NY GUIDE GRANFONDO - Campagnolo GFNY Championship NYC

GRANFONDONY.COM
RIDER
GUIDE
MAY 20, 2012
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IT’S THE RIDE.
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Welcome to the 2nd annual
International Gran Fondo
New York!
The number of GFNY participants has grown almost threefold since last year, from 1900 to a sold out
5000. We’re humbled by this increase in registrations. With this, GFNY boasts the largest number of
Gran Fondo participants in the world. Participants from over 70 countries make it the most international
Gran Fondo. It’s all a tribute to the world’s greatest city.
Your participation allows us to grow every aspect of the event and make it even more memorable for
each and every one of you. The long weekend starts with the two-day NYC BIKE EXPO, New York’s
largest road bike expo and ends with a party for you after completing the course.
If you hear us say our motto “la corsa la fanno i corridori”, it means “the racers make the race”, we truly
mean it. GFNY is about each and every one of you. The stories you bring to the GFNY are what make
this event so special.
We’re not resting at the status quo but rather working hard to provide an experience that is worth your
valuable time. It’s exciting to see what our partnership with the inaugural Gran Fondo Roma will bring.
We’re working on staging a UCI World Tour professional race to lead out Gran Fondo New York. And one
of our future plans is to bring a European stage race to NYC for its opening stages.
To the various towns that GFNY visits, police departments, EMS corps, New York City, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Palisades Interstate Park, the State of New York, the State of New
Jersey, Gruppo Sportivo GFNY, the amazing hundreds-strong event crew, sponsors, media partners,
and passionate volunteers: without your support this event would not be possible. Thank you!
Lidia fluhmeulrich fluhme
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index
GRAN FONDO IN ITALY
6
TERRACINA, ITALY
14
ANDREA PINARELLO
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SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
18
NYC BIKE EXPO
21
ROUTE MAP / COMPETITION
31
RULES
44
RACE DAY LOGISTICS
47
IMPORTANT
60
HOW TO SURVIVE GFNY
62
FINISH
66
FAQ
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GRUPPO SPORTIVO
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GRAPHIC DESIGN: IDIL BERKAN
GRAN FONDO NEW YORK
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GRAN FONDO
IN ITALY
by Ulrich Fluhme
Gran Fondo is an essential part of the Italian
cycling culture. Every weekend between February and October
thousands of riders compete on challenging courses all over the country.
The season usually opens along the Ligurian coast with Gran
Fondo Laigueglia, then races in the Italian cycling hubs Tuscany and Romagna, like Gran Fondo Via del Sale, follow. May
and June are the busiest months with several events each
weekend that attract up to 10,000 riders. Nove Colli is the
big mama of them all, the most colorful cycling circus, held
in Cesenatico, Marco Pantani’s birth place in the Romagna
region. The course is tough, covering nine relentless hills and
200 kilometers (130 miles). Other major Gran Fondo include
Felice Gimondi in Bergamo, Dieci Colli in Bologna or Damiano
Cunego in Verona.
The season tapers off in July with some super tough courses
in the Alps like Giordana, Fausto Coppi and Maratona Dolomiti which is the Queen of all. The dead of summer is reserved
for “la famiglia”. September though sees a last spike of Gran
Fondo events before the season ends where it started, at the
Ligurian coast.
The unique and great thing about Gran Fondo is that it brings
cyclists of all ability levels together. At the front, you have
elite racers gunning for the win. Some of them end up as
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professional racers, some look back at a few seasons as pros
or “dilettanti”, elite amateurs. They are in the first corral, the
“Lista Rossa”. But the guys and gals in the corrals behind
them are no slouches either. Italians are born on the bike.
While some racers may be limited to being weekend warriors, most of them look back on twenty or more years of
racing and thousands of training miles.
However, never let looks fool you. Just because a rider looks
like someone who just escaped from the Giro d’Italia peloton,
it doesn’t mean he’s super fast. “Fare una bella figura”, looking great, is just as well an essential part of Italian culture.
The world is a 24/7 stage to perform. Hence, an Italian Gran
Fondo rider’s bike will usually look as sharp as his matching
club team kit. Golden rule: you will never find a true Italian
in a pro team kit unless he rides for the team. Another nogo are black shorts and single color jerseys. The kit must be
loud but matching and the bike be clean and with the latest
accessories.
Distances at Italian Gran Fondo vary but all of them have one
thing in common: ridiculously hilly courses. Usually organiz-
You are late
for the 2012 edition!
Take
Take GFNY
GFNY as
as training
training for
for 2013
2013 edition
edition on
on June
June 30th!
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www.holimites.com
Facts 2012:
29.300 participation requests for 9.000 starting places
55 participating nationalities
86 miles / 13.747 ft vertical gain
6 hours live broadcast on national TV
Join Team Gran Fondo New York at Maratona 2013
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ers make sure that they cover every single hill or mountain in
the area. If the Gran Fondo is not your thing, you can choose
the Medio Fondo or even Piccolo Fondo. Abbreviated, these
courses are called “lungo”, “medio” or “corto” but never,
ever would any of these be simply called “Fondo”. It’s like
calling a Marathon a “thon”.
Few people have a realistic shot at the overall win or even an
age group win. But no one likes to go home empty handed.
That’s where the “pacco gara”, the goodie bag comes into
play. Every participant receives some event memorabilia like
a jersey, vest, arm warmers, bag, mini pump, base layer, cover socks, etc., usually branded in the Gran Fondo colors. But it
doesn’t stop there. Local companies sponsor the event with
their products so riders receive pasta, olive oil, wine, cheese,
ham and other delicacies from the area. Italians love to judge
the value of a Gran Fondo based on the “pacco gara”. Gran
Fondo magazines like “Cicloturismo”, “Giornale delle Gran
Fondo” or our partner “La Bicicletta”, usually contain up to
300 pages with epic stories and pictures of recent races.
Entry fees for Gran Fondos in Italy are usually between $40
and $70. They can be kept lower than in the US because authorities charge very low permit fees, if any. Events are mostly held on empty, rural roads which remain completely open
to traffic, with a handful of police cars and motorbikes clearing the way for the front bunch leaving the majority to ride in
traffic. In comparison, Gran Fondo New York pays $500,000
in permits and police fees just to make the event happen.
The pasta party after the event is the best place to exchange
“war stories” with fellow cyclists who have covered the
same course. Good food and good company wrap up an usually challenging but equally rewarding day. More bottles of
wine, cheese rolls, dried pork legs as well as bike parts are
handed to the winners before everyone has to get going. “A
la prossima”, see you next time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
February & March
The first races of the new Gran Fondo season can be the best
you will ever experience. Not necessarily because of their difficulty or your top fitness but because of the excitement in
the air that comes only with a new beginning. Everyone is
keen to show the new team kit and bike. It’s the time of year
when you see old friends and together you complain about
the lack of training courtesy of the dark and cold. And cold it
can indeed still be at those first races, especially at the start
in the morning. But once things warm up a little in the afternoon, there’s a chance you can enjoy the post race festivities
outside in the sun.
Not only the pros open their true racing season at the Mediterranean coast of France and Italy but so do the Gran Fondisti. Loano is host to the first and incredibly early GF on February 5 at the Ligurian Coast. The event has more of a local
flavor compared to its neighbor in Laigueglia, held one week
later. In 2011, GF Laigueglia was part of the “Prestigio” series, which led to record participation of 4,000 riders. There’s
no doubt that Laigugelia is the unofficial kick-off to the Gran
Fondo season. Few riders are in great shape in February (or
any shape to speak of) but there’s hardly a better place to get
into race mode than Laigueglia. After flying along the stunning coast during the opening k’s, the course hits the inland
hills which immediately provide ample challenge to set apart
the “already fit” from the “getting in shape”. Due to road
constructions, the 2012 course was slightly modified and is
now 100k long with 1,600m of climbing.
THE 4
Gran Fondo
seasonS In Italy
APRIL & MaY
While February and March are the months where things get
going at Gran Fondos in Italy, April and May are the months
when the racing is in full fly. There’s no shortage of events
to choose from. So, where to go? Every race has a certain
appeal to it. Some are must-do large happenings, some are
difficult and others are small and unique. Let’s have a look at
a few.
April first’s “Selle Italia” in Cervia is no joke. Notoriously sold
out early these days, the big hitters flock to the coastal town
of Cervia and head to the Appennin hills from there.
Easter is very sacred in Italy so there’s little to no racing. Virtually any of the Gran Fondos on the weekends thereafter are
a good choice. If you have a full week, one of the very few
Gran Fondo stage races is held on a beautiful island: Giro di
Sardegna.
The “little brother” of Nove Colli is “Dieci Colli”, “Ten Hills”
in beautiful Bologna kicks of the month of May. But don’t be
mistaken: I know enough areas in this world where those
“hills” would be called “epic, treacherous climbs”.
Gran Fondo delle Alpi in Sondrio is one of the first races that
touches the Alps. The event is put up by the same organiza-
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Proud Sponsor of
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APRIL & MaY
tion as GF Laigueglia in February and
GF Giordana in June, and includes a
sister climb of the legendary Mortirolo.
When I raced there a few years ago, I
thought it was a good idea to go on the
attack early. I tend to just “go” if given
the chance, knowing that I won’t play a
role in the outcome of the race. Might
as well play... However, attacking a few
k’s before the start of the key climb
turned out to be a very painful idea.
