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Dirty Gran Fondo

Welcome to the Dirty Gran Fondo 2012.  In this mass participation event you can either ride or race, its up to you.  The course follows through the scenic Mt Disappointment state forest over 90kms with plenty of undulating and ever changing road terrain.  There is NO single track, but that's not why you're here.  Its an event for the masses.  Never been off road before, want something more exciting than a road race or do you just want to enjoy a fully supported ride with friends and family.  The Dirty Gran Fondo is all of the above.

It's a race within a ride and what bike will be the winner.  Entry is according to the bike you choose to ride.  Choose either 26”, 29” wheels or Cyclo Cross.  Prizes for first 5 across the line and top 3 in each category for Open Men and Open Women.   Choose your ride and join us a the Dirty Grand Fondo.

SUNDAY 20TH MAY, 2012
Wandong, Victoria

 

The Roots of a Gran Fondo

Take a scenic, mountainous course and add several thousand cyclists ranging from pros to eighty-year-old cycle tourists. Mix in roving and fixed mechanical and medical support, feed zones manned by cheerful volunteers serving up sandwiches, fruit, and drinks, and traffic halted at intersections to let you pass. Garnish with enthusiastic and supportive spectators lining the course. Top it off with coverage by major cycling magazines.

Energy, excitement, atmosphere!-- this is gran fondo, a phenomenon that has taken Italy by storm. Gran fondo means long distance or great endurance (there are running and cross country ski gran fondos too). Some cyclists ride for the satisfaction and pride of just making it to the finish line. Others want to improve upon their previous times, and to challenge themselves, their friends, their teammates. And some ride to win!

The phenomenon has grown so huge that there are now specialized gran fondo teams with sponsored, salaried riders, some of them ex-pros. As a result, the average amateur racer can forget about ever winning a gran fondo. But if you'd like to know what it's like to race a stage of the Giro and feel like a pro, here's your chance, for this is as close as it gets! You just might find yourself riding next to legends such as Francesco Moser, Gianni Bugno, Maurizio Fondriest, and Gianni Motta, or even some current pros

Gran fondo races are usually 160-225 km long. The majority offer an addditional fondo course (120-160 km) and sometimes even a medio fondo course (under 120 km) for those not willing or able to ride the longer distance(s). These shorter courses are just abbreviated versions of the longer ones, utilizing most of the same roads, but taking shortcuts to avoid some of the climbs.