It was wet, and it was cold for this year’s running of the Southern Lakes Gran Fondo road race.

Of the 12 solo cyclists who started the 173-kilometre challenge, 10 pulled out because of conditions that were pushing riders towards becoming hypothermic.

Six of the eight teams of two did finish and eight of the nine teams of three-to-five riders completed the race that began Saturday morning at the Spirit Lake Lodge on the South Klondike Highway.

Cyclists headed north to the Carcross Cutoff, turned south to Jakes Corner and then back down the Tagish Road to complete the loop back at Spirit Lake.

The fastest time of five hours, 30 minutes and 48 second was posted by the duo of Sean McCarron and Ian Parker, winning them the Golden Helmet Award.

Parker was part of the two-rider team that set the course record of 4:42:00 in 2013, and he also holds the solo record of 4:48:00, set in 2008.

Of the 70 cyclists registered for the event, 65 participated, ranging in age from eight years old to 75.

Among the teams were two youth teams and two family teams.

The brother-team of Micah Taggart-Cox and Caius Taggart-Cox had the second fastest time at 5:55:16, or just under 25 minutes behind the leaders.

Jillian Cowen and Steve Watt finished third in the two-rider team event in a time of 6:00:10.

Scott Kerby was the only male solo rider to complete the loop, and was third fastest overall in a time of 5:55:47. Trena Irving, the only solo woman to finish, posted a time of 8:47:37.

In the team event of three-to-five cyclists, the Irregular Cycle Sisters – Jennifer Whipple, Sandra MacDougall, Tammy Kingston and Cynthia Matichak – finished first in a time of 6:24:41. Lucas Taggart-Cox, Jody Cox and Malcolm Taggart, riding as the Dabbing Hares, finished second in 6:34:00. The Vicious Cycles – Dana Eisinger, Peter Heebink, Guiniveve Lalena, Vanessa Younker and Ann Middler – finished third in a time of 7:00:03.