Bergamo is host to Felice Gimondi’s
Gran Fondo. Being part of a few key
series in the Italian GF calendar, “La Gimondi” is packed with talent and masses. With 162k and 3,050m of climbing,
the race is no slouch. Be ready.
Once you arrive in the small coastal
town of Cesenatico, you understand
why all Gran Fondos so far somehow
feel like they were only lead-up races
for the big mama of Gran Fondo Nove
Colli. The “Lungo” is a tad over 200k
long and boasts 3,850m of climbing,
including the infamous “Barbotto”.
12,000 riders celebrate this party on
racing wheels. The event sells out
within a few days in October. Nove Colli now is in its 42nd year. Home town
hero Marco Pantani once competed in
the event with a wig. It was his comeback from a devastating injury.
JUNE & JULY
In June and July the Gran Fondos in
Italy hit the high mountains. Hard core
courses like GF Sportful in the Dolomites or Fausto Coppi in the Southern
Alps are more “man versus mountain”
challenges than head-to-head races.
The “lungo percorso” in these events
is usually 150-200k long, hits 3-5 passes and has over 4,000m of climbing.
GF Sportful (fka GF Campagnolo) is
the opener of the big daddies. With its
5,200m of climbing over 210km it will
test your abilities to merely finish. Only
the extremely fit are still competing at
that level. There may be other events in
Europe that have a little more climbing
(Oetztaler and Alpenbrevet) but Sportful has the atmosphere and competition on its side that’s unique to an Italian GF.
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A week later GF Giordana throws Gavia
and Mortirolo, aka the beauty and the
beast, at you. Yes, please!
Back in the Dolomites only another
weekend later: it’s time for the Queen
of Gran Fondo. I may have referred to
Nove Colli with that title but scratch
that. Maratona dles Dolomites trumps
them all. It’s a 140km long mountain
party on closed to cars roads over absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and
challenging dolomite passes (Passo
Giau anyone?). The field of 8,000 has
to be drawn in a lottery. If the valley
could handle 30,000 riders, they would
be there.
If you have been shut out of Nove Colli
or just don’t want to deal with such
masses of people, consider Marcialonga Cycling. It’s the first Gran Fondo
of the season that hits the high mountains. But beware: the Dolomites at the
end of May can provide challenging
weather conditions.
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JUNE & JULY
You can’t decide between sniffing some Tour de France air
and doing a Gran Fondo? You don’t have to. GF Fausto Coppi
starting and finishing in Cuneo is close to the French border
and not far from the likes of Izoard and Galibier. It’s usually
held around the time when the Tour hits the alps so your
chances are good to make it a combo trip. GF Fausto Coppi
tackles the lesser known but Giro proven Colle Sampeyre
and Colle Fauniera aka “Colle dei Morti”. Now, the “Pass of
the Dead” name shouldn’t keep you from riding it but some
respect is definitely due. While Cuneo lies at a mere 300m
above sea level, both Fauniera and Sampeyre hit 2,500m.
But, of course, there is more, such as the Maratona Apennini or La Pinarello that have their own characteristics and
challenges.
THE FALL
With the end of the family summer
vacation in August in Italy, there could
be a lot of great cycling left in the fall.
But it seems as if the country’s cyclists
never recover from too much ice cream
eating laziness to compete at challenging Gran Fondos. Sure, there still are a
few events, some of them even on the
bigger side, but the Gran Fondo scene
seems unable to awaken to its springtime glory. Until this year.
You want to take advantage of the still
warm days and your strong base? Gran
Fondo Cinque Terre in Deiva Marina or
Gran Fondo Colnago in Piacenza, both
held in September, are probably the
two key events of the fall season. But
there are two new Gran Fondos on the
horizon that have the biggest potential
to shake up post summer dreariness:
La Magnifica and Gran Fondo Roma.
La Magnifica on September 9 promises
a spectacular course through the heartland of cycling. After the start in Forli
at the bottom of the Apennines, riders
tackle a 227k course with over 4.700m
of relentless climbing, dirt roads
(“strade bianche”) and cobblestone
sections. To top it of, the finish is held
Roubaix-style in a velodrome. If that’s
too much course brutality for you, Gran
Fondo Roma will be the spectacle you
have been waiting for.
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On October 14, 2012, the inaugural Gran Fondo Roma brings amateur cycling
to the eternal city. The Terme di Caracalla (Baths of Caracalla) provide the
backdrop for what will be a spectacular course through the city along the
Colosseum and other historic sites. Be ready to be transported to Ancient
Rome as you ride your bike in and around Rome over the 145km / 90 mile
challenging route with four hill climbs.
Italian tour operator XEvents (born out of the Pinarello family) organizes a trip
that will immediately make you reach for your credit card. The week starts
in Tuscany, where the group will participate at the now famous “l’Eroica”, a
non-timed ride where the bikes have to be at least 30 years old. The following
week is spent traveling by bike across Tuscany and Lazio, ending in Rome in
order to participate at the inaugural Gran Fondo Roma on October 14. Your
luggage will be carried from town to town as you make your way to Rome.
Tour de France stage winner Eros Poli (yes, Mr. Mt.Ventoux) will be your riding companion.
GRAN FONDO
ROMA
Gran Fondo Roma is partnering with Gran Fondo New York to crown the
World Champions of the two worlds, old and new. The man and woman
with the best result from both Gran Fondos will be invited to the following
Gran Fondo (flight and hotel included). Plus, the 753rd finisher of Gran Fondo
Roma (Rome’s founding year) and 1,454th finisher of Gran Fondo New York
(height in feet of the Empire State Building) will receive a race kit from the
partner event as well as other prizes.
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TERRACINA
ITALY
by Ulrich Fluhme
Fifteen years ago I heard for the first time
about the town of Terracina in Italy, situated between Rome and Naples. It was
an article in an Italian cycling magazine
about the pro cycling team Saeco training
there in January. At the time, I spent two
weeks in Cecina Mare in Tuscany. Cecina
Mare is a perfect training ground and the
weather is usually great for cycling even
in January with temperatures of 10-15C
(50-60F).
Usually. If you get unlucky, it can be colder. Bring in Terracina. Its shores and the
coast south of it are sheltered by various
mountain chains. The “Golfo di Gaeta” is
the warmest region in all of Italy (equal
to Sicily that is hundreds of kilometers
further south).
Sure, there are other great places to train.
Many travel to Mallorca/Spain which has
great roads. The Canary Islands are off
the coast of Africa, which is a guarantee
for warm weather in the dead of winter.
But Mallorca can get cold. And the Canary Islands may be warm but expect
storm like winds and a limited variety of
roads to train on. It’s the same old every
day.
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While southern Lazio is cycling fantasy
land, it is not on the radar of the amateur
rider or cycling enthusiast. And that’s just
baffling. Rome’s airports Fiumicino and
Ciampino are a mere 90 minutes north of
Terracina. The town is close to the train
route Rome-Naples and the fact that Italians love cycling and you’re not a weirdo
there is a big bonus. Yes, Tucson, Arizona
may be warm, but as a cyclist you’re not
a normal sight. I don’t have to mention
that the food is amazing in Italy (but I still
do). And the proximity of Terracina to
Rome makes for fantastic bad weather
or rest day excursion.
There is a hotel in Sperlonga, 20k South
of Terracina, that hosts most pro teams,
including Cipollini’s Saeco and Domina
Vacanze, Pantani’s Mercatone Uno or
just recently Vini Farnese with Pippo
Pozzato. For a stay longer than a week,
however, I suggest to rent an apartment.
We paid 1,000 Euro for three weeks for
a two bedroom, one bathroom, living
room, kitchen and a humongous terrace
just by the beach. Sat TV and WiFi included. Restaurants and supermarkets
with all the fresh food you’d ever wish
are close by.
Terracina is not like Tucson, San Diego or
Gran Canaria. You don’t have to know the
three or four rides that you can do. With
its hundreds of roads you can just head
out the door and take the road you fancy.
See that town on the hill over there?
Let’s check it out! But as anywhere,
there are highlights you don’t want to
miss. Here are my three favorites:
1. The Sperlonga climb is easily one
of the most scenic climbs I’ve done. It
starts in Sperlonga at the sea and heads
inland. The road hugs the hill with spectacular views of the Mediterranean sea.
It’s a steady 5-6% climb which is ideal
so early in the year. Pros use this 5k long
beauty to train “salita forza resistenza”
(SFR), big gear strength training. If you
continue towards Itri and from there to
Gaeta, make sure you take the small
road turning right just before Itri saying
“Valle Quercia”. Spectacular and car
free.
2. Pietra Porci: this climb starts right
behind Terracina and loops around a hill.
Use it as a beautiful start or end to a
longer ride or simply a nice 20 mile loop
through olive trees, orange trees and
farms.
well. North of the hill is a natural park with
a beautiful road on a small stretch of land
between the beach and a lake.
3. San Felice Circeo is a village at the
bottom of a 400m hill that overlooks the
flat coast around it. It pops out of the
ground from nowhere. The climb up is
steady but has some steeper parts as
We’ll be back next year.
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Andrea Pinarello
Few people in the world know as much about Gran Fondo or
any amateur racing as Andrea did. He raced all year, starting in
February at Gran Fondo Laigueglia, to the Belgium classics, overseas (USA, Japan), the mountain monuments in the summer like
Maratona dles Dolomites and Marmotte, until the last races in
the fall. Everyone knew Andrea and it seemed like he knew everyone. He was not only the face of Cicli Pinarello or an avid racer
but also the organizer of Gran Fondo Pinarello, one of the most
prestigious GF in the world.
