Specialized Gran Fondo at Sea Otter Classic

The Sea Otter Classic week has added a Gran Fondo to the schedule:

"Specialized Gran Fondo Presented by Bicycling Magazine"

Gran Fondo, or "Big Ride" as it's known in Italy, falls somewhere in between a century tour and a race. Open to all categories of riders, the Gran Fondo challenges you not to compete with your fellow cyclists, but to push yourself against the clock and the elements, all while taking in scenic views and enjoying great food.

"We couldn't think of a better way to ring in 20 years of Sea Otter than the addition of a Gran Fondo to the event. It promises to be a great opportunity for recreational cyclists to get out and ride with friends, see all that the Monterey Peninsula has to offer, and enjoy the terrific festival experience of Sea Otter," said Frank Yohannan, president of the Sea Otter Classic.

The Gran Fondo will offer three fully supported ride distances: a 28-mile coastal route, a 45-mile coastal route and, for the more experienced riders, a 100-mile inland route. The short and middle distances wind along the coastal communities of Marina, Seaside, Monterey and Pacific Grove. The cyclists will ride along the stunning coastal recreation trail, past historic Fisherman's Wharf, and through the popular Cannery Row of John Steinbeck fame. The long route runs through the green agricultural fields of Salinas Valley and into the beautiful wine country of Carmel Valley. All rides start and finish at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area. The Gran Fondo will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010.

See here for event details.

Photo: Pacific Grove (kite photography)

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Gran Fondo Racing in the U.S.A. in 2010, Part II

I am trying to maintain a calendar of the growing list of announced gran fondo events in the U.S.A. The following list contains today's announcement of the Echelon Gran Fondo events, an announcement from Ciclosportivo N.A. of November 10th regarding their three planned gran fondos (Boulder Vail, and Steamboat), and the newly announced Sea Otter Classic Gran Fondo (more details in a subsequent entry).

Granfondo Colnago-San Diego (CA): March 7, 2010

Breakaway Ride-Thousand Oaks (CA): April 11, 2010
Gran Fondo Boulder, Boulder (CO): April 11, 2010

Breakaway Ride-Davis (CA): April 25, 2010
Sea Otter Classic Gran Fondo, Laguna Seca (CA): April 17, 2010
Gran Fondo Moab, Moab (UT): May 1, 2010
Echelon Gran Fondo, Napa (CA): May 23, 2010
Gran Fondo Vail, Vail (CO): June 19, 2010
Gran Fondo Centurion Cycling, Boulder (CO): July 17-18, 2010
Granfondo Colnago-Philadelphia (PA): August 8, 2010
Gran Fondo Steamboat, Steamboat (CO): August, 15, 2010
Gran Fondo Centurion Cycling, Madison (WI): August 7-8, 2010
Whistler GranFondo, Vancouver, Canada: September 11, 2010
Gran Fondo Centurion Cycling, Mammoth Lakes (CA): September 11-12, 2010
Univest Cyclosportif, Souderton (PA): September 2010
Echelon Gran Fondo, The Dalles (OR): September 26, 2010
Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo, Santa Rosa (CA): October 9, 2010

Granfondo Colnago-Los Angeles, Los Angeles (CA): October 24, 2010

The Univest Cyclosportif (cyclosportif is the French name for the same type of race) would be the oldest event in the U.S. having already had two editions.

Photo: start of the Gran Fondo Campagnolo (2008) in Italy

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2010 ECHELON Gran Fondo Series Launched in Napa & Columbia River Gorge

PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - ECHELON Gran Fondo announces its first two locations today: Napa, California; and The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Echelon is the signature fundraising series of PlanetZ, a non-profit organization whose passion for cycling and charitable giving is the basis for the Echelon conception. With a mix of pro, amateur, and recreational riders, Echelon Gran Fondo events bring the pageantry of the Tour de France to the masses, with a range of epic courses designed to challenge and inspire all levels of rider.

Echelon series events will raise funds primarily for local hospitals and cancer foundations, and are part of the 2010 LIVESTRONG grass roots fund raising campaign.

"It is important to us that there is a tangible benefit at the local level in our events." said Echelon’s event director, David Cochran. He added, "PlanetZ's commitment to the sport of cycling, our charitable partners, and their communities, represent a recipe for success in 2010 and for years to come."

The outstanding natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge and Napa Valley locations offers riders some of the finest cycling terrain in the USA, and a perfect backdrop for such special events.

At each location a range of courses, approximately 30, 60 and 100 miles long, are offered. All rides are fully-supported.

Initially, Echelon has partnered with Garmin for GPS products, Bicycling Magazine, Hammer Nutrition for nutrition products, Rudy Project for helmets and eyewear, and Capo Forma for cycling apparel. Other series sponsors are currently being sought.

