New Event to Highlight Roanoke's World-Class Cycling

The Rotary Club of the Blue Ridge – New Generations is bringing Roanoke its first Gran Fondo style cycling event this fall in conjunction with Roanoke’s Go Outide Festival. The Star City Gran Fondo is a long-distance, timed event for cyclists that will benefit the club’s mission of serving the youth of the Roanoke Valley.

The Star City Gran Fondo will be held on October 15, 2016, and the start time will be at 9:00 a.m. There will be various route options that will span from 32 to 96 miles which will open the event up to all ability levels. The routes will incorporate terrain in Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Franklin County. As the Roanoke Valley’s first Gran Fondo this event will attract many visitors to the area. Like the Blue Ridge Marathon, the Star City Gran Fondo stands out compared to similar races across the nation because of the challenging terrain and the mixed urban and rural surroundings. The longer routes will be challenging to even the most experienced rider, but the variety in route distances will allow for all abilities to participate.

After the exciting finish at the Mill Mountain Star, both riders and spectators can participate in the post race activities to be held at River’s Edge Park in conjunction with Roanoke’s Go Outside Festival. The collaboration between Star City Gran Fondo and the Go Outside Festival will benefit all involved drawing cyclists to the festival and festival-goers to the Gran Fondo – as well as attract more visitors to the Roanoke Valley for the weekend.

“We are pleased to bring this special event to the Roanoke region,” stated Owen Nielson of New Generations, “our event showcases the beauty and challenging terrain of the Roanoke region and also provides support to the under-served youth of the region.”

The first Gran Fondo was the Nove Colli held on July 12, 1970 in Cesenatico, Italy. The number of Gran Fondo events grew rapidly in Italy with chip timing becoming more popular throughout the 1990s.

In the United States, as well as some other countries, the term “Gran Fondo” refers to both “true Italian” gran fondo events where the course is closed and timed from start to finish, as well as numerous gran fondo events that take place on open roads where riders must adhere to traffic rules, some with timed sections rather than fully timed courses.

The popularity of gran fondos has increased rapidly in the U.S. and in 2016, there are expected to be more than 60 gran fondo events held across the country. These events draw riders from both across the country and internationally, and are designed to provide competitive and experiential elements for both professional and recreational cyclists.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary Club of the Blue Ridge – New Generations located in Roanoke, Virginia is a young professional service club founded in 2012 that focuses on helping the youth of the Roanoke Valley. New Generations are associated with Fallon Park “Pack a Snack” Program, iCanShine bicycle camp and Children’s Trust of Roanoke. This event will allow them to not only continue to serve these programs, but will give the opportunity to serve more programs directed toward the children of Roanoke.

For more details please visit starcitygranfondo.wordpress.com