We were excited to have Andrea at our inaugural Gran Fondo
New York on May 8, 2011, especially because it was on the same
weekend as the start of the Giro, an occasion not to be missed
by an Italian cyclist.
On August 3, 2011, Andrea died after a race in Friuli from a heart
attack. It’s obvious that he left a gap at Cicli Pinarello that is hard
to fill. Personally, I think his death is an even bigger tragedy for the
Gran Fondo community. But all that is completely irrelevant compared to a wife losing her husband and three kids losing their dad.
His daughter Andrea never met her dad. She was born shortly
after his death. My heart goes out to them.
The third timed climb at Gran Fondo New York is called “Colle Andrea Pinarello”. I encourage everyone to dig just a little bit deeper
when climbing it while not taking it too seriously. That’s how Andrea would have liked it.
Ulrich Fluhme
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Schedule at a Glance
FRiday,
may 18
SATURDAY,
may 19
11am-8pm
NYC Bike Expo and mandatory packet pickup
Penn Pavilion in midtown Manhattan
401 Seventh Avenue (at 33rd Street) across from
Penn Station and Madison Square Garden
sunday, may 20
5am
Opening of start area on lower level
of George Washington Bridge
(civil twilight 5:02am, sunrise 5:34am)
6.15am
Closing of start area on lower level of
George Washington Bridge
7am
Start of Gran Fondo New York
and Medio Fondo New York
11am
Start of festivities in Weehawken,
at the finish area
12pm
First ferry departs
Weehawken for Manhattan
Ferries depart every 20 minutes
3pm
Start of award ceremonies in
Weehawken, NJ at NY Waterway
ferry terminal parking lot
5.30pm
Course closes
7pm
End of festivities
Last ferry departs Weehawken
MONDAY, MAY 21
12pm-7pm
RACE OFFICE
merchandise sales
Swim-Bike-Run
203 West 58th Street
(between 7th Avenue and Broadway)
212-399-3999
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Packet Pickup
and NYC BIKE EXPO
NYC BIKE EXPO is the location for race number, timing chip,
wristband, jersey and goodie bag pickup. Advance pickup of
your race materials is mandatory. Packet pickup can only
be done in person. Please note that there is no registration or packet pickup on Sunday.
Your friends and family can join you at the expo. The expo is
free admission and open to the public.
www.nycbikeexpo.com
Getting your
Race Packet
Your materials are organized by your race number. At the entrance, check the board for your assigned number. Sign in
on the pro-style sign-in wall. Next, sign the Gran Fondo New
York waiver. In return for the signed waiver you get your registration materials and the wristband that allows you access
onto the course and also serves as your meal ticket.
After that, you can proceed to pick up your registration materials. You will receive your bike number plate (with attached
timing chip for GFNY participants), a jersey bib number, your
jersey in the size you ordered, your ”Val Colla” sports bag, a
bottle of GFNY wine by T. Edward Wines, your ELITE bike
bottle, warming cream by Hibros, bike lube sachet by Finish
Line, Delverde recipe booklet the GFNY race poster and a
printed Rider Guide magazine.
If the jersey you ordered doesn’t fit you, please visit the
GIORDANA booth that carries a few spare jerseys for exchange.
NYC BIKE EXPO
NYC BIKE EXPO brings two days of all things road cycling to
NYC. 60 vendors showcase, sample and sell their products
and services. Check out www.nycbikeexpo.com for more
information. Admission is free and open to the public.
Dates & Hours
Friday, May 18: 11am-8pm
Saturday, May 19: 11am-8pm
During packet pickup, checking in will be done electronically,
so there is no need to bring a printed confirmation. Simply
bring a passport or driver license or another governmentissued I.D. for identification purposes.
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Location
401 Seventh Avenue
(southeast corner of 33rd Street and 7th Avenue)
Subway / Train
NYC BIKE EXPO is situated in the heart of
Manhattan. It has very convenient access to
public transportation (trains, subways and buses).
1, 2, 3 trains to 34th Street
A, C, E trains to 34th Street
B, D, F, M trains to 34th Street
N, Q, R trains to 34th Street
Bike
Free, secure, indoor bike parking is available.
Bring your bike through the double doors at
the 7th Avenue entrance. You will be able to
check your bike in with security staff.
NJ PATH trains to 33rd Street
LIRR trains to Penn Station
AMTRAK trains to Penn Station
NJ Transit trains to Penn Station
caR PARKING
FACILITY
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
Edison ParkFast #250
451 Ninth Ave, btw 35th & 36th St
212-502-4885
Edison ParkFast #8
245 West 28th St btw 7th & 8th Ave
212-695-4221
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the pro bike specialists
the pro bike specialists
2347 HUDSON TERRACE – FORT LEE, NJ
2347 HUDSON TERRACE – FORT LEE, NJ
201-944-7074
201-944-7074
www.strictlybicycles.com
www.strictlybicycles.com
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GRUPPO
SPORTIVO
SEE YOU AT
NYC BIKEEXPO
MedioFondo~100K/GranFondo~170K/SuprFondo~220K
GiroPreFesta/GiorneJaveFesta/FondoFesta/SeraFesta
PaccoDiFama/VIP/Expo
www.granfondoottawa.org
Stomp the Pedals, Feel the Power, Think BigRide, GranFondo!
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www.giordanausa.com
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Official GFNY Apparel
The bib number must be attached horizontally on the pockets with safety pins.
You are free to choose which pockets
you place it on. Usually, you would use
the pockets on the non-dominant side
of your body, eg. a right-handed person
would put his number on the left and
center pockets.
You will receive your race wristband at
the expo. Upon providing your signed
waiver, the wristband will be attached to
your wrist until the end of the event. You
are not permitted to remove the wristband. Any wristbands that have been
tampered with will be considered void.
Bike Number,
WRIST BAND
and Jersey
Number
the course, what is still to come and the
upcoming aid stations and timed climbs.
The two numbered stickers in your race
packet are for your bike and your checked
bag. Put the bike sticker somewhere
safe on your bike, this sticker will allow
you to utilize the secure bike parking at
the finish. Attach the bag check number
to any bag that you would like to check in
on race morning, the bag will be waiting
for you at the finish. You might want to
put a pair of flip flops or old sneakers in
your check-in bag.
You should put the course profile sticker,
sponsored by Strava, on your top tube by
the handle bars. It will provide you with
easy reference as to where you are on
Your bike number is also your timing device. In the back of each number there
are two timing chips glued on. In the
picture you can see how you should attach your bike number to your bike. The
timing chips will only work if you put the
number at the front of your bike. The
bike numbers cannot be modified or cut,
otherwise the timing chips may get damaged and you will not be timed. Please
do not bend the number! This will also
damage the timing chips and you will not
be timed.
You must wear the official black GFNY
jersey, bike plate, wristband and bib
number on May 20. Without these four
pieces, you will not be able to access the
GFNY start, timed climbs, aid stations or
the finish.
27
T. EDWARD WINES
Reward those with the courage to challenge ‘normal ’
w w w. t e d w a rd w i n e s . c o m
A selection of properties we proudly represent.
TICINO
VAL COLLA
Val Colla is a valley between beautiful
mountain chains in Ticino, the Italian
speaking part of Switzerland.
THE
BAG
When we rode there last year,
we thought about what gear the
participants might like and decided on a sports bag. With the
help of our outstanding designer
Idil Berkan, the bag
“VAL COLLA” was born.
At GFNY 2012, every rider
receives this bag.
It fits all the apparel you need for
a day trip with your bike.
Your ”Val Colla”
sports bag contains:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
bottle of GFNY wine by T. Edward Wines
750 ml ELITE bike bottle
warming cream by Hibros
bike lube sachet by Finish Line
Delverde recipe booklet
GFNY race poster
Rider Guide magazine
29
30
COURSE MAP
HUDSON
RIVER
35
50
60miles
NYC
110miles
60
31
CHAMPIONS
JERSEY
Winners of age groups, team,
him&her teams and overall
receive the Champions Jersey.
Individual Competition
The four timed climbs are added together to determine a total time and overall ranking.
The age groups are:
•
•
•
•
•
18-39 male/female
40-44 m/f
45-49 m/f
50-54 m/f
55-59 m/f
•
•
•
•
•
60-64 m/f
65+ f
65-69 m
70-74 m
75+ m
The medals:
The top 25% of each category receive a gold medal. All other finishers including Medio Fondo
finishers receive a silver medal. The medal co-functions as a bottle opener.
Team Competition
Individuals can register as members of a team to take part in the GFNY Team Competition.
•
•
•
•
The four fastest times from a team will be added and ranked to determine the fastest team.
All team member splits are totaled and ranked.
The podium 4-person teams will be awarded prizes.
All members of a Cycling Team are eligible for individual age group prizes.
Him+Her Category
A female and male rider have to start and finish each of the four climbs within thirty seconds of each other.
• Because it’s tough to find two riders of the same ability and fitness, pushing, pulling, dragging,
encouraging, shouting and any other means of working together is allowed.
• The Him+Her team competion consists of two age categories: sub-90 and 90+ years old combined.
• Members of a Him+Her team are not eligible for individual age group prizes because rider
assistance among team members in this category is permitted.
32
34
Timesheet
Route
Distance (approx.)
