RBC GranFondo Whistler Champions Gender Equality in Cycling

September 6, 2024

We're On a Mission to See More Women Take Up and Stay in the Sport

Vancouver/Whistler [Sept 6, 2024]/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The RBC GranFondo Whistler is on a mission to champion gender equality and elevate female participation in cycling. Recognizing the underrepresentation of women in the sport, the organization is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for female cyclists. Their goal is to inspire, empower, and celebrate women in cycling through a series of impactful initiatives.

Project 30by30: A Vision for the Future

The Project 30by30 initiative is a cornerstone of this mission. By 2030, RBC GranFondo Whistler aims for women to make up 30% of their participants. This ambitious vision is more than just a target; it represents a dedication to creating lasting change and a more balanced, vibrant cycling community.

Storytelling and Collaboration

RBC GranFondo Whistler believes in the power of stories to inspire change. By harnessing the power of social media to collaborate with brands and storytellers, the aim is to provider greater representation and connectedness for women in cycling. These stories highlight their challenges, triumphs, and the transformative impact of the sport, encouraging more women to join and thrive.

Oli Cartmell, RBC GranFondo Whistler event director, expands: “Storytelling holds incredible power. We want to provide a platform that connects women’s experiences together, both to foster greater understanding of challenges and to champion the amazing things that women are achieving every day on the bike.

Same Game Challenge: Leveling the Playing Field

Participation in the Same Game Challenge reflects RBC GranFondo Whistler’s commitment to gender equality in sports. This initiative ensures that sports organizers are better equipped to help female athletes receive equal opportunities, resources, and recognition, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable cycling culture.

Michelle Dezell, program coordinator at the Same Game Challenge endorsed both the vision and actions of the event: “Through Project 30by30, RBC GranFondo Whistler are on track to make some really exciting programs and growth for women and the sport of cycling.”

Supporting Local Communities: Vancouver’s New Cycling Club

By providing a $1000 grant and other resources, the RBC GranFondo Whistler is proud to support the beginnings of a new cycling club in Vancouver dedicated to encouraging female participation for those who consider themselves more casual cyclists.

Founder Yasamin Rafipour, the visionary of the club, shared her excitement, stating, “This grant is a huge step towards realizing my vision of making cycling more inclusive and accessible for women everywhere.

“With this support, I’m excited to continue to launch initiatives that will make a real difference – whether it’s through community events or providing resources to get more women on bikes. My goal is to inspire and support as many women as possible to join us on the ride.”

A new charity partner, YWCA Gear Up, aligned with providing opportunities for underrepresented groups

Gear Up aims to provide youth from ages 15-30 with the skills and experience to become a certified bike mechanic. Women in particular are highly underrepresented in the bike mechanic industry, and so aligning with Gear Up allows the event to connect more women with opportunities to gain skills and practical job openings here in British Columbia.

Gray Myrfield, YWCA Gear Up Program Manager: YWCA Gear Up has supported over 100 young people to explore opportunities in the bike industry, and this connection in addition to RBC’s continued backing will strengthen and expand that support for future participants.”

Meet Krista Guloien Temple Women’s Cycling Team, riding for all women who strive to overcome obstacles, drawing from the remarkable legacy of Krista Guloien Temple.

10 Women Riders Will Be Riding RBC GranFondo Whistler on September 7th, 2024, in tribute to Krista Guloien Temple, Canadian Olympian and breast-cancer sufferer.

The team: Krista Guloien | Marla Guloien | Leah Guloien | Amy Hawksworth | Aoife McMahon | Christine Hall | Alicia Billingsley | Kristin Henry | Larissa Werbicki | Lisa Roman | Caileigh Filmer | Madison Mailey | Jill Moffatt

From Leah Guloien (the first and fastest woman to conquer the RBC Gran Fondo), Caileigh Filmer (three-time Olympian, two-time Olympic medalist at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and World Champion in rowing for Canada), Lisa Roman (GOLD in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rowing champion in the women’s 8) to Christine Hall (taking on the challenge for the first time), these intrepid and fearless women are making a difference and raising awareness for Krista on Sept 7. Learn more at https://www.kristaguloien.com/cycling-team-profile

Ongoing Commitment and Partnerships

The mission extends beyond these initiatives. RBC GranFondo Whistler is continuously exploring new ways to promote female participation in cycling through partnerships, community outreach, and advocacy. Their efforts aim to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a more inclusive cycling culture.

“Our mission is to create a cycling community where women feel welcomed, supported, and celebrated,” said Neil McKinnon, founder of RBC GranFondo Whistler. “These initiatives are designed to inspire and support women at every level, from beginners to seasoned cyclists.”

RBC GranFondo Whistler invites everyone to join in celebrating and supporting women in cycling. Registration for the RBC GranFondo Whistler is open until Sept 6, 2024, and all cyclists are encouraged to be part of this exciting journey towards greater inclusivity and diversity in the sport.

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ABOUT RBC GRANFONDO WHISTLER

Established following the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, RBC GranFondo Whistler is an award-winning point-to-point cycling event between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada that takes annually place on the weekend following September Labour Day. On average, 5000 cyclists ride each year across different distance categories, both competitive and non-competitive. Through the event, over $350,000 has been donated in support of charitable causes since inception (rbcgranfondo.com/whistler).

ABOUT PROJECT 30BY30

Project 30by30 is the RBC GranFondo Whistler’s vision to encourage more women to take up and stay in the sport of cycling.

Cycling events typically have significantly lower levels of female participation compared to men. Project 30by30 aims to delve into the reasons for why, bring to light under represented topics, and propose actionable steps that will aim to encourage change.

30by30 is not meant to come to the table with complete solutions. It is a shared journey of discovery and conversation to help bring greater understanding for what is required for better gender equity within cycling.

To learn more, visit blog.rbcgranfondo.com/project-30by30

ABOUT RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 98,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries (rbc.com).

RBC are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-sustainability

For more information, please contact:

Oli Cartmell

Director, RBC GranFondo Whistler

604-828-7406

oli@rbcgranfondo.com

rbcgranfondo.com/whistler