people. It's our collective welcome for those from afar.

It's thousands of riders, volunteers, partners and communities creating something unforgettable together.

The road is waiting. This is your invitation to be part of 2026's story.

We acknowledge the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.