Three-year-old Aaron Gemmell and his five-year-old brother, Thomas, intently shook their cowbells as they awaited the sight of their father pedaling up the Sea to Sky Highway.
They stood among a crowd of people at Garibaldi Village Market Saturday, cheering on the riders in GranFondo. Their father, Bruce Gemmell, had taken on the 67-kilometre Medio race, which ended in 蜜桃视频appthis year.
"He did the Fondo two years ago," explained Andrea, the boys' mother and Bruce's wife. "He has knee problems, so this year he is doing the Medio."
Bruce Gemmell crossed the finish line to the fanfare of his family in fifth place overall and first place in his division of 40 to 49 year-olds. The race is emotional to watch, Andrea said.
"I think of all the really hard work people put into it," she said.
Gemmell is exactly the type of rider for which the race was intended, GranFondo spokesperson Neil McKinnon said. The shorter version of the 122-kilometre Fondo is meant as an accessible step for people interested in building their way up to the longer race.
"It's a great opportunity for a lot of people," he said. "It is a great way for people to get involved with the sport."
This year, the race seemed to draw a large younger contingent of riders, McKinnon added. More families signed up and Vancouver's youth racing program (DEVO) had members in the running. In all, 109 riders took part in the Medio.
For 16-year-old Claire Armstrong (no relation to Lance, the Vancouverite quickly noted), the Medio marked her first ride in the Fondo. She was second across the line with a time of 2:08:28, one second behind her friend Sophie Vogel-Nakamura of North Vancouver.
"It was good," Armstrong said before boarding the shuttle bus to Whistler. "It was very well organized. I liked going over Lions Gate Bridge."
Armstrong and her clubmates Vogel-Nakamura and Stephanie Denroche, who placed third with a time of 2:08:29, were excited to join the GranFondo celebrations in Whistler and re-unite with their coach, who rode the classic race.
"I am looking forward to a massage," Armstong joked.
The Medio couldn't have been held on a better day, said Laura Ramsay of Vancouver.
"It was so beautiful. I wanted to do it (the race) for a long time," said Ramsay, who was first female rider in the 19-to-29 Medio division to cross the line and 12th overall. "The Furry Creek hill was a bit daunting, but the scenery was amazing and everyone was so happy."