"Although we are a new series, our organization includes some of the most experienced marketing, communications, and production talent in the USA. We are confident that our events will be well promoted and well organized," said Cochran.

Echelon will open its online registration on December 15.

ECHELON--NAPA
Napa, California, May 23, 2010


ECHELON--COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
The Dalles, Oregon, September 26, 2010


About PlanetZ
PlanetZ is a non-profit member organization that promotes human affairs including health, community and the environment.

Event website: www.echelongranfondo.org

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LEGEND Bikes, New Italian Custom Framebuilding

Framebuilder Marco Bertoletti,and partners, have recently created a new company: Legend Bikes located in Presezzo (Bergamo). Marco Bertoletti has been building frames for over 20 years, 15 years of experience in titanium frame construction.

All Legend frames will be custom made to measure in their new 5,000 square foot facility in Presezzo. Four models are currently offered, two in carbon (HC 6.1 and Marathon) and two in steel (Sella Ronda and Fedala). The time to delivery from final measurement is currently five weeks.

Legend has also come to an agreement with Assos, Carnac and Lightweight to act as an official showroom in northern Italy. They are handling custom fitted Carnac shoes, can arrange a test ride with Lightweight wheels or components and have a complete range of Assos clothing. The boutique-ish showroom, the Legend Store, is located on the outskirts of Piacenza in the town of Diara di Rivergaro.
Website: http://www.legendfactory.eu/home/

Photo: Legend Store near Piacenza; and the separate framebuilding area in Presezzo

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Viner Re-Introduction to U.S. Market

Sportiva Importare USA, Laguna Hills, CA, has reached a long term distribution agreement with the Italian bike brand Viner (founded by VIviano NERosi).

Viner bikes was established in 1947. Since then the company has been hand producing a range of high level frames in its factory in Pistoia, Tuscany.

Marc Katz, director of Sportiva Importare USA said, "We are very pleased to be representing a brand with such a long history of producing quality product. We feel the market is right here to reintroduce Viner and we have high expectations for Viner in the U.S."

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Giro d'Italia Considers Start in Washington DC, Part IIII

The "2012 Giro d'Italia Working Group" has been formed to bring the Giro d'Italia to Washington DC in 2012.

Mark Sommers, promoter of the ING Capital Criterium, is the chair of the working group which now also includes Robin Mortin, CEO of g4 Productions. They are already involved in the planning process of the proposed Giro prologue and Stage 1, and expanding the working group to include RCS Sports (owner of the Giro d'Italia), Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, the DC Metro Sports Sport Alliance, and the Tourist and Convention Center Authority.

Read Parts I, II, and III of this series.

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Cycling Monuments, Memorials, Plaques, etc., Part III

Jac Zwart, author of the Dutch language book "Wielermonumenten - Reisgids door de geschiedenis van de wielersport" (Cycling Monuments - Travel Guide through the History of the Sport of Cycling), makes his first appearance as a guest contributor with this wonderful story.


"For a couple of years I have been passionately searching for locations of cycling monuments, to take pictures of them and to find out for whatever reasons they exist. To know if there is a story they are trying to let us remember. Usually that can be great fun, but sometimes a little bit frustrating as well.

This summer my wife and I had our holidays in beautiful Tuscany, where I had put some cycling routes together. One of them included a small sidestep into Umbria, when cycling around the Lake Trasimeno. We must have seen the small road sign pointing to the little town of Terontola, because it was only at 6 kilometer distance. At that time I was fully unaware of the existence of a plaquette on a wall of the local railway station in honour of Gino Bartali. That plaquette was unveiled on June 17, 2008, in presence of his wife Adriana and his son Andrea, and it celebrates the heroic behaviour of "il pio" during World War II. Bartali himself has never mentioned what he has done, but only recently it became known that he transported falsified identification documents for Jewish people in the tubes of his frame during regular training rides from Ponte a Ema to Assisi. He usually stopped in Terontola for a rest and to deliver the documents to the resistance. When continuing his ride, the local people would start cheering and encouraging him, creating the opportunity for the people hiding to enter the train behind the backs of the applauding police. It is estimated that by doing this the lives of about 850 were saved in the years 1943/1944.

So I didn't take this picture of the monument myself, I found it somewhere on the internet. Whenever someone reading this blog has the ability to take a picture in higher resolution, feel free to contact me by e-mail (jaczwart@planet.nl). I am planning additional contributions to the Italian Cycling Journal, highlighting other cycling monuments in Italy, although the frequency will be irregular and depending on available time. And since a collection can hardly be complete, I appreciate any hint or tip that you are able to give me. "

ed. note: Bartali's participation in the resistance was only revealed after his death in May, 2000. On April 25, 2005, he was posthumously conferred the "Medaglia d’Oro al Merito Civile" by the President of the Italian Republic.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,000 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.