Gran Fondo
Medio Fondo
Km
Miles
25mph
20mph
15mph
15mph
10mph
George Washington Bridge
0
0
7:00
7:00
7:00
7:00
7:00
Henry Hudson Drive
4
2.5
7:05
7:10
7:10
7:10
7:15
NJ-NY-Stateline
23
14
7:35
7:45
7:55
7:55
8:15
Piermont – Aid Station 1
27
15
7:40
7:45
8:05
8:05
8:35
Nyack
31
19
7:45
7:55
8:20
8:20
8:55
Route 9W
36
22.5
7:50
8:05
8:25
8:25
9:10
Rockland Lake
38.5
24
7:55
8:15
8:30
8:30
9:20
Haverstraw
48
30
8:10
8:30
9:00
Stony Point – Aid Station 2
51
32
8:15
8:35
9:05
Start 1st timed climb
Passo del Daino
56
35
8:25
8:45
9:20
Finish 1st timed climb
58
36
8:30
8:45
9:25
Route 9W
61
38
8:25
8:55
9:30
Bear Mountain – Aid Station 3
68
42
8:45
9:05
9:45
Start 2nd timed climb
Montagna dell’Orso
69
42
8:45
9:05
9:45
Finish 2nd timed climb
75
46
8:55
9:20
10:05
Bear Mountain – Aid Station 4
80
50
9:00
9:30
10:20
Mott Farm Road
88
55
9:10
9:45
10:40
Start 3rd timed climb
Colle Andrea Pinarello
95
59.5
9:20
9:55
11:00
Finish 3rd timed climb
98
61
9:20
10:05
11:00
Pomona – Aid Station 5
102
64
9:35
10:10
11:20
Start 4 timed climb
Colle Formaggio
107
67
9:40
10:20
11:30
Finish 4th timed climb
109
68
9:40
10:25
11:30
South Mountain Road
119
74
9:55
10:45
11:55
Ridge Road
127
79
10:10
10:55
12:20
Strawtown Road
128
80
10:15
11:00
12:20
9:00
10:00
West Nyack – Aid Station 6
136
84.5
10:30
11:15
12:40
9:20
10:30
Orangeburg
141
88
10:35
11:25
12:55
9:40
10:55
Sparkill
144
90
10:40
11:30
1:00
9:40
11:05
NY-NJ-Stateline
149.5
93
10:45
11:40
1:10
9:50
11:20
Henry Hudson Drive - Waterstation
161
100
11:00
12:00
1:40
10:20
12:00
Finish Weehawken
177
110
11:25
12:30
2:20
11:00
1:00
th
35
TIMED CLIMBS
Passo del Daino
The first timed climb is fairly short. But it’s one of those
deceiving climbs that start out mellow and get tough later
when it hits up to 14%. If you start it too fast, you will suffer badly towards the end. It’s a climb for the smart rider.
Climb starts at approx. mile 35.
36
37
38
Montagna dell’Orso
This climb is a true New York City cycling classic. It’s situated in a State Park. Here, New Yorkers test their
true climbing abilities. As soon as spring arrives, athletes are flocking to Montagna dell’Orso or, as the
locals call it, “Bear Mountain”. It is not as steep as the previous climb - it tops out at 10% - and hence will
suit a passista scalatore best as it is nearly four miles (6k) long and very gradual.
A controlled tempo effort will bring the fastest time.
Climb starts at approx. mile 42.
39
New LUNGO 170Km
New MEDIO 120 Km
La Pina GOURMET
40
Colle Andrea
Pinarello
The third timed climb was already a part of the 2011
course but not timed. Riders unanimously voiced that we
might as well time it if we put this beast on the map. We
listen to our participants. Colle Andrea Pinarello, known by
the locals as “Gate Hill Road” is neither long nor steep but
it’s still draining. A few times you might think “Now I’m
up!” just to be faced with yet another incline. The climb
is named after the late Andrea Pinarello who was the ambassador of Gran Fondo, not only representing the company of his family but also the whole sport of cycling. He
participated in the inaugural Gran Fondo New York 2011.
Climb starts at approx. mile 60.
41
HANDCRAFTED
NO SUGAR ADDED
100% NATURAL
Inspired
by
authentic,
regional Italian recipes, the
Lucini Italia collection of
premium sauces is prepared by hand in small
batches using 100% fresh ingredients, such
as sun ripened plum tomatoes, Tuscan basil
and Lucini® extra virgin olive oil. Made
with only the highest-quality ingredients,
all of our sauces are 100% natural. Embark
on a culinary journey with each recipe –
from the fiery flavors of Italy’s southern
coast to the rustic farmhouse recipes of
central Tuscany.
only the most cared for ingredients
make it to the lucini jar.
Spaghetti Marinara and Meatballs
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2 lbs total Ground Pork, Veal and Chuck
1 cup of breadcrumbs
¾ cup grated Parmesan
1 egg
½ cup milk
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, minced
1 lb Delverde® Spaghetti
1 jar Lucini® Tuscan Marinara with Roasted Garlic
Combine the above ingredients, aside from the spaghetti and
sauce, in a large bowl, using your hands. Once combined,
form 12 meatballs and placed on a deep dish baking sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes, until they are slightly browned.
Meanwhile, simmer the sauce in a large saucepot. Carefully
place the browned meatballs in the sauce and simmer on low
for at least an hour, stirring occasionally.
Prepare the spaghetti according to the
package directions and cook until al dente.
Pour the prepared pasta in a large serving
dish. Top with sauce and meatballs.
For recipes and more information about all of our products visit Lucini.com or call 1-888-5Lucini
@luciniitalia
www.facebook.com/luciniitalia
42
TIMED CLIMBS
Colle Formaggio
Colle Formaggio is a hidden gem in the area.
Ask the 9W enthusiast and most will have
never heard of it. New to GFNY 2012, Colle Formaggio
which is also known as “Cheesecote” or “Overlook Road”
is the perfect icing on the cake. Make sure you turn around
at the top to oversee large parts of
Hudson River and on a clear day all the way
to Manhattan’s skyscrapers.
Climb starts at approx. mile 67.
43
2nd Annual
2
International
On May 20, 2012
RULES
1. Gran Fondo New York (“GFNY”) is a ride where the Gran Fondo
(“GF”) course has four timed climbs which count towards the
competition. The Medio Fondo (“MF”) course is a purely noncompetitive ride.
2. Entry
2.1. The entry to GF and MF is open to riders aged 18 or older. Registration is done online at www.granfondony.com. Entry
closes at 6,000 riders or on May 19, 7pm ET, whichever comes
first. GFNY has the sole discretion over entry numbers and cut
off dates.
2.2. Riders who have been banned by a federation for a doping
violation will be refused.
2.3. Professional cyclists and former professional cyclists who
raced within the last five years can join the ride but are not allowed to compete. If a professional cyclist joins the ride, he has to
stay out of the way of competing riders during the timed climbs.
2.4. Each rider has to ensure that his/her health condition is sufficient for the event.
2.5. Each rider is responsible for having sufficient insurance coverage. GFNY may offer additional insurance at its sole discretion.
2.6. Entries are not refundable or deferrable. Transfers may be allowed at the sole discretion of GFNY. No rider shall be entitled to
an entry fee refund in case of disqualification.
2.7. GFNY reserves the right, in its sole and complete discretion,
to deny entry, revoke the entry application of any applicant at any
time, and/or to disqualify any individual from the Event.
3. Equipment
3.1. Bike: any technically serviceable roadworthy bicycle is permitted. The following are not permitted for safety reasons: prone
bicycles, recumbent bikes and bicycles with chair seating (except
for challenged athletes), penny farthings or mono cycles. Unsafe
bikes can be banned at any time during the event.
3.2. Triathlon handlebars are permitted IF the rider keeps both
hands at the brake levers while riding within 10 meters of another
rider. A violation can lead to immediate disqualification.
3.3. Helmets must be worn by all riders at all times and have to be
securely fastened with a chinstrap at all times while riding.
3.4. Jersey: the official event jersey must be worn at all times.
No exceptions.
44
3.5. Bike number: the number plate with the chip timing straps
on the back must be attached to the handlebar and be clearly visible from the front at all times. Any alteration of the number can
lead to disqualification or the timing chips may not work properly.
3.6. Jersey number: the jersey number must be worn on the left
back jersey pockets, attached by safety pins. Any wrong positioning or alteration of the number can lead to disqualification.
3.7. Wrist band: the wrist band must be worn at all times during
the event.
3.8. Headphones are not allowed.
4. Start
4.1. GF and MF start at 7am on George Washington Bridge, lower
level, outbound lanes. Entry to the start area is only from the designated ramp on the NYC side of the bridge. Riders without their
GFNY jerseys, bike number, jersey number and wristband at the
checkpoint will be refused access to the start area.
4.2. The starting corrals close at 6.30am. If a rider is late, he/she
will not be able to cross George Washington Bridge on the road
or be eligible for competition.
4.3. Start order: 1. Lista Rossa: Returning champions from the
previous year (overall, age groups, teams), VIP 2. Licensed racers
in several corrals according to their ranking 3. General GF riders
according to their age group 4. MF riders 5. Challenged athletes
Riders should start in their designated corral. Riders are allowed to
start in a corral further back than their designated corral. If a rider
attempts to get in a corral further ahead than allocated he/she will
be disqualified.
5. Competition
5.1. The accumulated time of four climbs counts towards the
competition. Only riders who complete the full GFNY course are
eligible for competition ranking and prizes. If two riders have the
same overall time, the rider with the faster time at Montagna
del’Orso trumps. If both riders are equal there as well, the faster
time at the climbs in the following order trumps: Colle Andrea
Pinarello, Colle Formaggio, Passo del Daino.
