January 15, 2013 (Vancouver, BC) – GranFondo Canada announced today that registration is now open for the second edition of the RBC GranFondo Banff as well as the inaugural GranFondo Niagara Falls.

The RBC GranFondo Banff is scheduled for Saturday, August 24th. The only event of its kind to take place completely within the boundaries of a national park, the ride will start and finish in the beautiful mountain town of Banff, Alberta with a planned 142 km course that takes cyclists into the heart of the Rockies to experience the awe-inspiring nature of Banff National Park. Capacity for the RBC GranFondo Banff will be limited to 1,500 participants and demand for the event is expected to be very high. The inaugural event in 2012 event sold out in six weeks.

The inaugural GranFondo Niagara Falls will take place on Saturday, September 14th. Starting and finishing adjacent to the world-famous Niagara Falls, the planned 125 km course will take cyclists through the beautiful Niagara Region, including wine country and the Niagara Escarpment. This gran fondo event will mark the largest mass-participation timed cycling event to ever take place in Niagara Falls and the culmination of over two years of planning. The capacity has not yet been set but demand is expected to be very high.

The fourth annual RBC GranFondo Whistler completes the GranFondo Canada series. This event will take place on Saturday, September 7th with thousands of riders expected to participate in the epic 122 km ride from downtown Vancouver to Whistler resort on the famed Sea to Sky Highway. This event has ranked as a top cycling experience and a “must do” event since its inception in 2010.

“We’re delighted to be able to bring the GranFondo Canada experience to these epic locations,” said Kevin Thomson, president of GranFondo Canada. “The cycling express lane provided in our events will provide cyclists with the experience they have been yearning for.”

Gran fondo cycling events have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades and are gaining momentum in North America. Loosely translated from Italian, gran fondo means “big ride.” These rides are often a hundred kilometres or more in length and designed for cyclists at a variety of skill levels – everyone from competitive cyclists to recreational athletes enjoy these events. The most prestigious rides feature challenging terrain, scenic views and timed courses in epic locations.

Participants for these events are expected to come from across Canada, the US and internationally.

Registration for all 2013 events is now open. Cyclists are encouraged to register early by visiting HERE.