Three Richmond cyclists conquered the Forte category at the 15th annual RBC GranFondo Whistler on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Steveston Velo cycling club teammates, 52-year-old Osmond Tsang and 50-year-old Ben Nickerson, rode their bikes for about 348 kilometres.
This included the 152-kilometre journey in the event’s Forte category and an additional 196 kilometres, taking them from Stanley Park to the top of the city’s three ski mountains; from there to Whistler, and back to the base of Grouse Mountain over the course of 10 hours.
Their day started at 2 a.m. with a ride up to Seymour and Grouse, followed by their ascent to Cypress and the long ride to Whistler – both riders then made it back to Grouse with a combined elevation gain of 5,700 metres.
Tsang, who’s done the GranFondo six times, three of those in regular, two in regular Forte and one in Triple Crown Forte, said his biggest support comes from having good friends and family beside him.
Part of his motivation is also setting challenging goals and pushing himself to try and achieve them, to which fellow Steveston Velo teammate Ben Nickerson agreed.
“I am motivated by seeing how far I can push myself physically and mentally,” he said.
Inspiring others to challenge themselves is also one of his biggest motivations.
This was Nickerson’s third time completing the GranFondo, and first time completing a Triple Crown Forte, highlighting this year as one of his favourites.
“The experience has been great every time with well stocked feed stations and fantastic volunteers,” he said. “Nothing can compare to this year’s ride with Osmond. It was a phenomenal experience from start to finish.”
Nickerson’s son, 16-year-old Ryan Nickerson, also accomplished a major personal goal on Saturday by being one of the first cyclist under 19 to complete the 152-kilometre Forte category – placing in the top three per cent.
This was his third time completing the GranFondo, and was set on completing the Forte category this year.
“Each experience has been very different,” he said. “I worked hard this year to hold a position in the front pack, as the strongest riders started to pull away on Taylor Way.”
“Coming down Cypress Mountain at full speed was incredible, and crossing the finish line with some cyclists that I greatly admire was a highlight.”
Ryan plans on working on securing a position on a professional race team to compete internationally, something that motivates him to challenge himself.
The RBC GranFondo Whistler is the largest cycling event in North America.
Around 5,000 cyclists participated in the event’s three categories, which varied in routing, distance and difficulty – approximately 400 of them rode in the Forte category.
The categories included the 55-kilometre Medio category from Whistler Village to Whistler Olympic Park and back, the 122-kilometre Gran Fondo from Stanley Park to Whistler, and the 152-kilometre Forte category from Stanley Park up to Cypress Mountain, and from there to Whistler.
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