5.2. Categories: 1. overall m/f 2. 18-39 m/f 3. 40-44 m/f 4. 45-49
m/f 5. 50-54 m/f 6. 55-59 m/f 7. 60-64 m/f 8. 65+f 9. 65-69 m
10. 70-74 m 11. 75+m 12. under 90 him&her: times of a mixed
gender team added. Riders have to be within 30 seconds of
each other during every timed segment. Outside assistance between teammates is permitted and encouraged. 13. 90 and over
him&her: times of a mixed gender team added. Riders have to
be within 30 seconds of each other during every timed segment.
Outside assistance between teammates is permitted and encouraged. 14. Team of four (any gender): times of the fastest four riders of a team added
5.3. Prizes will be awarded to the top three in each category. Distribution of the prizes is at the sole discretion of GFNY.
5.4. All protests concerning the order of finish shall be examined
and resolved by the chief judge, whose decision is final and without appeal. Rules and Course It is the rider’s responsibility to familiarize himself/herself with the rules of the event and the course
before the start. Taking alternate routes or cutting the course
short leads to disqualification from the current competition and to
a ban at future GFNY.
6. Abuse
6.1. No rider may be disrespectful toward race directors, officials,
staff, riders, volunteers or spectators.
6.2. No rider may use foul or abusive language or conduct during
GFNY.
6.3. No rider may assault (an unlawful attempt, coupled with the
present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another)
or do battery (any willful and unlawful use of force or violence
upon the person of another) to anyone connected with GFNY (including but not limited to riders, spectators, public officials, volunteers, staff, etc...).
6.4. Any of the above can lead to disqualification and a lifelong ban
of Gran Fondo New York.
7. Conduct
7.1. Cyclists have to obey all laws of the road including traffic
lights and stop signs. Violators may be ticketed by local law enforcement and/or disqualified and removed from the event.
7.2. No rider may make an abrupt motion so as to interfere with
the forward progress of another rider, either intentionally or by
accident.
7.3. Any rider who appears to present a danger to the other riders
may be disqualified by GFNY either before, during, or after GFNY.
7.4. Pushing or pulling or any other physical assistance among riders is prohibited in all categories except the Him&Her categories
where pushing or pulling is encouraged. Devices of any sort to
pull or push are not allowed.
7.5. Team cars or personal support cars are not allowed.
7.6. Any of the above can lead to disqualification and a lifelong ban
of Gran Fondo New York.
8. Environment
GFNY is committed to protecting the environment. Any discarding of trash or food outside the designated trash receptacles at
the aid stations is prohibited and can lead to disqualification and
a lifelong ban of Gran Fondo New York. Any urinating in public is
prohibited and can lead to disqualification and a lifelong ban from
Gran Fondo New York.
9. Performance Enhancing Drugs
GFNY is committed to a drug free sport. Performance Enhancing
Drugs (PED) are prohibited in preparation for and during GFNY.
GFNY reserves the right to enforce doping controls before, during
and after the event. Any violation of World Anti Doping Association (WADA) rules will lead to disqualification, reclaim of prizes
and a lifelong ban of Gran Fondo New York, Inc. events. GFNY participants are highly encouraged to stay informed about PEDs and
PED testing. GFNY recommends the USADA Athlete Handbook.
10. Acceptance of Risk
All those who ride and compete under these rules do so at their
own risk. No liability shall attach to GFNY or any of its officials
with respect to any loss or injury sustained or caused by anyone
competing or riding in GFNY.
45
46
Race
Morning
The start area opens at 5am. Do not arrive later than 5.30am.
It will take time to get everyone on the bridge. Access to
the bridge closes at 6.15am. If you arrive after 6.15am, you
will have to take the bike path across the bridge and you
won’t be in the results.
Make sure to eat breakfast in the morning. Bring your ID, cash,
credit card and cell phone with you. Fill up both your water bottles and stow some food in your jersey pockets. There is no
food or drink station at the start line.
The black GFNY 2012 jersey by Giordana that you received at
the expo is MANDATORY attire for Gran Fondo New York and
Medio Fondo New York participants. The green GFNY jersey,
last year’s GFNY jersey or any other jersey are not permitted.
No jersey, no start!
Make sure you have your GFNY wristband on. It is your all access pass to the GFNY start on the bridge, timed climbs, aid
stations, Delverde & Lucini Pasta Party and bike & bag check at
the finish. No wristband, no start!
Put the bike number sticker on your bike where it will be protected and stay on your bike for the entire day.
Throwing your garbage anywhere on the roads leaves a negative imprint of the event on the communities, and your litter can
prevent the event from utilizing the beautiful roads you will ride
on during the race in the years to come. Use your jersey’s pockets (that’s what they are there for) to put your garbage in, and
discard the garbage in a trash receptacle at the aid stations or at
the finish area.
Bike access to the start line is from Riverside Drive and 165th
Street. Ride northbound and keep right at all times.
The start corrals are numbered by 500s. The road is three lanes
wide. Two lanes will serve as the corral staging area. One lane
serves as the travel lane for emergency vehicles and getting to
your corral.
Bag drop is at the entry to the George Washington Bridge. As
soon as you start riding onto the ramp, there will be trucks
waiting to collect your bags. You can check a standard-sized
backpack or any bag with a maximum size of 40L and make
sure that your bag is closed properly, the bag check number
is attached well and the number is clearly visible. Don’t leave
any valuables in the bag because GFNY is not responsible for
any wet, lost or stolen items. Everything must be picked up
at the finish before 7pm or it will be donated to Salvation
Army.
The corrals are divided by age groups. If your friends are in your
age group, you will be in the same starting corral. However, if
you are different ages, you can still start the event together. If
you are allocated to different start corrals, the person with the
lower bib number can move to a corral with higher numbers, the
person with the higher bib number cannot move forward.
Because GFNY starts on the George Washington Bridge, only
limited setup is permitted. There will be portapotties, bag check
and MAVIC mechanics before you get on the bridge. Strict security measures permit only registered GFNY participants to
access the start corrals.
If you arrive after 6.15am, you must ride your bike across the
GWB on the upper level bike path to cross the Hudson River.
That can be accessed from Fort Washington Avenue and 177th
Street. At 177th St, turn left (heading west). At Cabrini Blvd, turn
right (heading north). Go one block. Get on the side walk on the
left, the bike path access is half a block down. You will not be in
the final results.
Littering (throwing your garbage on the ground) is strictly
prohibited anywhere on the course. Littering at GFNY leads
to automatic disqualification. On the bridge, any garbage that
you throw on the road will end up polluting the Hudson River.
The event will start promptly at 7am, rain or shine. We begin the
breakdown of the area immediately after the last rider leaves to
reopen the roadway for cars.
47
DIRECTIONS:
From
Manhattan
by Bike
OVERPASS
48
West Side Highway
bike path:
Bike northbound along the West Side Highway bike path, make a right at 158th St.
(there is a metal swinging gate there). You
will ride under an overpass, then you’ll see a
traffic light. At the light, make a left go up a
slight incline. You’ll then come to a stop sign
(sign says 158th St), and make a right at the
stop sign. Make the first left turn you can,
a 120° left turn onto Riverside Drive. Ride
straight on Riverside Drive to access the
start corrals. Check out the map below.
49
DRIVING & BIKE OPTIONS
Drop OFF & PICK UP
AREaS
P1
Park directly at the finish area in Weehawken, NJ
To start
Ride your bike 6.1miles/10km along Port Imperial Blvd /
River Road to Hudson Terrace & Bruce Reynolds Blvd in
Fort Lee, NJ.
Ride your bike across the GWB bike path to NYC (enter
the bike path at Hudson Terrace just before the overpass
(50ft past Bruce Reynolds Blvd make a right).
Off the bridge path, proceed to Fort Washington Avenue
or Haven Avenue to 165th Street. Make a right onto 165th
Street and ride down the hill to Riverside Drive. Make a
right onto Riverside Drive and ride northbound on Riverside Drive to access the start corrals. Bear right at all
times. See P4 for bike route maps.
P2
Park in NYC near the 39tH sTReET
Ferry Terminal
To start
a) Bike from your garage northbound for 6.2miles/10km
along the West Side Highway bike path, make a right to get
off the bike path at 158th St (there is a metal swinging gate
there). You will ride under an overpass, then you’ll see a traffic light. At the light, make a left go up a slight incline. You’ll
then come to a stop sign (sign says 158th St), and make
a right at the stop sign. Make the first left turn you can, a
120° left turn onto Riverside Drive. Ride straight on Riverside
Drive to access the start corrals. Bear right at all times. See
From Manhattan By Bike for bike route map.
b) Take the subway A,C and 1 lines from 42nd Street to
168th Street. From 168th St subway station, ride south along
Fort Washington Avenue to 165th Street. Make a right onto
165th Street and ride down the hill to Riverside Drive. Make
a right onto Riverside Drive and ride northbound on Riverside
Drive to access the start corrals. Bear right at all times. See
By Subway & Bike for bike route map.
P4
P3
After the finish
START
Ride 500ft to the adjacent parking lot.
Parking facilities
Park at the NY Waterway’s 24-hour parking facilities, in
the southern lot (it can accommodate over 1000 vehicles),
parking fee is $10/day.
Weehawken terminal details and driving directions:
http://www.nywaterway.com/PortImperialWeehawkenTerminal.aspx
There are four parking
FINISH
options, depending if
P1
you’d like to park in
NYC or in NJ.
