Preparation guide · RBC GranFondo Whistler
RBC GranFondo Whistler 2027: how to prepare it and what to eat and drink
The next edition is on Saturday 11 September 2027 (date from the official 2027 registration; start time is indicative), starting in Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) at 7:00. Here you have the route of GranFondo Whistler 122 km, its climbs, the usual weather and how much to eat and drink for your target time.
GranFondo Whistler 122 km: route
Official map and route on the event website.
Official profile and track on the organisers' website.
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vancouver → Horseshoe Bay km 0 | 19 km | Downtown start, across the Lions Gate Bridge and on to Horseshoe Bay, in waves with thousands of riders. No rush: don't fight for places on the bridge. At Horseshoe Bay (km 19) there's only assistance, not food. |
| 2. Howe Sound coast km 19 | 32 km | The Sea to Sky beside the fjord: constant rollers with some steep pitches, up to Britannia Beach (km 51, food and drinks). Ride the rollers steadily: don't attack every rise. Eat here and stop at Britannia Beach to refill. |
| 3. Britannia Beach → Squamish km 51 | 14 km | A flatter stretch to Squamish, below the Stawamus Chief. Find a group and eat solid food: the hard part comes after Squamish. |
| 4. Climb out of Squamish km 65 | 25 km | The day's long climb: from Squamish inland, several kilometres of continuous climbing on the highway towards Daisy Lake. A pace you can hold for 45–75 minutes, at 75–85 % of FTP, and a gel before it starts. |
| 5. Daisy Lake → Whistler km 90 | 32 km | Rollers through the forest and a gradual final climb to the finish in Whistler (about 650 m altitude). Keep eating until 30 minutes before the finish and save something for the last rises. |
Route keys
- 122 km from Vancouver to Whistler along the Sea to Sky highway. You climb from sea level to Whistler (about 650 m), but with many ups and downs along the way.
- The only food station with a published kilometre is Britannia Beach (km 51). Km 19, at Horseshoe Bay, is assistance only, not nutrition. There are three more points not detailed: plan with two bottles and food for 40–50 km at a stretch.
- Early on, by the sea, it can be cool and damp; by mid-morning the temperature rises. Wear clothes you can stash.
- It starts in waves with thousands of riders: line up in yours and don't waste energy overtaking early on.
2 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
GranFondo Whistler 122 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h 30 | 75 g/h | 255 g | 450 ml/h | 2.0 l | 300 mg/h |
| 5 h 15 | 75 g/h | 295 g | 450 ml/h | 2.4 l | 300 mg/h |
| 6 h | 75 g/h | 365 g | 450 ml/h | 2.7 l | 300 mg/h |
| 7 h | 75 g/h | 440 g | 450 ml/h | 3.2 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Feed stations
Km 51, Britannia Beach: food and drinks. Km 19 (Horseshoe Bay) is assistance only, not a nutrition station. There are three more points with no kilometre detailed.
Without the official track loaded we don't work out the section-by-section plan. In WinWatts, with your GPX, you see how much to eat and drink between each feed station at your pace on every climb.
GranFondo Whistler 122 km: weather in mid-September
What the weather was like on the second Saturday of September in recent editions (in the Vancouver area):
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 ºC | 22 ºC | 0.0 mm | 8 km/h |
| 2023 | 8 ºC | 20 ºC | 0.0 mm | 7 km/h |
| 2024 | 7 ºC | 13 ºC | 0.4 mm | 10 km/h |
| 2025 | 12 ºC | 17 ºC | 0.0 mm | 11 km/h |
Your RBC GranFondo Whistler, tailored to you
This guide uses a typical rider. In WinWatts we calculate it with your data:
- Your time, average power and finish time from your FTP and weight.
- The race-day forecast for each section, and what to wear.
- Your food and drink plan kilometre by kilometre, with your gels, bars and bottles.
- Your training plan until Saturday 11 September 2027, adjusted every week to how you're doing.
WinWatts is not affiliated with the organisers of the RBC GranFondo Whistler. Dates, routes, schedules and registration: official website. Distance and feed stations from the official participant information (2026); weather from past editions (Open-Meteo). For guidance only: it doesn't replace advice from a health professional.