Thursday, July 16, 2009

Granfondo Campagnolo, Now Granfondo Sportful





Since 1995, the city of Feltre in northern Italy has hosted the Gran Fondo Campagnolo, held on the third Sunday of June. The gran fondo was named for the Vicenza-based company founded by cyclist Tullio Campagnolo.

The last climb before the finish is Passo Croce d’Aune, where, while racing on November 4, 1924, Campagnolo had the setback that would change his life and revolutionize the cycling world. The monument to Tullio Campagnolo located at the top of Passo Croce d’Aune was unveiled in 1995 in the presence of cycling legends such as Saronni, Motta, Battaglin, Moser and Martini. The inauguration marked the first edition of an event that cycling fans throughout the world have come to love.

On June 21, 2009, the event took place as the Granfondo Sportful with 3,500 participants. The event takes its new name from the Fonzaso-based sports apparel company. Sportful, a leading producer of technical apparel for cycling and cross-country skiing, also supplied the team clothing for the Italian national cycling team at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Sportful and the organizing committee from Feltre selected a route that passed through some of the most stunning mountains in the world: the Dolomites, featuring some of cycling history’s epic climbs.

Next year's event will be held on June 20th.

Photos: 2009 event

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

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