The Blue Mountains Gran Fondo
Location Collingwood, Ont. Date June 14, 16 Distances 24.7-km TT, 75-km medio fondo, 112-km and 155-km gran fondo events Cost $89–$169 Website thebluemountainsgranfondo.com
The Blue Mountains Gran Fondo was formerly referred to as the Grey County Road Race. Canada’s sole event within the uci Gran Fondo World Series, Blue Mountains Gran Fondo is composed of both time trial and road race events for 16 categories of riders. “There’s a lot of work that goes into having full uci status,” said Bruce Bird, organizer. “This requires more of us, but we think this adds more value for participants and the surrounding community.” The time trials take place in nearby Thornbury, Ont., and will be limited to 250 riders. The fastest 25 per cent of the starters will qualify for the uci Gran Fondo World Series championships in Varese, Italy, which will run in September. The same percentage of riders from the road race, held two days after the TT, will qualify for event that functions as an amateur worlds.