Gran Fondos

[Race Radio]

Granfondo, at least in Italy, were at first what cyclosportive are now around the world; a mass start with thousands of cycling lovers in a nice scenary with not any final ranking.

Donno when exactly it happened, but they started to put ranking at these events and they turned out in a mess (imho); a bad mix between a race and a cyclosportive.

NB 1: there are still many cyclosportive events in Italy.
NB 2: Im not against granfondos, I actually like them but lately they are getting over the top in some aspects.

This is spot on. I don't know when but they have changed a lot in the last 5 years.

I have done 2-5 a year for the last 5 years and they have been a lot of fun. Usually the courses are excellent and they offer a excellent opportunity to push yourself in a fun environment. Recently the depth of competition, and the seriousness, has become a bit absurd.

This summer I did the GF Cuenego and the first 90 minutes was ridiculously dangerous. People were taking stupid risks in an effort to move up. I was riding with a buddy who was a former Pro (10 years, Tour stage Winner) and he kept turning to me and saying "Let get out of here"

On the descent of the first climb I saw one of the worst crashes I have seen in 30 years of riding, major blood, rider not moving. Disturbing.

Regardless of the changes, doing a few big GF should be on anyone's "list".

How do they compare to GF in the US? There really is little comparison. The depth of competition in Italy is on a completely different level. If you are a good climbing Cat 3 top 10% is a good goal....but that could mean 500th place!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Interesting thread.

 

[Martin318is]

Granfondo, at least in Italy, were at first what cyclosportive are now around the world; a mass start with thousands of cycling lovers in a nice scenary with not any final ranking.

They actually started a long time before that - as walking events.

 

[ElChingon]

This is spot on. I don't know when but they have changed a lot in the last 5 years.

I have done 2-5 a year for the last 5 years and they have been a lot of fun. Usually the courses are excellent and they offer a excellent opportunity to push yourself in a fun environment. Recently the depth of competition, and the seriousness, has become a bit absurd.

This summer I did the GF Cuenego and the first 90 minutes was ridiculously dangerous. People were taking stupid risks in an effort to move up. I was riding with a buddy who was a former Pro (10 years, Tour stage Winner) and he kept turning to me and saying "Let get out of here"

On the descent of the first climb I saw one of the worst crashes I have seen in 30 years of riding, major blood, rider not moving. Disturbing.

Regardless of the changes, doing a few big GF should be on anyone's "list".

How do they compare to GF in the US? There really is little comparison. The depth of competition in Italy is on a completely different level. If you are a good climbing Cat 3 top 10% is a good goal....but that could mean 500th place!

Well that basically sounds a lot like what we hear about every major GT the Pro's ride. So very similar, no wonder they're so popular

Yes, I've done them and they can be dangerous and they can be a ton of fun as well. All depends on what happens to you in one of those. The stories, the memories, could fill several threads.

Do them! Don't be over engulfed by the war stories, if you do it you can help control them to not be war stories but fun rides/races. Yelling and identifying any suspect rider to the group does wonders, it doesn't matter who they are or what they're wearing if they do something dumb well point it out just like you would a pothole. Its fun to see those hot heads all of a sudden simmer down due to the pack pointing them out, the words and expletives I've heard and said, well just thinking back it puts a smile on me

 

[ElChingon]

Forgot! The US has them but there are also some "rides" or fun rides which are the equivalent of the Euro Gran Fondo's, you get a timing chip and there's prizes for the first rider over the line and woman. Then they list everyone's finishing order for bragging rights. Seeing 6000 line up at the start is very impressive, of course they're broken down by abilities and previous results which helps. Not many though, most are just rides where some want to finish first and others just cruise around (not that there's anything wrong with that or that I haven't done that as well).

 

[Race Radio]

Here are a couple of the good North American events. I have not done any of these but I hear they are good events

http://www.rbcgranfondowhistler.com/
They also have a Pro 1/2 race that has good Prize money ($10,000?). 7,000 riders and they sell out

http://www.levisgranfondo.com/

The Tour of California had an "Etape" last year that may be held again in 2012.I am not sure of the details but I hear it will be in Santa Rosa the day before the race starts

any others?

