The Gila Monster Gran "Fondue" presented by Desert Springs Physical Therapy

The Gila Monster Gran "Fondue" presented by Desert Springs Physical Therapy is a long distance, timed cycling event that is fun yet offers a competitive edge for amateur and recreational cyclists. The course follows the iconic Tour of the Gila "Gila Monster" road race, covering some of the most stunning routes in New Mexico

The Gila Monster Gran Fondue is scheduled for October 8th 2016 in Silver City, New Mexico.

This is a fundraiser event for both the Tour of the Gila and the Gila Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Roving SAG wagons and rest stations will provide extra support to get you to that finish line. Enjoy the Gran Fondo which is 103 miles. Medio Fondo is 70 miles. Maybe you want a smaller challenge? lf so consider the Micro Fondo at 50 miles or the Nano Fondo which is 32 miles. The Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo rides start at 8:00 am at Gough Park in Silver City. A shuttle will be available for the two shorter rides. The shuttle will leave Gough Park at 7:30 am.

The Gila Monster Gran Fondue will take a decidedly culinary turn again this year, the 5th annual event, with a chocolate fondue stop along the course, and a fondue get-together the evening after the ride at the local brewery and distillery - Little Toad Creek. We are pairing up with the Red Dot ArtFEST to tie in this spectacular event of gallery hopping, studio visits and live music to showcase Silver City.

Cycling, food and art! What could be a better pairing?

2016 Gila Monster Gran "Fondue" Limited Edition Decca Jersey

The Flemish Ardennes – the Paddestraat, the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont, the Murr de Geraads-bergen -- all are iconic cobbled climbs made famous over 100 years of racing. Now, each European racing season begins with Het Nieuwsblad and culminates with “Belgian Holy Week” and the cre-scendo that is The Ronde van Vlaanderen. Situated in the heart of it all is Zottegem, home to Decca Sportswear, clothing supplier to Belgian and Dutch cycling stars since the early 1970’s.

Silver City, New Mexico, home of the Tour of the Gila for thirty years running and surrounded by the Gila National Forest, features an array of steep and narrow mountain roads with frequently wind swept valleys. The climb to Mogollon, now a high altitude ghost town; the Sapillo descent with its off-cambered switchbacks; and ‘The Gila Monster,’ 162 kilometers with 9,131 feet of climbing – all combine to produce a climactic finish in Pinos Altos after five days of hard racing.

Decca Sportswear, now available in the U. S., has proudly partnered with the Tour of the Gila for the past two editions, supplying leader’s jerseys for not just UCI Men and Women racers, but also six amateur events.

Now, The Tour of the Gila and Decca US are excited to offer limited edition jerseys for the Desert Springs Physical Therapy’s Gila Monster Gran ‘Fondue’ on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Riders can choose from 32, 50, 70, and the 103 mile ‘Gila Monster’ route, the same iconic course the UCI men ride on Stage 5 to complete the Tour of the Gila.