Giro d'Italia, Official Partner of Gran Fondo New York

Perhaps the Giro d'Italia isn't coming to Washington D.C. in 2012 but it is now associating itself with the Gran Fondo New York. These words today from the organizer:

"Giro d'Italia, the most intense and exciting professional cycling race in the world, is an Official Partner of Gran Fondo New York. The partnership between the two races was forged based on the Italian cycling heritage of Gran Fondo amateur racing coming to the world's greatest city, New York, and Giro d'Italia being the most prestigious professional race in Italy.

The concept of cycling competitively over a long route is a groundbreaking concept in the New York metropolitan area and already in its first year, Gran Fondo New York is making history as the largest competitive non-running event. The inaugural Gran Fondo New York takes place on May 8, 2011 and will see thousands of cyclists from five continents ride and race from New York City to Bear Mountain and back in a 107-mile course.

Giro d'Italia has the world's most passionate fans and is an inherent part of the Italian culture. While the first Giro stage kicks off in Italy on May 7, 2011, cycling fans in New York City can take part in the Giro d'Italia excitement at the Gran Fondo New York expo. Giro d'Italia will present classic pictures of the race, official Giro merchandise and broadcast past stages of the race at the two-day expo at Roseland Ballroom in midtown Manhattan on May 6 and 7, 2011.

The Giro is associated with high-profile racing, fame and aspiration. At Gran Fondo New York, big dreams can be attained by amateur cyclists. Gran Fondo New York is an Official Qualifier for the UCI Amateur World Championship, which takes place in Belgium in September. The UCI amateur racing series is the new frontier in cycling that enables everyone to compete and to achieve personal goals.

"At Giro d'Italia, professional riders of Team Sky and Team Movistar represent our brand with their strong performances. At events like La Pinarello Cycling Marathon and Gran Fondo New York, Pinarello gets a one-on-one interaction with the amateur cyclists who are the end-users of our products" said Andrea Pinarello of Cicli Pinarello. "I am looking forward to riding Gran Fondo New York, it will be a lot of fun."

During the Gran Fondo New York press conference held in Milan, Italy on Friday, March 18, Giro d'Italia organizer Angelo Zomegnan said "Gran Fondo New York is currently the most interesting sports project in the world. The partnership with the Giro d'Italia shows the world what a real Italian Gran Fondo is about: competition
and true passion for cycling."

The President of the Italian Cycling Federation and Vice President of the International Cycling Union, Renato Di Rocco, also attended the Gran Fondo New York press conference in Milan. Di Rocco said "With the creation of the UCI World Cycling Tour, the International Cycling Union provides a platform for amateur racers to compete in a true Amateur World Championship. We're delighted to have Gran Fondo New York as one of the Official Qualifier events for the World Championship in Belgium in September."

The day after the Gran Fondo New York press conference, the Milano-Sanremo professional cycling race was taking place. Gran Fondo New York caught up with George Hincapie before the start. During a brief interview, Hincapie said "It would be great to get the chance to ride Gran Fondo New York. The course is on my old stomping grounds."

To date, cyclists from 33 countries and 34 US states are registered to ride in Gran Fondo New York. In its inaugural edition, the event already boasts among the largest and most international cycling fields in the world."



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