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Virginia’s Blue Ridge Gran Fondo goes ahead as Planned

Riders from Virginia and further afield explored all the beauty Botetourt County had to offer on a bike ride last Sunday, October 18

Virginia’s Blue Ridge’s annual Gran Fondo, Italian for “big ride,” includes three routes throughout Botetourt County. It highlights the area’s different communities and scenic stops. Cyclists started and ended up at a new restaurant - 1772 Rooftop on Main in Fincastle.

Bikers choose between a 33-mile Pioccolo Fondo, 45-mile Medio Fondo and a much longer 75-mile Gran Fondo.

The Gran Fondo put in place a 100% refund of registration fees if the event had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 - thankfully not!

Riders practiced social distancing before and after the ride with masks mandatory at the start.

Aid station food was pre-packaged and "grab & go" style.  The post-ride meal was boxed for take-out and start saw staggered start times based on riders chosen route.

Tim Miller, ride director of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Gran Fondo, said, “Roanoke has so much going for it, and we hear a lot about the mountain bike scene, which is great, but the road bike scene is here as well, it’s not just in Roanoke, it’s in Botetourt as well, so we like to pull people out this way, and Fincastle is a great start/finish. It’s the first time we’ve start/finished here".

For more information, please visit: http://www.muddysquirrel.com/gran-fondo.html

Virginia’s 2020 Blue Ridge Gran Fondo goes ahead as Planned