GRAN FONDO COLNAGO LOS ANGELES: CYCLING, CINEMA AND LOTS OF GLAMOUR Breathtaking start from Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills for the first edi­tion. Over 1300 par­tic­i­pants, greeted by Ernesto Colnago, Italian insti­tu­tions and actor Andy Garcia.

Los Angeles (Ca, USA) June 27, 2011 – Beautiful Californian sun, a glam­orous back­drop for the start line and stun­ning courses: the first edi­tion of Gran Fondo Colnago Los Angeles could not have ask for more! Lined up in Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the world’s most famous shop­ping des­ti­na­tion, more than 1300 cyclists embraced their ride towards two beau­ti­ful routes and one of California’s clas­sic climbs, Piuma Road, with the Pacific Ocean into clear site.

Gran Fondo USA is definetly becom­ing the ris­ing star in the American sport cal­en­dar, thanks also to the strong “Italian” theme that the orga­niz­ers propose.

Gran Fondo Colnago Los Angeles was part of a week-long series of events ded­i­cated to Italy (the “Italian Week”) and the cel­e­bra­tion of its 150th anniver­sary of Unification. From movies to the motors, from jew­el­ery to cyclism: the “Made in Italy” was at the heart of all hap­pen­ings on Rodeo Drive from June 19 to the 26. The for­mat pro­posed by Matteo Gerevini, founder of Gran Fondo USA, was a per­fect match for the series, which con­quered Rodeo Drive.

“I am truly hon­ored to be able to host such a unique event in our City,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Barry Brucker address­ing the crowd. “It’s offi­cially our first bike ride in Beverly Hills and I hope this becomes a yearly event for us.” Along the Mayor and in rep­re­sen­ta­tion of the Italian insti­tu­tions, there was Ambassador Umberto Vattani, pres­i­dent of the Italian Worldwide Trade Offices and vis­it­ing L.A. for the Italian Week. “Seen from here, you are an ocean, more than those who joined Garibaldi in his famous expe­di­tion!” Also in atten­dance were Nicola Faganello, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles, Carlo Bocchi, Director of the Italian Trade Commission offices in Los Angeles and Jimmi Jahant, presidet of the Rodeo Drive Committee and of Brooks Brothers. But what thrilled the crowd, was the pres­ence of leg­endary bike man­u­fac­turer Ernesto Colnago who par­tic­i­pated later on to the expo and made him­self avail­able for auto­graphs and photos.

Also at the expo, the star­dust of Hollywood arrived thanks to the atten­dance of Andy Garcia. The actor/producer is an avid cyclist and wanted to meet iconic Colnago, who pre­sented him a per­son­al­ized bike. The two spent time at the VIP tent, where fans and curi­ous peo­ple greeted them.

The day went by very fast, enjoy­ing the lively pasta party, great wines and Italian arias. It was even pos­si­ble to win a free trip to Italy and a stay of one week to selected hotels, com­pli­ments of Alitalia and Italy Bike Hotels. Michael Carter, Assistant Director Sportif for Team Type 1, a pro­fes­sional men’s cycling team and global orga­ni­za­tion ded­i­cated to chang­ing the lives of peo­ple with dia­betes (ben­e­fi­ciary of Gran Fondo Los Angeles), won the King of the Mountain. His time was 23’40” com­pleted at the Piuma climb (1,500 feet ascent in 5 miles!). The Queen of the Mountain was Countouriotis Athena, with a time of 28’52”.

“The event in Beverly Hills was a sort of test for us and we passed it, deliv­er­ing a superb event in a loca­tion so spe­cial,” said Matteo Gerevini, founder of Gran Fondo USA. “We can say that American cyclists love our model. The fact that more and more peo­ple is try­ing to copy us, is a proof of our evi­dent success”.

Sponsors include Colnago, Alitalia, FSA, Campagnolo, Fulcrum, Gaerne, Speedplay, Cuore Italiano, Villa Sandi, the Italian Trade Commission, GU Energy, Il Borro and Castiglion del Bosco winer­ies (owned by the Ferragamo fam­ily), Maxxis, Italy Bike Hotel, Il Palagetto win­ery, the Beverly Hilton and the Beverly Hills Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Gran Fondo USA series will con­tinue with its sec­ond edi­tion in Philadelphia (August 14) and in Miami (November 20).

“The event was phe­nom­e­nal because we were graced by good weather with sun­shine and it became a gor­geous day with a breeze from the ocean,” said Daniela Puglielli of Gran Fondo USA. “This race is becom­ing a clas­sic, start­ing in Little Italy, and all the rid­ers rode out to the seaside.”

Former pro­fes­sional cyclist, Peter “Paco” Wrolich of Austria, lined up at the front of the mass of cyclists under the Little Italy arch in down­town San Diego. The sound of three Ferrari engines and two Ducati motors roared to sig­nify the start of the 168km Gran Fondo and 100km Medio Fondo.

The Gran Fondo route included more than 5,500 feet of climb­ing that included a timed King (and Queen) of the Mountain ascent on Honey Springs Road, a 10.7 km ascent that aver­age a 5.2 per­cent gra­di­ent. Italy’s Luca Ortolani won the race to the top of the climb in a time of 29:17 fol­lowed by Lars Finanger in a time of 29:22 and David Brummer who made it to the top in 30:13.

Canada’s Yew Ann won the women’s timed ascent in a time of 35:47 fol­lowed by Athena Countouriotis who rode in 36:32 and Terry Martin Durel in 38:18. “This woman was spec­tac­u­lar because she arrived to the Gran Fondo with­out her bike and had to bor­row a friend’s bike,” said Puglielli. “But she still went out there and did it.”

Gran Fondo USA, orga­niz­ers of the event, put on a two-day expo that show­cased more than 70 exhibitors includ­ing top Italian cycling brand Colnago.

The next event will be held at the inau­gural event in Los Angeles that will start on Rodeo Drive on June 26 and will coin­cide with the Dolce Vita week-long Italian fes­ti­val. The 2nd annual Philadelphia ride will take place on August 14 and the series will con­clude at a new venue in Miami on November 20.

Full details of the event appeared on BikeRadar.