P2
50
Take the free GFNY ferry across the Hudson River from
Park directly at the
P3
start in NYC
Weehawken, NJ to NYC’s West 39th Street Ferry Terminal
and ride three blocks to your parked car.
To start
After the finish
Parking facilities
Fees depend on the facility, please check with the facility directly for pricing info. Visit the provided web links for
internet coupons. There is also some curbside street parking
in the area, check the signs for any parking details, length of
stay maximums, and if there are any fees for parking at the
specific spot you’re looking at.
Quik Park
601 West 41st Street, New York, NY
T. (212) 868-3107
http://quikparkgarages.com/parking_locations/601_w_41st_
st_new_york_10018.aspx
600 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
T.212-564-0410
http://quikparkgarages.com/parking_locations/620_w_42nd_
st_new_york_10036.aspx
Icon Parking
501 West 41st Street, New York, NY
(212) 564-9152
http://www.iconparkingsystems.com/facilities/
jds-parking-llc
Imperial Parking
520 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036
T. (212) 244-4786
http://imperial-parking.com/parking/Details.
php?button2=Details&ID2=2
Alliance Parking
500 West 43rd St # 5, New York, NY 10036
T. (212) 502-5268
NYC terminal details and driving directions:
http://www.nywaterway.com/MidtownW39thTerminal.aspx
Ride from your garage along Fort Washington Avenue or Haven Avenue to 165th Street. Make a right onto 165th Street
and ride down the hill to Riverside Drive. Make a right onto
Riverside Drive and ride northbound on Riverside Drive to access the start corrals. Bear right at all times. Check the 2nd
map in P4 for bike route.
After the finish
Take the free GFNY ferry across the Hudson River NYC’s
West 39th Street Ferry Terminal. Then:
a) Ride to 42nd Street and 8th Avenue and take the subway
A,C and 1 lines to 168th Street. Ride to your garage.
b) Bike path to 181st St: Ride northbound 7.4miles/11.5km
along the West Side Highway bike path, after the Little Red
Lighthouse, proceed up a two-part steep hill, once it flattens
keep riding north until a ramp for an overpass bridge that
drops you at Riverside Drive and 181st St. Ride to your garage.
c) Bike path to 158th St: Bike northbound 6miles/9.5km
along the West Side Highway bike path, make a right to get
off the bike path (there is a metal swinging gate there). You
will ride under an overpass, then you’ll see a traffic light. At
the light, make a left go up a slight incline. You’ll then come
to a stop sign, and make a right at the stop sign, this is 158th
Street. Ride to your garage.
Parking facilities
Limited curbside street parking in the area, check the signs
for any parking details, length of stay maximums, and if there
are any fees for parking at the specific spot you’re looking
at. Website that lists all parking lots in the area: http://www.
citidex.com/6093.htm
Central Parking
Go to https://find.parking.com and type in 10032 zip for the
various parking garages. Over 15 locations near 165th Street
and Fort Washington Avenue.
You can also visit Central’s Washington Heights site for
parking coupons at two nearby locations (162nd St and
174th St): http://nyc.centralparking.com/Manhattan-Washington-Heights-Parking.html
MPG Parking
4168 Broadway (at 177th St), New York, NY 10033
T· (212) 543-2700
http://www.mpsparking.com/new-york-parking-locations.
php
51
P4
Park near the start in
Fort Lee, NJ
DROP OFF ZONES
For the safety of cyclists arriving at the start area, and to
minimize congestion approaching the start corrals, please
get dropped off at one of these three locations:
To start
Ride your bike across the GWB bike path to NYC (enter the
bike path at Hudson Terrace just aside the overpass (near
Bruce Reynolds Blvd)
Off the bridge path, proceed to Fort Washington Avenue
or Haven Avenue to 165th Street. Make a right onto 165th
Street and ride down the hill to Riverside Drive. Make a right
onto Riverside Drive and ride northbound on Riverside Drive
to access the start corrals. Bear right at all times.
From the south: 153rd Street and Riverside Drive
From the north or east: Along Audubon Avenue from 165th
Street
From the west: Along Lemoine Avenue from Bruce Reynolds Boulevard
PICKUP AREA
After the finish
Ride your bike 6.1miles/10km northbound along Port Imperial Boulevard/River Road all the way until Fort Lee, NJ and
your parking lot.
After the event, ask your family or friend to pick you up at the
southern parking lot of the NY Waterway Terminal, around
Pershing Road and Ferry Boulevard.
Parking facilities
Limited curbside street parking in the area, check the signs
for any parking details, length of stay maximums, and if there
are any fees for parking at the specific spot you’re looking at.
We recommend the town lots, parking fees apply:
http://fortleeparking.org/parking_authority_final_002.htm
BY BIKE FROM NEW JERSEY
GETTING TO THE START COMING
OFF THE BIKE PATH
BRIDGE CROSSING FROM NEW JERSEY
BY BIKE FROM HUDSON TERRACE
BIKE PATH ACROSS
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54
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by
Subway & Bike
DIRECTIONS:
You don’t need a bike permit to bring your bike on board an NYC subway.
Since your bike won’t be able to fit through the turnstiles, either ask an agent or a friend to help you. Usually, you go to
the agent in the booth and inform them that you are going in with a bike. Have them watch you swipe your metrocard
and turn the turnstile. Then, they would release the emergency gate so you can walk through.
Check http://mta.info for any weekend service advisories for A,C and 1 subway lines.
SUBWAY STATION
168TH STREET
A / C / 1 TO THE START
56
THE ART OF BASIC
..............................................................................................................
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There’s basic.
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perfect crunch, with delicious,
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right in. You might just say Stacy’s has
perfected the art of basic - in the form of
the world’s most delicious chip.
If you’ve ever dreamed of racing Philly
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Sunday, June 3
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A full 3 laps, closed course
Time splits for each lap and each time up the Manayunk Wall
Serious riders start at the front
Form a team and ride for a cause (if you want)
Cool giveaways
Pre and post refreshments
Stay and watch the pros
To register
www.procyclingtour.com
57
The George Washington Bridge has the greatest vehicular capacity of any bridge in the world. It carries
approximately 106 million vehicles per year, making
it the world’s busiest motor vehicle bridge. In 2012,
Gran Fondo New York again closes the world’s busiest bridge to cars and offers cyclists a once-in-a-lifetime experience of riding across from Manhattan to
New Jersey on a car-free road.
George
Washington
Bridge
Cyclist Entrance To
Lower Level From
Riverside Drive
BEAR RIGHT
BEAR RIGHT
BEAR RIGHT
Access the Gran Fondo New York start line from 165th Street and Riverside Drive.
Ride Northbound. Bear right at all times to get to the start line staging area and
corrals.
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59
IMPORTANT
Emergencies
Aid Stations
If you are involved in or witness a bike crash or other emergency, DIAL 911. Based on the cell phone tower you are
closest to, you will be routed to the closest EMS dispatch
center. The dispatch center will ask for the emergency and
your location and will route your call accordingly. All local
EMS services are on the course and can react at a moment’s notice.
The Gran Fondo course will have six food/water stations at
miles 17, 32, 42, 50, 64, 85 and one water station at mile 100.
Disqualification
The full event rules are covered earlier in this guide and on
the GFNY website. Please familiarize yourself with GFNY
rules. Here are four of the more important points:
Littering is strictly prohibited. Any participant seen throwing
garbage on the road will be disqualified. Do not pollute the
environment.
You must utilize the designated toilets. Do not pollute private or public land, polluting leads to disqualification.
Be courteous to GFNY staff, volunteers, spectators and
other competitors. Being disrespectful, offensive or abusive
will lead to disqualification.
Ride on the route marked by GFNY. We have several check
points along the route to verify that all participants are competing the designated course. Cutting the course or taking
alternate routes leads to disqualification.
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The Medio Fondo will have two food stations at miles 17 and 35,
and one water station at mile 50.
The food stations have a combination of all or
some of the following:
• PowerBars, PowerBar Energy Gels
• Bagels with peanut butter and jelly
• Bananas
• Immaculate Baking Co. Chocobilly cookies
• Stacy’s Pita Chips
• PowerBar Ironman Perform electrolyte and calorie drink
• Coca Cola
• Water
There is no “feeding on the fly”. Use your GFNY ELITE bottles
to refill. GFNY is an eco-friendly event.
We do not provide cups or bottles.
Mechanical Support
Bring two spare tubes, tire levers and a pump with you to be
self-sufficient in case you get a flat. Also bring cash with you to
be able to purchase any equipment (tubes, air cartridges, tires,
chain, etc) if you have any larger mechanical problems on race
day. You should know how to change a flat and have spare tubes
and a means to fill a tube with air.
MAVIC mechanics will be at the start area in case you need assistance with a mechanical problem on race morning.
MAVIC, Strictly Bicycles and DuVine Adventures are offering the
rolling mechanical support along the GFNY route. If you need
help, one of the 5 cars or 2 motorbikes will be out on the course.
Wait on the side of the road and wave to a mechanic car or motorbike to get their attention when they drive by.
Two Cutoffs for
Gran Fondo New York:
miles 27 and 36
There are two cutoffs on the Gran Fondo course. Since we have
the road closure and exclusive use at Montagna dell’Orso (Bear
Mountain) until 12pm, riders who reach the Medio Fondo turn
off at mile 27 after 10am, will be routed to the Medio Fondo
route.
