More than 1,000 cyclists are expected to ride through Lambton County Sunday during the Bluewater International Granfondo
More than 1,000 cyclists are expected to ride through Lambton County Sunday during the Bluewater International Granfondo.
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The annual big ride which raises funds for palliative care begins and ends at Mike Weir Park in Sarnia’s Bright’s Grove.
“We have 1,020 registered,” said chairperson Ken MacAlpine. “We’re actually turning people away now.”
The event, which has routes ranging from 30 km to 150 km, began in 2016. It missed one year during the pandemic but has been held annually, otherwise.
MacAlpine said that to go from the granfondo’s humble beginnings, where they wondered if they could get 100 people to attend, to what it has become “is really amazing.”
Groups of cyclists will begin leaving the starting line along Lake Huron at 7 am Sunday and the rides are followed by a gathering with music, food and beverages back in the park later in the day.
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“We have a new band this year, Shelly Rastin,” MacAlpine said. “We’ve gone with a bit of a country flavor.”
Lambton OPP issued a news release this week asking drivers to “be mindful of increased bicycle traffic and to share the road safely” along the routes Sunday from 7 am to about 1:30 pm
Gran fondo is an Italian term meaning “big ride.” The Bluewater Granfondo includes timed sections but not start and finishing times found in traditional racing formats. That allows cyclists to take their time between timed sections, stop at fuel stations along the route and enjoy the ride.
Entries are equally split between local cyclists and those from outside of Lambton County, MacAlpine said.
“We’ve got more out-of-town riders this year than we’ve ever had before.”
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There are roughly 100 riders in the 150-km event, 400 in the 100-km, 400 in the 50-km and 120 in the 30-km event, MacAlpine said.
Last year’s granfondo had about 920 in total, he said.
MacAlpine credits its popularity on the event’s organization and the “value for money” it gives participants.
“With the sponsors and volunteers we have, we can give them exceptionally good value and still have money left over to give to our charities,” he said.
More than $450,000 has been raised to support a conference for palliative care staff, St. Joseph’s Hospice Sarnia-Lambton and palliative care at Bluewater Health.
Donations have gone to other local charities from the proceeds of additional events the group holds during the year, including a Slow Role and a gravel road ride held earlier this year.
As for the annual granfondo, “we could get bigger but we don’t want to,” MacAlpine said.
Along with safety considerations, a larger event would put additional stress on its 220 volunteers, he said.
“We know how to manage 1,000 comfortably,” MacAlpine said.
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