2010 North American
Gran Fondo bike rides

What's a gran fondo? It translates as "Big Ride" in Italian and is essentially a charity or century bike ride on 'roids. Common and very popular in Europe, a gran fondo typically begins with a mass start. A section of the course -- either a steep climb or low-traffic section of road -- is timed, so riders can compete for prizes. In Europe, they're often held on closed courses so weekend warriors can live out their fantasies. A recent phenomenon in North America, it remains to be seen how closely the rides here will resemble the cyclosportives across the pond. Read more at "Gran Fondo rides gain popularity in the US" and "More gran fondos in 2010 for recreational and amateur cyclists." 

ARIZONA

El Tour de Tucson -- Although not a gran fondo in name, the Tucson bicycling event has many elements of the long-distance cyclosportives. Aimed at recreational and amateur cyclists, it has a mass start for the leading riders who compete for a trophy. Date: Nov. 21,  2009

CALIFORNIA

Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego -- Launched in 2009, the gran fondo returns in 2010 with a loop that begins and ends in Little Italy. 3 distance options. Presented by Gran Fondo USA Date: March 7, 2010.

Breakaway Ride, Stage 2 -- A gran fondo-style event that rolls over Stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California from Davis to Santa Rosa. Chip timing is offered with splits on major climbs and sprints.  Breakaway rides presented by Amgen and Specialized. Route details announced Feb. 1. Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010.

Breakaway Ride, Stage 8 -- A gran fondo-style route that encompasses the Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills stage of the Tour of California. The event will be timed and 3 options of 30, 55, and 80 miles will be offered. Breakaway rides presented by Amgen and Specialized. Route details Feb. 1. Date: April 25, 2010.

Sea Otter Classic Gran Fondo -- A mass start gran fondo bike ride is scheduled as part of the Sea Otter Classic this year at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey. Presented by Specialized and Bicycling magazine, the ride offers three options of 100, 45 and 28 miles. Each course offers a timed road climb. Participants get a 4-day pass to the Sea Otter Classic. Date: April 17, 2010.

Echelon Napa Gran Fondo -- After a mass start in Napa, the riders travel along the historic Silverado Trail through Napa Valley's wine country to the Howell Mountain timed climb. Then its across the valley again to the Sonoma hills then back to Napa. This is a charity event benefiting LiveStrong and The Queen of the Valley Medical Center and the Saint Helena Hospital. Presented by Echelon Gran Fondo. Date: May 23, 2010.

Centurion California  -- The gran fondo weekend events in Mammoth Lakes start with a short, 25-mile ride on Saturday, following by the more challenging 50- to 100-mile bike rides on Sunday. They are timed events with a mass start and feature rolling closures of roads along the route. This is the 3rd of 4 grand fondos presented by Centurion Cycling. Date: Sept. 11-12, 2010.

Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge Gran Fondo -- This gran fondo returns to Santa Rosa for its second year to raise funds for Santa Rosa's annual participation in the Tour of California as well as the Forget Me Not Farm of Sonoma County. There are three rides: PiccoloFondo is 30 miles; MedioFondo is 65 miles and GranFondo is 103 miles on a challenging course that includes mountains and coastal riding. No prizes will be offered to the fastest finishers, although timing chips will measure individual riders time over certain sections of the course, such as a climb. (Registration filling fast.) Date: Oct. 9, 2010.

 Colorado 

Gran Fondo Boulder -- The 65-mile gran fondo follows country roads around the Colorado Front Range. It's a long distance, mass-participation bicycle ride that welcomes cyclists of all types and riding abilities: recreational, amateur and professional. Presented by Cyclosportivo.  Date: Oct. 3, 2010

Gran Fondo Vail -- This 80-mile gran fondo ride takes cyclists 80 miles over three mountain passes of the Colorado High Country. Gran Fondo Vail takes in mountain towns Copper Mountain, Minturn and Vail, three ski areas and historic mining outposts. It climbs almost 6,000 feet to an elevation of 11,339 feet. Presented by Cyclosportivo. Date: June 19, 2010

Centurion Colorado -- The gran fondo weekend events in Lyons start with a short, 25-mile ride on Saturday, following by the more challenging 50- to 100-mile bike rides on Sunday. They are timed events with a mass start and feature rolling closures of roads along the route. This is the first of the progressively more difficult Centurion Cycling gran fondos to be held in 2010. Dates: July 17-18, 2010.

Canceled -- Gran Fondo Steamboat -- This gran fondo follows a 111-mile route through the Yampa River Valley and over three mountain passes of the Colorado High Country. Starting and finishing Steamboat Springs, Gran Fondo Steamboat takes in towns Haybro, Oak Creek, Phippsburg, Yampa, Trapper, and Toponas, and navigates the Routt National Forest twice. Climbs to 10,000-foot elevation. Presented by Cyclosportivo. Date: Aug. 15, 2010

Oregon

Echelon Portland / Columbia River Gorge Gran Fondo -- Beginning at the Discovery Center, the ride follows the Columbia River eastward through The Dalles, into the rolling scablands and wheat fields carved by the Missoula Floods. It then climbs to a view of Mt. Hood at 5,000 feet. The return includes 6 miles of traffic-free Columbia River Highway. This is a charity event benefiting LiveStrong and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Presented by  Echelon Gran Fondo. Date: Sept. 26, 2010.

 

Pennsylvania

 

Gran Fondo Colnago Philadelphia -- Details still being worked out. Check back at website. Presented by Gran Fondo USA. Date: Aug. 8, 2010.

Wisconsin

Centurion Wisconsin  -- The gran fondo weekend events in Madison start with a short, 25-mile ride on Saturday, following by the more challenging 50- to 100-mile bike rides on Sunday. They are timed events with a mass start and feature rolling closures of roads along the route.  This is the second of the progressively more difficult Centurion Cycling gran fondos to be held in 2010. Dates: Aug. 7-8, 2010.

CANADA

British Columbia

GranFondo Whistler -- The 74-mile gran fondo departs from Vancouver and heads to Whistler ski resort over the Sea to Sky Highway. Climbs from virtually sea level in Vancouver to 8,000 feet elevation. Presented by GranFondo Canada, which plans for gran fondos in Ontario and the Okanogan area in 2011. Date: Sept. 11, 2010.

Ontario

Centurian Ontario -- Still in planning phases, the bike starts in Blue Mountain. Check back at Centurion Cycling for details. It will be the fourth of the progressively more difficult gran fondos offered by Centurion in 2010. Date: Sept. 18-19, 2010.