The true closed-road Gran Fondo experience is coming to the UK next year, with the launch if the Tour of Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo and Chrono.
Following the successful format of events on the continent, the Tour of Cambridgeshire – taking place on Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7 – will boast a fully closed-road race, sportive and time trial take place in the county.
Rolling out of Peterborough, the Gran Fondo takes place on the Sunday, with 10,000 places available on a first come, first served basis.
Seeding will be introduced for the front racing groups, while the sportive will follow behind them – as is the format in mainland Europe – on the 132km loop through the Cambridgeshire countryside.
The route boasts well-stocked feed stations, mechanical support and medical assistance and costs £56 to enter.
It will be preceded on the Saturday by the UCI World Cycling Tour event, the Tour of Cambridgeshire Chrono, which has 700 places available and is open to all levels.
The top 25 per cent in each Masters age category, in both male and female, will be invited by the UCI to compete in the 2015 World Amateur Road Championships time trial in Denmark in September.
The Chrono costs £34, and there is a limited joint entry to both the time trial and Gran Fondo of £80 also available.
A £1,500 prize is up for grabs for the male and female winner of each of the two events, alongside prizes for the Masters age group classifications and a combined prize for both events.
Tom Caldwell, from organisers Vericool Sports Management, said: “Until now British riders have had to travel abroad to compete in proper closed road Gran Fondos.
“So when the UCI approached us about organising the UCWT level time trial and we secured the closed roads, we realised this is the right time to bring a truly authentic race/sportive Gran Fondo to the UK.
“It’s been a lot of hard work and investment to get to this stage but worth it to have the first events of their kind in the UK.”
For more information and to enter visit: www.tourofcambridgeshire.com.
