Women’s ridership grows sharply at RBC GranFondo Whistler

December 3, 2025

Project 30by30 hits new milestone in 2025

Vancouver, BC (December 3, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – RBC GranFondo Whistler is proud to announce continued progress in its 6-year diversity initiative, Project 30by30, aimed at reaching 30% women’s participation by the year 2030. In 2025, the event achieved a continued high of 24% female ridership, up from 21.3% in 2024 and 20.9% in 2023, the program’s inaugural year.

Designed to address longstanding gender imbalances in endurance sport, Project 30by30 is rooted in the belief that more women on bikes leads to a stronger, more inclusive cycling culture. Through strategic partnerships, platform storytelling, and event innovation, the initiative continues to attract and inspire more women to ride.

Oli Cartmell, RBC GranFondo Director, commented:
“It’s both fantastic and humbling to see the progress being made towards increasing female ridership and representation at RBC GranFondo Whistler, our sister all-terrain event XFondo and within the sport as a whole. We’re so grateful for the community rallying behind the cause and remain as motivated as ever to keep pushing towards the 30% goal in 2026 and beyond.”

Among the key drivers of 2025’s progress:

• Free period care on course: Plant-based period care company Joni is providing pads to all riders in the swag bag and has installed branded dispensers with free product at rest stops.
• Resilience workshops: Renowned coach Kristen Anderson has led several workshops and contributed a powerful guest blog, with more sessions planned for August.
• Celebrating community: In honour of International Women’s Day, a Bici x Live Your Prime x RBC GranFondo “Inspired to Ride” evening brought together panelists, guest speakers and an open Q&A.
• Partnering with Samsara: We sponsored Samsara’s “Heart Pounding Stories” night, highlighting women’s voices in cycling and adventure.
• Real rider storytelling: Through training journeys shared by Lindsay Derer, Riya Chak, and Michaela Khan across both XFondo and GFW, we gave visibility to the range of women participating.
• More women’s-only Fondo Clinics: Expanded clinic offerings helped more riders build skills and confidence in a supportive setting.
• Debuting a brand new high-energy female lead-MC for start, finish and awards celebrations: DJ Rock N Beau, aka Rachel Beau. Rachel becomes the event’s first permanent female host.
• XFondo continues to lead: For the third year in a row, XFondo’s field was at least 50% women, showcasing the demand for inclusive, fun-forward events.

Project 30by30 is a commitment to reimagine what’s possible in cycling. We’re always looking to connect with women who want to collaborate, lead, or showcase their talent on our platform, and help inspire others to ride. Please do reach out.

About RBC GranFondo Whistler

RBC GranFondo Whistler is North America’s oldest, largest, and consistently highest-rated cycling event, attracting thousands of cyclists from around the world. The event features world-class organization, stunning routes, closed roads for all cyclists, and a vibrant community atmosphere, making it a must-attend experience for riders of all levels.

For more information, visit www.rbcgranfondo.com.

Contact:

Oli Cartmell
RBC GranFondo Whistler
oli@rbcgranfondo.com
rbcgranfondo.com/whistler