Lunicus Cycling Club

Every year the Europeans organise large cycling events called Cyclosportives (or Granfondo in Italy). Most British cyclists may have heard of these events but actually have little if any idea what they are all about. So here is our guide...

Granfondo Felice Gimondi (May)

Gimondi was a top class Italian pro who raced from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s (alas he was on the scene during the Merckx era). Neverthless, he won all 3 major national tours (the Giro 3 times), was world road race champion in 1973, and won several big classics. Sedrina, on the route of the event just north of Bergamo, was his home town. This Granfondo traces a picturesque route out and back from Bergamo into the pre-alps north and east of Lake Como, and takes in several climbs that have featured in the route of the Tour of Lombardy autumn one day classic (which Gimondi won in '68 and '73). Gimondi participates in the event that bears his name, as occasionally do other famous Italian ex-pros. The event website is here, the nearest airport is Bergamo.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Short	95.7Km	21Km	1,194m
Medium	134.5Km	39Km	1,671m
Long	165.3Km	52Km	2,620m

Granfondo Nove Colli Marco Pantani (May)

The Romagna, the area inland of Rimini on the Adriatic coast of northern Italy, is a hotbed of cycling and has produced many top class pro riders, most notably the late lamented Marco Pantani. This event was actually well established before his demise, and is one of the cornerstones of the Italian Granfondo Calendar (the event drew 10K participants in '96). The route goes out and back inland from Pantani's coastal home town of Cesenatico into tough terrain between San Marino and Imola. Not an area that comes to mind when thinking of mountainous parts of Italy, but the statistics of the event speak for themselves - this is among the hardest half dozen Granfondo in Italy. The event website is here, the nearest airport is Rimini or Bologna.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Medium	130Km	43.5Km	1,335m
Long	200Km	89Km	3,220m

La Ventoux Beaumes de Venise (June)

Mont Ventoux, aside from its place in the annals of the Tour has a particular significance to British riders (of a certain age), being the place where Tom Simpson tragically lost his life during the Tour of '67. The route of this event, out and back from the town of Beaumes-de-Venise (by all means sample its justly famous dessert wine AFTER the event!) offers one full and one part ascent of 'The Giant of Provence' in its route. The event is placed intentionally early in the season, as the heat in this part of France, the length and severity of the climb and the unshaded terrain can make Mont Ventoux a less attractive proposition in the height of the summer. The event website is here, the event is served by any of the Riviera airports or you could go TGV.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Medium	112Km	n/a	2,300m
Long	170Km	n/a	3,500m

Tilff-Bastogne-Tilff (June)

Tilff is a small and pretty village approx 12km south of Liege in the Belgian Ardennes. This event traces the route of the Spring Classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege, whilst avoiding the busy centre of Liege (at the expense of coming in 24km+ short of the full Classic distance, which few finishers will regret!). The route takes in most, but not all, of the famous 'Cotes' in the 2nd half of the route that make LBL one of the hardest one day races in the professional calendar, as the list of past winners will testify. The event website is here, the event is served by Brussels (Charleroi) airport or you could go cross channel and drive.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Short	63Km	n/a	850m
Medium	120Km	n/a	1,935m
Long	220Km	n/a	3,685m

Megeve to Mont Blanc (June)

The area between Lake Annecy and Mont Blanc in the Haute Savoie region of France has some of the most beautiful scenery and picturesque roads in the Alps. Due to its profile and placing in the calendar, this event is perfect as a taster experience of Cyclosportive riding or alternatively as a prep. event for more challenging targets in July (eg. Etape, Marmotte). Cloud permitting, take in the view from the summit of the Col des Aravis - one of the best panorama of the Mont Blanc massif you will see. The event website is here, the event is served by Geneva airport.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Medium	90Km	n/a	2,200m
Long	132Km	n/a	3,500m

Granfondo Milano Sanremo (June)

If you don't mind distance but don't like climbing, this is the Granfondo for you. An opportunity to take in the full route (just short of 300Km!) of the season opening Classic race. On a clear day you can see the Alps from the Duomo in Milan and Sanremo is on the Med, but don't let the downhill profile of the route fool you! There are several 'undulations' in the final 50km (Cipressa, Capo Berta, Poggio) that will feel more severe than their bare statistics suggest after 250Km in the saddle!. The event website is here, the event is served by Milan or Nice airports.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Long	295Km	n/a	1,200m

Granfondo Campagnolo (June)

A well established and extremely challenging event that traces a route into the Italian Alps from the town of Feltre in the northern Veneto region. As its sponsor's reputation would indicate, a standard of organisation up there with the very best anywhere makes this event one of the best supported and most prestigious in Italy. The major obstacles in the route (Passo Manghen, Passo Croce d'Aune) have featured in the route of past runnings of the Giro d'Italia. The event website is here, the event is served by Venice or Treviso airport.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Short	92Km	n/a	1,851m
Medium	112Km	n/a	2,521m
Long	208Km	n/a	4,447m

Granfondo Marco Pantani (June)

A recently launched event, not to be confused with the Nove Colli whose name also pays homage to Pantani. Unlike the Nove Colli, this event doesn't take place in Pantani's home region, but where some of his grandest exploits in the Giro took place - the Italian Alps around Bormio. 'Only' three climbs, but they'll be enough - the Mortirolo is one of the hardest ascents ever used in the Giro - 12km to climb 1,300m at an average of 10.5% (one section of 18%!) will be enough for most amateur riders. Very little flat in the route, a true roller coaster ride. The event website is here, the event is served by Milan or Bergamo airports.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Short	65Km	n/a	1,200m
Medium	152Km	n/a	3,400m
Long	172Km	n/a	4,000m

