Under a bright, beautiful sky, 1,200 cyclists hit the road for the second annual Prospera Valley GranFondo.
“It was spectacular; we couldn’t have ordered better weather, it was beautiful,” said Nerida Bullock, the event’s community and media relations spokesperson.
The cyclists departed from Fort Langley bright and early on Sunday morning.
There were three distances for the riders: the 50-km PrestoFondo, the 88-km MedioFondo and the 160-km GranFondo.
The GranFondo distance had the cyclists wind their way from Fort Langley, all the way to Chilliwack, and then back again.
Altogether the 1,200 cyclists made for a sold-out event and were about 100 more than the inaugural Prospera Valley GranFondo.
“A little bit of a jump from last year and we anticipate every year it will grow a little bit more,” said Bullock.
“We got a lot of excellent feedback (from last year) and listened to what they told us and made some changes — like getting rid of the hill at 272 Street at the end of the ride. Really listening to the riders and making changes to reflect their needs.”
Bullock said the event could not have been the success it was without the volunteers, the sponsors and the riders.
“It was a matter of so many pieces of the puzzle coming together at the last minute,” she added. “We had an amazing group of sponsors this year, an amazing group of volunteers and, of course, the riders putting in their training and showing up and supporting the event.”
There were approximately 250 volunteers.
“It was great to see how the entire community came together (and) so many people complimented the area, how beautiful it is and all the gorgeous little shops around the area,” Bullock said.
“It is about the people of Langley — and also the people of Abbotsford and Chilliwack — pulling together and showcasing the Fraser Valley to a lot of out-of-town riders.
“It is showcasing the beautiful territory that we have, that we take for granted every day.”
Bullock said it is still too early to tabulate the final number for how much was raised for the GranFondo’s charitable partner, Special Olympics BC. The 2012 event raised $20,000 for SOBC.
She also said that the 2014 date for the GranFondo will be announced in the fall.