Riders who reach the top of Passo Del Daino (Buckberg Mountain) (Timed Climb #1) after 11am will be routed to turn left to rejoin returning cyclists, thus bypassing Montagna dell’Orso (Bear
Mountain) and 20 miles of the course.
Road Conditions,
Technical Descents
and Safety
All courses feature fast downhill sections. There are certain descents that are steep, winding and on rough roads. They require
technical bike handling proficiency to navigate safely. Stay in
your lane, and as far to the right as safely possible. It is your
responsibility to know the course that you are riding, and to ride
within your skill and fitness abilities. Only the climbs are timed.
Hence, there is no reason to descend in an unreasonable or unsafe manner.
Spectators
We recommend that spectators travel as little as necessary to
see the cyclists. Many roads will be closed or will have moderated traffic, causing congestion. More cars will add to the vehicular congestion on the course.
If you are in NYC, come to the post-race Delverde & Lucini Pasta
Party in Weehawken, NJ. You can get there by free ferry courtesy of Gran Fondo New York. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from NY Waterway ferry terminal at 39th Street and 12th
Avenue in Manhattan. The free service starts at noon and ends
at 7pm. Outside this time window the cost is $9 per person
one way. Bikes are allowed. NY Waterway provides free buses
from midtown to the 39th street ferry terminal. You can view the
route map and timetable on their website.
http://www.nywaterway.com/BusStopsSchedules.aspx
If you are in Rockland or Bergen or Hudson counties, go to the
spot on the course that is closest to you.
Get ready to make some noise! GFNY is handing out 25,000
pairs of noisemakers to the GFNY fans along the route. Pick up
your pair at your deli, coffee shop, grocery store and local bike
shop in the week before GFNY. Or stop by NYC BIKE EXPO on
Friday 5/18 or Saturday 5/19 at 401 7th Avenue (at 33rd Street)
in NYC.
61
HOW TO SURVIVE
GRAN FONDO
NEW YORK
by Vito Valentini
and feeling a sense of accomplishment
is the real goal. Look around as you
ride, take in the scenery, talk to people
along the route, say thanks to all the
volunteers at the rest stops and the
police officers who will keep us safe
that day. Take all the photos you can –
SAFELY – and your memories of Gran
Fondo New York 2012 will last you a
lifetime. By all means do your best and
don’t be a GOMO (someone who goes
through the motions) but remember
that “champions finish strong”.
Preparation is key so
between now and
May 13th
I am a simple cycling teacher and
thought that I would become a better
teacher if I learned how to ride a road
bike; the “road” I have been on over
the past five years has been unbelievable, from not knowing how to change
the gears on my first used $300 Fuji
(courtesy of my good friend Nelson
of Strictly Bicycles fame) to being part
of Gruppo Sportivo GFNY, leading the
C Group training rides every Sunday
morning with Heidi Broecking and
meeting some really fantastic people.
Davis Phinney, one of the pioneers of
American road cycling and therefore a
man to whom many American cyclists
owe a huge debt of gratitude, when
talking about how he placed fifth in the
1984 Olympics said “…that by obsessively and entirely focusing on the goal
(the gold), I forgot to celebrate the process.”
I tell those two stories because I believe that is your first and most important survival tactic – enjoy the ride!
Gran Fondo is a cycling celebration;
sure there are a lot of really great prizes
but for most of us completing the ride
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If you are riding the Medio Fondo, then
consider riding the River Road segment, doing the Alpine climb, continue
to Nyack, go up Old Mountain Road to
Rockland Lake then come back through
Nyack, stop for coffee and then ride 9W
back to Strictly Bicycles. That will help
you understand the climbing required in
the Medio Fondo; there is absolutely no
shame in walking a climb, it happens in
pro races like Tour of Flanders all the
time.
Gran Fondo riders ought to do at least
two of the climbs in one ride if they
can, either the weekend of April 29th (3
weeks out) or the weekend of May 6th
(2 weeks out).
Please do your longest ride no later
than May 6th (2 weeks out) and then
begin to taper the length and intensity
of your rides. Your Sunday, May 13th
ride should be no longer than half the
distance of your expected May 20th
route.
Final Week
Read the Rider Guide at least once each
day so that you can absorb the ride. If
last year’s guide is any indication it will
be a really great read.
Do not make any drastic changes to
your eating habits thinking that you can
try to “drop those last five pounds” the
week before the ride so you can keep
up with Wade Wegner on the climbs.
Rest on Friday and Saturday. If you
are riding Friday then that ride ought to
be no more than 30% of your expected May 20th ride. Rest equals sleep.
Friday evening, early to bed then nap
on Saturday and get to bed as early as
possible Saturday evening so that you
can get up and eat breakfast two hours
prior to the start time.
If you want to ride on Thursday and/or
Friday, short distance and low intensity;
no more than 30% of your Sunday ride
length.
Friday and Saturday
Participate in NYC Bike Expo. I realize
that you have to show up for your race
packet and wristband however, if you
can, set aside some time to visit our
sponsors’ booths and see what they
have to offer. There are so many great
exhibitors and so many interesting people, don’t run in and out; it is a great
place to learn a little bit more about
some of the products that will help add
to your passion for cycling. DO NOT
STAY LATE – not everyone can be Joe
Namath or Mario Cippolini! Try on your
GFNY jersey along with the rest of your
clothing and prepare your bike no later than Saturday morning, then check
your bike Saturday evening two hours
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before you go to sleep – that will save
the heartache of getting up and finding
a deflated tire or some other issue that
will distract you on Gran Fondo New
York Sunday.
Prepare all the items that will go in your
back pockets – two tubes, CO2 and
three cartridges, levers, our GFNY wallet with cell phone, ID, and cash (a $20,
a $10, a $5 and 5 singles). Also, some
snacks – I prefer real food like PBJ but
high quality snacks like PowerBar work
just fine.
Give yourself time to get to the start
line at least 45 minutes before the expected time. You will either get there
early and have an opportunity to talk
to other GFNY participants, take some
photos and get rid of the butterflies OR
something will happen to delay you and
you will still get there on time.
feeling good there because you are on
the ride home and it is almost literally
downhill from there on!
on your knees and your head hanging
down”; someone will help you or get
someone for you.
Challenges
Finish Line
If you are feeling tired, take 5 minutes
to stop, rehydrate, eat something,
stretch your legs and then carry on.
Your interpretation of this feeling will
determine your ability to continue –
simply view it like this – you are the
waiter, your body is the customer and
your customer has just signaled you to
refill their water glass and requested
What can I say – eat, drink and be merry! As I said in the GFNY interview –
anyone who has ever thought of doing
something special should sign up for
this Gran Fondo; it will change your life
forever!
some more bread – no issue, happens
all the time, take it in stride and roll on
after the 5 minute break.
ple who have made Gran Fondo New
York a reality – Uli and Lidia for conceiving the idea and following through
against sometimes painful odds, the
sponsors who have generously supported the event, the partners who
believed in GFNY, all of the supporters
and volunteers who will line the roads,
people like Nelson at Strictly Bicycles
who have donated so much of themselves to help GFNY, the other seven
members of Gruppo Sportivo GFNY
and of course the 5,000 riders; the collective energy and spirit that you have
thus far created and will continue to
create on Gran Fondo New York Day
is going to make a positive change in
many people’s lives and help make the
world a better place – Andiamo!
As Steve Jobs would say “just one
more thing.” Thank you to all the peo-
During the Ride
Be there no later than 5.30am.
Stay hydrated, no matter the temperatures, carry two water bottles and refill at every rest stop so that you will
always have more than enough fluids.
If you can, try to drink the PowerBar
Ironman Perform electrolyte drink, but
do not experiment with a new nutrition
plan on ride day. If you haven’t tried
electrolytes prior to ride day, then mix
water and PowerBar Ironman Perform
– 50/50. Drink at least one bottle per
hour, two if you can. Eat while you ride.
If you can, prepare snacks for the ride
and bring them with you that will save
you from having to stop at the first aid
station.
TAKE IT SLOW IN THE
BEGINNING.
Conserve some energy for later in the
day, especially if you are participating in
the Gran Fondo; the first two climbs,
Buckberg and Bear Mountain are leg
sappers but don’t be fooled into believing that once those two are under your
belt you are home free because the next
two climbs are challenging as well. You
will be home free when you get back to
the NJ side of State Line climb – start
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Mechanical issues – pull over to the
right out of the way of the thundering
herd and see if it is something you can
fix on your own. If so, fix the problem
and then give it just a little bigger effort
to make up some time. If not, signal
for help – the ride is fully supported
and someone will be by in a short time.
Please be patient with yourself and the
support team.
Health issues – don’t be a hero (or
heroine); if you start to have difficulties
like cramps, dizziness, nausea, serious
pain, etc – please pull over to the right
and signal for help with the universally
known “slump over with your elbows
Blue Ribbon Restaurants
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Finish
The ride finishes with spectacular Manhattan views at NY
Waterway ferry lots in Weehawken, NJ, at the Hudson River
(across 50th Street in Manhattan).
The festivities begin right at the finish at 11am and end at
7pm. Delverde serves fresh pasta with Lucini sauce from the
DELVERDE BUS. The pasta is also free for family members
and fans.
Make sure you visit the booths of GFNY sponsors
GIORDANA, PINARELLO, MAVIC, POWERBAR, DIADORA,
TECHNOGEL, LIMAR, HIBROS, US PRO CYCLING CHALLENGE
and STRAVA.