Maratona dles Dolomites (July)

Due to its proximity to the Etape and the Marmotte, the Dolomite Marathon has not historically been a popular event with British riders, which is tragic because they have been missing an opportunity to ride in some of the best mountain scenery to be found anywhere in Europe. The area between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Selva Val Gardena is spectacularly beautiful, and has served as the setting for epic stages of the Giro throughout its history. Definitely an event for riders who can climb (and descend) - there is virtually no flat anywhere in this route, which takes in the Pordio, Sella, Campolongo, Giau and Falzarego passes in a 'figure of 8' route out and back from Corvara Alta Badia. The event website is here, the event is served by Venice or Treviso airports.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Short	55Km	n/a	1,780m
Medium	106Km	n/a	3,090m
Long	138Km	n/a	4,190m

Granfondo Fausto Coppi (July)

Coppi raced either side of the war, and since his tragically premature death from malaria in 1960 has become a legend in Italy; the term 'Campionissimo' was created for him. Born near Alesandria, this event takes place, therefore, in his home region of Piemonte, and follows roads that he would have raced over in his illustrious career (2 Tours de France, 5 Giro d'Italia, many big classics, world champion at Lugano in '53, and a lot more besides). In a route through the Alps adjoining the French border, this is a well supported and extremely challenging event in a region not well exposed to British riders. A good alternative for those unfortunate (?) enough to be out of luck for a place in the Etape. The event website is here, the event is served by Genoa, Turin or Nice airports.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Medium	128Km	31Km	2,241m
Long	189Km	47Km	3,625m

La Marmotte (July)

What can one say? The 'Daddy of them all', the 'Doyenne of Cyclosportives', this is the star in the calendar, the most difficult one day event for amateur road cyclists in Europe. The route traces a northerly course out from Le Bourg d'Oisans (the town at the bottom of l'Alpe d'Huez) over the Col de la Croix de Fer into the Maurienne valley, and then clockwise back to Bourg via the Col de Telegraphe and the 2,600m+ Col du Galibier (by its far harder northern side) - finishing with the ascent to the ski station at l'Alpe d'Huez. For some reason very popular with Dutch riders, who seem to make up a large proportion of the foreign entry every year (where on earth do they train for this in the Netherlands?!). Not for the timid, it is a case of 'bon courage' if you enter and 'chapeau' if you finish. Anyone entering the elite of amateurs who have climbed 5000m in a day on a bike will be unlikely to forget the experience. The event website is here, the event is served by Grenoble or Geneva airports.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Long	174Km	n/a	5,000m

L'Etape du Tour (July)

A moving feast, each year the since 1992 the organisers of the Tour de France have invited a select band of around 7,000 amateur riders to ride a full length stage of the pro race - with organisation and back up to pro race standards. Every serious cyclosportive/granfondo rider should enter the Etape once - it sets the standard for professionalism against which all the others events are judged. Regrettably, the quota of British entries (allocated to specific travel companies) is quickly taken up, and if you don't have an entry by Christmas (the route is announced in late October) you'll probably be disappointed. Each year a different stage is chosen, usually co-inciding with a rest day in the pro race. Routes therefore vary, but are never easy. The 2006 edition is an alpine classic - taking in the Col d'Izoard from its much more severe southern side (don't forget to pay homage to the memorial to Coppi and Bobet near the top!), the Col du Lautaret and then finishing at l'Alpe d'Huez - the first time the Etape has done so. The event website is here, the event is served by specified tour operators.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Long	187Km	32Km	3,503m

Granfondo Pinarello (July)

Following the lead taken by Campagnolo, the prestigious frame builders have been organising a Granfondo in their home town of Treviso every year since 1996. Proudly making the event a showpiece for the attractions of their region, the Veneto, the route traces a path north into the foothills of the Dolomites and comes back through the rolling vineyards that yield the local spakling white - Prosecco. The profile of the event is not as challenging as that of some of the other 'top drawer' Italian events, but this is just as well as the climate in the Veneto in mid July (the event invariably takes place during the Tour de France) can be extremely hot and humid making this a tough day out for any fit amateur. Aside from the cycling interest, Treviso is a true gem for anyone having Italy close to their heart, and for some the Pinarello has become one of the first events to go in the new diary each winter. Another good alternative for those missing out on a place in the Etape du Tour. The event website is here, the event is served by Venice or Treviso airports.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Medium	133Km	n/a	800m
Long	160Km	n/a	2,200m

Granfondo Colnago (September)

Oddly, for a company synonymous with leading edge innovation, in Granfondo terms Colnago have arrived late at the party (after Campag and Pinarello) in organising their inaugural event only in 2005 (De Rosa, where are you?). Reports in the Italian magazine 'Granfondo' describe a tough event, with standards of organisation as one might expect in keeping with the reputation of this top marque. The route is an out and back loop from Piacenza (in the Emilia region, @40 miles south/east of Milan) south into the Appenine chain, so the 2,700 metres of climbing (this is hardly a gentle season-ending event!) is made up of climbs that are not long (by the standards of other events listed here), but having some very tough gradients. If you enter this after completing a big event in July, definitely keep training through August and leave the small gear ratios on! Seems likely to become established in this sector of the calendar, and due to the world renown of the Colnago brand, to become popular with Italians and non-Italians alike. The event website is here, the event is reached from either of Milan's airports where you should hire a car.

Route	Distance	Climbing	Altitude gained
Medium	120Km	n/a	1,700m
Long	165Km	n/a	2,700m

Other information

You can get more information about these events from the following websites: