Gran Fondo Online

On May 8, 2011, an international field of 8,000 athletes will take part in the inaugural Gran Fondo New York, a 105-mile bike ride traveling along New York’s classic cycling routes. Participants will compete for King and Queen of the Mountains titles while cycling over four timed climbs on the course between New York City and Bear Mountain.

The cumulative time for the four climbs will be added and the man and woman with the lowest combined times will win the King and Queen of the Mountains titles. Other competition categories include age groups 18-39, 40-49, 50+, cycling team competition, corporate challenge and him&her competition. Prizes will be awarded to the top three participants in each category.

The stakes for the Gran Fondo New York King and Queen of the Mountains competition are high. Winners of the King and Queen of the Mountains titles will receive Pinarello road bikes as prizes. Prizes for 2nd and 3rd place finishers will also be enviable. With sponsors like Mavic, Limar and Diadora, athletes across all categories will receive racing wheels, cycling shoes, helmets and sunglasses as prizes.

Pinarello – Think Assymetric
With its 60 years of racing experience at the highest levels of the sport, Pinarello is renowned not only for its striking design, but also its technologically innovative features. Through rigorous research and testing, Pinarello pioneered leading-edge bicycle frame fabrication with carbon fiber and magnesium. It also blended its knowledge of fit, handling and Italian style into each bike frame. Gran Fondo New York’s King and Queen of the Mountains will each receive a Pinarello road bike as his and her award.

Mavic – High-end Bike Systems
Since 1973, the Tour de France trusts Mavic to provide neutral technical support for the peloton. In 2011, the iconic yellow Mavic support vehicles will also be present at Gran Fondo New York. Mavic will provide support to participants at the start and on the course. Athletes will not just benefit from Mavic’s expert care of their wheels, tires and tubes, but also full bike assistance, as needed. The French company is also providing race wheels to top competitors at Gran Fondo New York.

Limar – The Helmet Specialist
The Italian helmet specialist Limar has created the world’s lightest helmet. The Ultralight helmet weighs just 160gr in size Medium, but does not compromise on strength or safety. Athlete praise Limar helmets not just for their comfort, but also for their design. Limar also produces a wide range of sport sunglasses and offer polarized as well as photochromic lenses. Limar is the Presenting Sponsor of the Him+Her category.

Diadora – Better Than Ever
Diadora has been making high quality shoes in Italy since 1948. Diadora’s expertise in cycling shoes comes from their focus on the latest technologies to make the most comfortable, well fitting, light and long lasting shoes possible. It’s no surprise that they are the shoes of World Champion Cadel Evans. With a renewed focus on the US market, Diadora is poised to make a big presence in 2011.

“Gran Fondo New York is proud to partner with revered brands such as Pinarello, Mavic, Diadora and Limar. Each of these companies has a long-standing tradition of producing high quality products, which is in line with the quality of event that the inaugural Gran Fondo New York will be” said Lidia Fluhme, the event’s organizer. “Gran Fondo New York will be a cycling event worthy of the world’s greatest city.”

Besides offering prizes for winners, ten companies to date have committed to also offering raffle prizes that will be awarded to participants drawn at random according to their participant number. Competition and raffle prizes have a retail value of over $100,000. All participating athletes are automatically entered into the raffle drawing and are eligible to win prizes.

Sponsors and vendors will have the chance to present their products and services at the 2-day Gran Fondo New York expo, which will take place in midtown Manhattan at Roseland Ballroom May 6-7, 2011. The free and open to the public expo is also the location of mandatory athlete check-in and bag pickup.

For more information please email info@granfondony.com, call 1.212.933.4033 or visit www.granfondony.com.