 

[Boeing]

Here are a couple of the good North American events. I have not done any of these but I hear they are good events

http://www.rbcgranfondowhistler.com/
They also have a Pro 1/2 race that has good Prize money ($10,000?). 7,000 riders and they sell out

http://www.levisgranfondo.com/

The Tour of California had an "Etape" last year that may be held again in 2012.I am not sure of the details but I hear it will be in Santa Rosa the day before the race starts

any others?

there were some fit mofos at the TOC baldy fondo this year i mean serious like whatever

 

[Boeing]

I am not sure why I didn't consider the TOC ride a Fondo?

 

[Boeing]

this is a great thread

the clear distinction here and reading Scott's cobble adventure thread, is the romance that is European cycling.

I hesitate to generalize but there seems to be a cultural element to a European Gran Fondo more in line with the glory of the sport and culture itself.

I have never enjoyed a mass start group organized ride here in the western united states and I cant quite figure out why. Maybe all the stop lights or all the promotion etc. I do recall having a good time once back in the day rosarito to encenada but alcohol was involved and naked women if you call that a fondo

 

[Race Radio]

there were some fit mofos at the TOC baldy fondo this year i mean serious like whatever

That was a great course and a good field. It is exactly what is needed here in the states to help grow the sport. Unfortunately it looks like it will not happen this year. Supposedly there will be a fun ride the day before the start in Santa Rosa but that is it.

 

[Alex Simmons/RST]

I quite enjoyed Levi's GF the first two years. I didn't ride it this year.

 

[Martin318is]

While there are a number of events that fit the description, the first 'named' Australian GF was the Amy Gillet GF a few months ago.

http://www.amygillett.org.au/gran-fondo/

They limited entries to 3,000 which seemed to be more than enough. As one person in my wave put it, every 2mins a group the size of the TdF peloton hit the course. Pace was flat out from the gun!

The thing about the ride though was that it was an official qualifier event for the 2012 UCI age category world championships. As a result there were a number of people taking it very seriously indeed. Myself, I had a more relaxing day and just jumped from bunch to bunch to ensure I got as much of a free ride as possible (I was only there to enjoy the day and the scenery after all )

 

[dolophonic]

Tour of the Unknown Coast in Humbolt Co Ca is worth checking out..
Levi's GF ..the route is great but there were just too many people.

 

[Race Radio]

I remember the Tour of the Unknown coast when it was a Pro race. Great course.

Cent Cols Challenge in the Dolomites is on for next year....insane. 2,000 kilometres with 50,000 metres of climbing

http://www.rapha.cc/rapha-ccc-2012-the-dolomites

 

[Le breton]

..........

Cent Cols Challenge in the Dolomites is on for next year....insane. 2,000 kilometres with 50,000 metres of climbing

http://www.rapha.cc/rapha-ccc-2012-the-dolomites

I wouldn't call that insane, just very tough.

This is what I call insane
http://www.velo-concept.com/?pg=articles&rub=14&cat=55&id=450&lang=en
http://www.velo-concept.com/?pg=articles&rub=10&cat=36&id=778&lang=en

About 2150 km and 55 000 meters uphill, ONE RACE, not stages.

It obviously was too hard and fees were too high, it died after 2 editions.

 

[ElChingon]

At a certain point sanity disappears and insanity is then the point.

I'd rather do a ton of 30-40 mile crazy rides with a small pack of anywhere from 40 to 100 riders, and there are plenty around and with no entry fee or a cheesy race number in the 1000's or with some weird rule. Just llanta an llanta, and first across the City, County, Country, or plain old sign post win

 

[Race Radio]

L'Etape du California returns for 2012 http://www.letapeducalifornia.com/

 

[Race Radio]

Latest course for Hauteroute announced

http://www.hauteroute.org/en/news/view/an_exceptional_course_announced_for_the_2012_haute_route

Twice up Alp d'huez, including a TT

 

[Boeing]

L'Etape du California returns for 2012 http://www.letapeducalifornia.com/

So by definition early in thread L'Etape du Cali is a Fondo?

 

[Race Radio]

So by definition early in thread L'Etape du Cali is a Fondo?

Yes. Fondo, Sportive. Usually a long ride with a challenging course with some competitive element (Timing)

 

[Race Radio]

Thought is might be good to get this topic started again.

The L'Eroica brand sold to a group of Italian investors. The Bigolin family, Alberto Gnoli of Italy Bike Hotels and apparently Brooks/Selle Royal. Price was E1million. The event will still to be organised by the creators and supposedly the will add an event in California in 2015.

 

[Boeing]

Gran Fredo

Have you ever done the raid pyrenean?

100 hours or less? Atlantic tot he Med.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_Pyrénéen