Looking Ahead

Fort Mcmurray Gran Fondo August 24

Fort Mcmurray is at the end of the world’s longest cul-de-sac. That’s what Patrick Dardis, Fort Mcmurray Gran Fondo race director, has read about the highway to the northern Alberta town. He’s making the most of that cul-de-sac for his inaugural event.

Four rides – a family ride, 50 km, 100 km and 160 km – will start at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre. Cyclists from each ride will head south on Highway 63 to an appropriate turnaround point, and then pedal back north. “Highway 63 is a world-class divided, twinned highway,” Dardis says. “The shoulder is the width of a lane. The right-hand lane is a lane-and-a-half for wide loads. If a car passes at the centre line, you won’t even feel a breeze.” The road is flanked by boreal forest. A lot of it is new growth because of fires that have struck throughout the past eight years, including the one in 2016 that drew national attention.

You’ll want to bring your aero road bike to is event. The surface is smooth, really smooth. “I’ve been riding for three years on the same set of tires,” Dardis says. “You can expect a fast time because you’re not going to have any downtime for flats.” The wind could also be in your favour. Usually the breeze is out of the north so you face more resistance on the back half of your ride. But, Dardis can remember one time when he had a tailwind both ways.

The Fort Mcmurray Gran Fondo joins Gran Fondo Highwood Pass, Gran Fondo Badlands, Gran Fondo Jasper and the Tour de l’alberta as part of the Alberta Gran Fondo Series. Each event has a few timed sections. “Within that section, you’ll give’r,” Dardis says. “Your time will count to the Alberta Series. Then you can wait for your buddies to catch up to you.” Times from each race are added together to decide series leaders. The timed section in the Fort Mcmurray Gran Fondo takes advantage of the rolling terrain. “If you hammer it going down, you might have enough speed to get back up the other side,” he says. “Might.”— MP