Thousands of bike riders are taking part in the return of the annual GranFondo bike event from Vancouver to Whistler.
The 122-kilometre event began at 7 a.m. Saturday at Stanley Park.
“We have 6,700 riders, it’s (our) biggest event ever,” said Neil McKinnon, an RBC GranFondo spokesperson.
“We are really excited, perfect (riding) conditions (for Saturday).”
The cyclists are travelling over the Lions Gate Bridge and up the Sea-To-Sky Highway before finishing in Whistler Village.
It’s the first time the event has taken place since 2019 as, like many sporting events, it was curbed by the pandemic.
“People have been waiting for (the return) of the event,” McKinnon told Global News, Saturday morning.
“It’s a special event – it’s the one day of the year that people can ride the Sea-To-Sky Highway without traffic and cars.”
The event attracts riders from all across the globe with more than 48 countries represented, according to officials.