Gran fondos, loosely translated from Italian as "big ride," are an Italian cycling tradition. Much like a marathon, in which a group of elite, licensed riders lead the pack and compete for first place, these events attract a large contingent of recreational participants who want to tackle a challenging distance. While the Whistler GranFondo will be the first of its kind in Canada, nine such events started up last year in the United States, and they have been popular in Europe for decades.

The Whistler GranFondo is a project that has been a long time in the works, and one that organizers hope will be popular enough to turn into an annual event.

"We've been working diligently with stakeholders and communities along the route for two years," said Kevin Thomson of GranFondo Canada. "Participants can expect a dedicated cycling lane the entire route from Vancouver to Whistler and a premium cycling experience from start to finish."

GranFondo Canada is expecting to launch two more events in 2011: one in Alberta and one in Ontario.

The Whistler GranFondo will begin at 7 a.m. in downtown Vancouver with a mass start, then travel over the Lions Gate Bridge and up Taylor Way to Highway 99. The route climbs 2,400 metres to Whistler. Riders will be supported with multiple aid stations and roving mechanical assistance, with a full rest stop at the halfway point in the town of Squamish.

Participants can choose from three categories: the 120-km Gran Fondo, a 60-km Medio from Squamish to Whistler, and the Giro, a competitive race for licensed racers. Registration fees start at $175 for the Gran Fondo and $160 for the Medio.

If the distance daunts riders who haven't tackled this sort of distance or altitude, the website offers a training program.

Registration is now almost half full, three week after the event launched.

For more information and registration, visit www.whistlergranfondo.com