On a gorgeous Saturday, 112 riders set out to conquer the 173-kilometre Southern Lakes Gran Fondo.

Riders ages six to 73 battled a strong headwind on a course that started and finished at the Marsh Lake Community Centre.

In the solo men’s category, Preston Blackie (4:53:16) was first, Joel Macht (4:53:22) was second and Aaron Foos (5:04:14) was third.

On the solo women’s side, Kristenn Magnusson (6:00:12) won, Aisha Montgomery (6:32:00) was second and Ann-Marie Paquet (6:40:01) was third.

In duo men, the team of Steve Ball and Ian Parker (4:53:29) was first, Brian MacDonald and Lawrence Ignace (6:16:59) was second and Rob Dobson and Joe Morrison (6:36:57) was third.

For the duo women, Niki Denault and Sierra Van Der Meer (6:15:42) won, while Monika Melnychuk and Sarah Crane (6:24:52) were second.

In the three-five person mixed category, the 180’s (Bill Waugh, Grace Sheardown-Waugh and Ron Tait) (5:47:09) were first, the Hillbillies (Micah and Lucas Taggart-Cox, Jody Cox and Malcolm Taggart) (6:00:11) were second and the Forest (Alex Cusson, Boris Hoef, Eric Van Vlack and Jane Bell) (6:19:39) was third.