GFNY provides free ferry transportation for riders, family
members and friends between NYC and the festivities in
Weehawken, NJ. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from
NY Waterway ferry terminal at 39th Street and 12th Avenue
in Manhattan and in Weehawken, NJ. The free service begins at 12pm and ends at 7pm. Trip duration is eight minutes.
Outside this time window the cost is $9 per person per ride.
Bikes are allowed.
NY Waterway provides free bus service from Midtown Manhattan to the Manhattan ferry terminal. Bikes are not allowed
on the buses. Please check the complete bus route map and
schedule.
http://www.nywaterway.com/BusStopsSchedules.aspx
Any checked items must be picked up at the finish before
7pm or they will be donated to the Salvation Army.
Pickup area for the cyclists is at the southern parking lot of
the ferry, near Pershiang Road and Ferry Boulevard.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Port Imperial /
Weehawken
In addition, riders receive a choice of water or soda, a piece
of fruit, Chobani Yogurt, Rebootizer drink and a bag of Immaculate Baking Co. Chocobilly cookies. Additional water to
refill your bottle is available from coolers. PowerBar is providing every participant with their Recovery Bar. No alcohol
consumption is permitted.
The award ceremonies begin at 3pm with competition and
raffle prizes. We begin with the overall winners and continue with age groups and teams. Raffle prizes will be given
throughout the afternoon to riders present at the ceremony.
We do not ship any prizes, you must be present to claim your
prize.
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NYC / 39TH STREET
12:0pm
3:40pm
12:10pm
3:50pm
12:20pm
4:00pm
12:30pm
4:10pm
12:40pm
4:20pm
12:50pm
4:30pm
1:00pm
4:40pm
1:10pm
4:50pm
1:20pm
5:00pm
1:30pm
5:10pm
1:40pm
5:20pm
1:50pm
5:30pm
2:00pm
5:40pm
2:10pm
5:50pm
2:20pm
6:00pm
2:30pm
6:10pm
2:40pm
6:20pm
2:50pm
6:30pm
3:00pm
6:40pm
3:10pm
6:50pm
3:20pm
7:00pm
3:30pm
How fast do I have to ride?
You can ride as fast as you want. However, the cut-off for
completing the distance is 5.30pm which means you have
10.5 hours for the ride. This equals to approximately 10mph
for the Gran Fondo and 6 mph for the Medio Fondo including
all rest stops. A broom wagon will trail the ride at 10mph.
Stragglers who get passed by the car can either get a ride or
will be riding on their own outside the event.
Also, there will be a cut-off at Passo del Daino (Buckberg
Mountain) which is at mile 41/ km 66. Riders who arrive
there after 11am will be directed left onto Mott Farm Road
after the descent from the climb.
Will there be restrooms at the start/finish and on the
course?
Yes, start/finish area and all aid stations are equipped with
portapotties.
If I have a mechanical issue on the course, what do I do?
We highly encourage all participants to have basic safety and
repair skills, and in particular fixing a flat tire. Bring your own
pump and extra tubes for your bike. However, if you are still
unable to make the repair, rolling mechanical support vehicles will be drving along the route throughout the day. Should
you need assistance, a bus will take you to the finish line.
Please note that the wait for assistance and/or a ride can be
long and by waiting, you run the risk of not being allowed to
finish the event. Visit your local bike shop to learn how to
handle basic repair needs or ask an experienced riding buddy.
Frequently Asked
Questions
I don’t want to be disqualified. Are there specific rules to
avoid DQ?
There are a few actions that would result in disqualification.
The big 4 to keep in mind : 1) DO NOT LITTER 2) USE PROVIDED TOILETS 3) RIDE THE DESIGNATED COURSE 4)
BE COURTEOUS TO EVENT STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, SPECTATORS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS. There are no refunds
given to disqualified participants.
If I have a bad day and realize I won’t be able to finish,
what do I do?
Gran Fondo New York will have SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles along the course for any cyclists who are unable to
complete this event.
Try to make it to the next or previous aid station, there you
will have food, water, emergency medical services as well as
volunteers to keep you company. If you are unable to ride to
an aid station, move off the road and wait at the shoulder of
the road until a mechanic or SAG rides by, they will be on the
lookout for stopped cyclists. If you are riding and you see a
cyclist on the side of the road who needs help, when you get
to the next police officer or volunteer, report that you saw a
stopped cyclist and their approximate location, they will call
for an ambulance.
If I need medical assistance, what do I do?
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will be on the course
and on call. Police officers and bike mechanics will be traveling on the course on motorcycles and in cars. Police officers
will be controlling traffic at intersections and volunteers will
be guiding athletes for turns at intersections. Each of these
people will be able to call 911 in case of emergency. If you
need help, inform someone on the course and they will get
help to you (or someone else) as quickly as possible and stay
with you until help arrives. No matter at what point, help will
always be close.
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I never rode in a large group before. What do I have to be
concerned about?
Group riding is faster because you save about 30% energy in
a draft. It takes a bit of skill to get used to riding closely behind someone else’s wheel. Ideally, you find a riding partner
to practice. If you live in the NYC area, you can take advantage of our free training rides for registered participants and
practice group riding.
I signed up for Gran Fondo New York, if I don’t feel up to
it, can I just ride the Medio Fondo?
Yes. You can decide until as late as the turn off to the Medio
Fondo at Mile 30, which route you want to ride.
I signed up for Medio Fondo New York, can I instead race
the Gran Fondo?
No.
When does registration for Gran Fondo New York
2013 open?
Gran Fondo New York 2013 will take place on May 19.
Registration for 2013 opens the morning after GFNY
2012: Monday, May 21, 2012 at 9am ET.
Visit www.granfondony.eventbrite.com. The registration fee for the first week, until 5/27 at 11:55pm ET, will
be an ultra-low $190. Take advantage of GFNY’s lowest
possible entry fee by registering early.
When and where do I find the King and Queen of Mountain results?
We are announcing the winners at the awards ceremony at
3pm and the full results will be online asap. 2011 we had the
preliminary results posted online at 8pm on the same day.
This is also our goal for 2012. Additionally, printed preliminary
results will be posted at the finish.
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GRUPPO
SPORTIVO
LIDIA FLUHME
Lidia is a 7-time Ironman Hawaii finisher with an Ironman PR of 10:22. In 2011 she
discovered that she can also kick butt in a race that doesn’t involve swimming or
running (just ask Fausto Pinarello). Lidia’s love for all things NYC run deep, she’s a
New Yorker of over 20 years. Her resume includes investment banking, modeling
and an MBA from NYU, now Lidia runs Gran Fondo New York smooth like butter.
ULI FLUHME
Uli is looking back at 15 years of Gran Fondo experience. Having grown up as
a pure road racer, he briefly competed at Ironman triathlon professionally (PR:
8:59). After five years as an attorney at a financial institution, he thought it was
time to move on and put his two favorite things together: Gran Fondo and New
York.
HEIDI BROECKING
Heidi takes the cycling world in storm. The designer, mother and yoga teacher lives in
the quaint town of Nyack, a staple for New York cyclists. There’s no doubt she has the
largest fan contingency along the GFNY route. Yoga has taught her to understand her
body and become a better cyclist in the process.If you see someone shooting down
Bear Mountain aside Kermit the Frog while singing Aerosmith’s “Crazy” as a duet,
chances are that’s Heidi.
GRANT JOHNSON
Grant’s enthusiasm is highly contagious, he has a fun larger than life personality full of Brooklyn flavor. When Grant isn’t crunching numbers as an
accountant, he’s collecting things, right now he’s into Starbucks cards. A
perfect day for Grant would be a ride on the GFNY route on a beautiful
summer day with Mark Cavendish. He would beat Cav at the finishline
sprint and celebrate the win with the GFNY podium girls
70
VITO VALENTINI
Vito surrounds himself by women, he’s the general manager of Aurora Women’s
Fitness in Ridgefield, NJ. Vito’s passion is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. It’s no wonder that he is referred to as the Human Potential Catalyst.
Get ready to see a lot of Vito on the snowy, icy days that prevent us from riding
outdoors: Vito invites the GFNY group riders into Aurora’s indoor studio for a training ride. Both genders welcome!
WADE WEGNER
Wade likes to go fast. Really fast. He prefers to let his legs do the talking.
But that doesn’t stop him from waiving a friendly hello to other riders as he
passes by. If you get a chance to keep up with him to ask what he does
when he’s not on the bike or saving companies from disasters as a professional risk manager, he’ll say: “Is there anything but riding?”
HAYDEN JUDD
Hayden is an import from Down Under (Napier, New Zealand). He’s an avid racer
but prefers the wide open roads of a Gran Fondo over racing loops in parks or industrial areas. Perfect day on the bike? A 115 mile loop in his native New Zealand
with Formula 1 racer Jensen Button. In real life he runs a Creative Agency that
serves families in editing and organizing videos and photos. Sorry ladies, this well
rounded Kiwi has been snatched off the market by lovely Hayley in 2011.
PAUL LEBONITTE
Paul is a lover of all things cycling: he follows the pro sport as much as he enjoys
coaching others and racing himself. Ask him about his latest trips to the US Pro
Cycling Challenge or to Belgium where he raced at the Amateur World Champs.
Before getting into cycling in 1996, Paul was an avid golfer. His favorite cycling
spots are River Road, the high mountains of Colorado, Northern Italy and the
Bavaria/Austrian countryside.
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SEE YOU AT
MAY 19
2013
Registration opens >> May 21, 2012 9AM ET
granfondony.com
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