The revamped Sea to Sky Highway between Whistler and Vancouver has become a real pleasure to drive, offering smooth cruising from $600 million worth of improvements plus some of the most spectacular roadside scenery around.

It appears a lot of people also want to bike the 120-kilometre stretch of highway between the city and the mountain town, even though it means taking a total of the 2,400 vertical metres of climbing. Most of the 4,000 spots available in the new RBC GranFondo Whistler have been spoken for, even though the mass bike ride doesn’t take to the highway until Sept. 11.

Founded by Kevin Thomson and Neil McKinnon, the single-day event brings the mass bike ride GranFondo format that’s popular in Europe to Canada. According to descriptions on rbcgranfondowhistler.com, GranFondo rides attract large numbers of cyclists of all skill levels — from amateurs looking for a challenge to competitive riders seeking a real contest — to push themselves on routes more than 100 kilometres long and rife with climbing.

In the Sea to Sky edition, the GranFondo route will stretch from sea level in Vancouver, with riders starting out at 7 a.m. on Sept. 11 by heading over the Lions Gate Bridge, and up to Whistler Village at its elevation of around 675 metres. The riders are scheduled to travel along the bridge and highway in a dedicated lane.

The only spots still open in the event are in the Giro race for licensed competitors. The 120-kilometre GranFondo ride and 60-kilometre Medio course — the half-pint version from Squamish to Whistler — have already sold out, forcing some cyclists onto the event’s Facebook page to plead for spots.

“We have been astounded by the enthusiasm for this ride,” organizers state on their website.

Vancouver Canuck icon Trevor Linden managed to snap up one of the spots in the ride, and he’ll be pedaling alongside about 113 Whistler cyclists and 11 riders from Pemberton.

“Trevor, being the passionate cyclist that he is, has been entered for many months,” Matt Freeman, sponsorship and marketing manager for the event, wrote in an email to The Question.

“I know the buzz in the community for this event is huge, and it’s only going to get better,” Linden told the Vancouver Sun.

Last week in Vancouver, a launch event promoting the ride included the likes of Linden and Olympic champion triathlete Simon Whitfield, plus the mayors of Vancouver and West Vancouver, while ride organizers announced the addition of RBC as a title sponsor.

Freeman wrote that Whitfield is “keen to be a part of the event,” but the busy season ahead for the elite triathlete means his participation hasn’t yet been confirmed.

McKinnon told the Sun that the average age of riders in the GranFondo Whistler is 45, and the spirit of participation in the mass ride is the main attraction.

RBC’s sponsorship also connects it with the company’s Blue Water Project, a 10-year, $50-million program designed to support charities that foster a future with sustainable water resources around the world. Riders and others can vote on where RBC’s money should be spent.

For information and training tips in the months remaining before the event, check out rbcgranfondowhistler.com.