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GRAN FONDO FESTIVAL

A unique opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s

most beautiful rides

WORDS by Howard Salkow

Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival is a fantastic new event The great news is that Gran Fondos are designed for everyone. Whether
joining this year’s Major Events Calendar. Open to cyclists of all you are an experienced cyclist wanting to push your own limits, race,
ages, this festival will be hosted from September 9-11 and is set or you are someone new to riding and want to ride at your own pace, a
to be a showstopper. Gran Fondo typically has a perfect ride and group for you.
Dating back 50 years, Gran Fondo cycling extravaganzas have been There are few better locations than Port Douglas to launch this event
enjoyed around the globe and this year the Port Douglas Gran Fondo where it will have little difficulty displaying why it has been such a
Festival will be joining the adventure. Having the opportunity to safely successful feature over the past 50 years. So why not come and join
ride one of Australia’s most beautiful scenic routes, you will fall in us?
love with The Great Barrier Reef Drive. The backdrop of lush green The six rides on offer in Port Douglas are:
mountains and sweeping views across the ocean will have you smitten.
It presents the perfect excuse to visit Port Douglas, take a holiday and 100km Ride: Port Douglas to Palm Cove via The Great Barrier Reef
Drive and then returning to Port Douglas. Participants need to be fit, but
explore beautiful Tropical North Queensland for yourselves. it’s not out of reach for many who love riding their bikes.
But before we pedal into what encompasses the Gran Fondo and its 136km Ride: The longest course, it enjoys the same beautiful coastline
history, let’s step back for a moment and look at what makes this sport
so immensely popular across the world. from Port Douglas to Palm Cove but riders also experience the beautiful
Mowbray Valley and head to Rex Lookout not once, but three times!
There are innumerable elements that can turn your cycling – albeit on a With 1,082 metres of climbing, it’s a great ride for those looking for a THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO VISIT
road bike or a mountain bike – into an experience only your peers will real challenge.
understand. 48km Ride: Starting in Palm Cove and finishing in Port Douglas, this
The sheer high that runners reach after a marathon or ultra-marathon course is perfect for those who want to ride this incredible route at a
is not missing on your two wheels as the adrenalin rushes through your more manageable distance.
body as you head down a hill at 75km/h or faster. Yes, speed is your
friend! Hemingway’s Brewery Sprint: Held under lights with an MC and
spectators cheering on, two cyclists at a time will race along a 250
Cycling is unique in that it attracts all ages and it is not uncommon to metre straight in front of Hemingway’s Brewery in Port Douglas.
see young boys and girls gathering at a coffee outlet with their parents Races will continue elimination-style to find the fastest man and
before hitting the road. Garmin watch ready, their data recorded at their woman, who each win a slab of special edition Hemingway’s Brewery
fingertips, ready to compare later. Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival Pale Ale beer!
The cynics may have coined the phrases – middle-aged-men in lycra
(MAMIL) and middle-aged-women in lycra (MAWIL) but to most, nothing Cairns Post Criterium: Open to graded riders and featuring 2.2km
compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride, the health benefits and laps around a closed circuit in front of Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina.
the social nature of the sport that makes it so appealing. Choo Choos FREE Family Ride: Following the criterium, the circuit
The first Gran Fondo held was the Nove Colli (Nine Hills) in Cesenatico, will be open to families to use to ride around safely, cheered on by the
crowd. A great way to have some fun together and be active. If fancy
Italy on July 12, 1970. A combination of a group ride, race, and tour, dress is your go to, there will also be prizes to be won for the best
all in one. dressed family, individual and even your bike.
Today, Nove Colli is arguably Italy’s biggest cycling party with a large
two-day expo and a 12,000-rider field tackling three distances of 80km, The wonderful thing about this festival is if two wheels is not for you
120km and 200km. there are still ways to get involved. You could volunteer or grab a coffee
and take a front row seat. Afterall everyone needs a cheer squad and
With chip timing becoming more popular in the 1990s, the number of there is nothing quite like experiencing firsthand the speed at which
Gran Fondo events grew rapidly in Italy. Today, more than 100 Gran competitors fly past as they tackle their race. Or maybe just join your
Fondos are held in Italy. friends and family to help celebrate at the afterparty. Enjoy live music,
The Italian Cycling Federation defines Gran Fondo as: soak up the festival atmosphere, celebrate the competitors, or maybe
• at least 120km long (75 miles) just the fact you are on holidays in the tropical paradise that is Port
• chip timed from start to finish Douglas. 9-11 SEPtEMBER 2022
• prizes for the fastest riders in each category (typically age)
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