Heart-Pounding Stories: The Future [of Fondo] is Female

Through honest and inspiring stories, we’re excited for you to learn, connect, and feel inspired to show up and take up space on the start line.

📣 Cycling events typically have significantly lower levels of female participation compared to men. To help address this gap, Project 30by30 was started by Whistler Fondo to encourage more women to take up and stay in the sport of cycling. This initiative aims to delve into the reasons for why, bring to light under represented topics, and propose actionable steps that will aim to encourage change.

Together, we’d love to see at least 30% female RBC GranFondo Whistler event participation by 2030, up from their 22.5% average.

Alongside this goal, is creating spaces that explores, amplifies, celebrates and elevates the conversation around women’s experiences in cycling.

❤️ Heart-Pounding Stories is a curated showcase of real, personal tales. Brought to you live in the intimate atmosphere of Samsara, this event brings our community together to connect, share, and experience the raw power of true stories that will make you feel alive again, inspired and empowered.

This edition features guest speakers Michaela Khan, Cindy Truong, Alicia Taggio and Riya Chak, facilitated by Charissa Landicho, who will share their inspiring Whistler GranFondo journeys, celebrating the strength of determined women and the power of community.

EVENT INTENT

This event was created for all cyclists in-mind: women just beginning their cycling journey and looking for the perfect entry point, women who are curious about balancing being a mom, working full-time and training(?!), or any women who may have never seen themselves represented before and are looking for the tools, insights, and community to thrive in this incredible sport!

We hope that this event will encourage more women to get on bikes and help to reduce the gender gap in the cycling space!

WHAT TO EXPECT

📆Arrival: Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early (by 6:50 pm) to ensure that the event starts on time.

🪑BYOC: We also ask that you BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair)—whether it’s a stool, camping chair, pouf, or anything else that will keep you comfy.

🎟One lucky attendee will win a registration to any GranFondo distance (Medio, GranFondo, Forte) and an entry to the clinic program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Riya Chak (pronounced Ree-ya) is the Director of Operations for the 2026 edition of the RBC GranFondo Whistler - and just a few years ago, she was new to the sport herself. She got into cycling in 2023 after signing up for the 55 km Medio Fondo, lining up at her first start line with little training and no real idea what a 55 km ride would entail. Since then, she’s completed several fondos, started a cycling Substack, produced youtube content to document her Fondo training adventures, and developed what might be a potentially dangerous jersey addiction. The experience also led her to make a full career pivot - from marketing in the tech industry to operations in cycling. Today, she draws on that journey from beginner to avid rider as she works alongside the team to help shape how the event comes together. She’s focused on delivering a safe, high-energy day for over 5,000 riders - including more than 1,500 women - and is especially excited to see more riders from communities like Samsara out on course. Riya believes there’s no single type of Fondo rider - and that more women belong on the start line and across the cycling industry.

Cindy Truong is a cycling enthusiast and a Ride Ambassador for the Whistler Gran Fondo. She loves traveling with her bikes – a passion she found after her firstborn. And she’s shared how she’s been lucky to take on some epic endurance rides with friends, like Seattle to Portland and Vancouver to Harrison. She describes herself as a corporate girly by day and a mom 24/7, so most of her riding happens in the in-between moments, garage sessions, quick rides, and now even biking alongside her son. She is currently expecting her second baby, so this season looks a little different, but she loves sharing the honest side of the journey and hopefully makes cycling feel more approachable for others.

Michaela Khan is a running researcher by day and a cyclist by night! As a PhD student on a budget, she's mastered the art of affordable and accessible biking adventures. She serves as a RBC Whistler Granfondo ambassador and has coached the Women's Intro to Road Biking clinic. Above all, Michaela is passionate about supporting and educating riders - always eager to grow the cycling community, especially for underrepresented groups.

By day, Alicia Taggio supports women's sports leagues with their marketing, in the evenings, you'll find her training for her next challenge. Last year, after turning 40, Alicia challenged herself to become a road cyclist and signed up (and successfully completed) the GranFondo Medio. She'll be sharing her journey of going from a total newbie to a proud cyclist who is on a mission to help more women gain their own confidence and join her for the Medio again in 2026.

MODERATED BY CHARISSA LANDICHO

Charissa Landicho is a community builder, endurance athlete, and storyteller who adores doing hard things—while taking care of herself. Her journey into cycling began in 2021 as a casual rider, but living with post-concussion syndrome has meant navigating challenges like vertigo, brain fog, and dizziness—especially on the bike. Since 2022, when her body “shut down,” she has redefined what training looks like for her body, and after spending years healing and understanding what her body needs to thrive she has gone on to complete an Ironman 70.3, a marathon, and an ultramarathon, and soon to be her first GranFondo!

Through her work as a coach, and co-founder of Path to Play, Charissa leads with her passion of creating inclusive spaces where beginners are empowered with the tools to get started. She believes it’s okay for our training—and our journeys—to look different. As the evening’s moderator and a first-time RBC GranFondo Whistler participant, she brings a perspective grounded in curiosity, humility, and honest storytelling, and hopes that every person leaves feeling more empowered to take up space on the start line, whatever that may look like for them.

AGENDA

06:30 PM - 07:00 PM

Doors Open

07:00 PM - 08:30 PM

Story Time

08:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Q&A

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

2170 Fir St, 2170 Fir Street, Vancouver, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App