Waiver Form

Download the Waiver here.

Dear Gran Fondo Colnago Cyclists:

Here are your final event instructions. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY.

CHECKING IN:

PACKET PICK-UP.

Each athlete must pick up their packet in-person on either Friday or Saturday to sign their waiver; get their numbers, timing chip and cue sheets; and receive their goodie bag and cycling jersey.

You have 2 options:

Friday, March 5
2:00 – 7:00 PM
Holiday Inn On The Bay
1355 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

Saturday, March 6
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Event Expo located at the:
County Administration Building
W.Ash and N. Harbor
San Diego, CA

PACKET PICK-UP ON SUNDAY. Please try to pick-up your packet on Friday or Saturday! If you absolutely cannot, then you may come to the event expo – in the south parking lot of County Administration Center at W. Ash & N. Harbor — from 5:00 – 6:30 AM to get your packet. Be sure to get there early, because you’ll need time to drop off your goodie bag at your car, then get to the stating line in time.

FRIENDS & FAMILY PICK-UP. Packets MAY be picked up for pre-registered friends and family IF you have the following: 1) their signed waiver (download it from the website here); AND 2) a photocopy of their driver’s license. If either of these 2 items is missing, then their packet may not be collected. NO EXCEPTIONS.

NO ENTRIES AVAILABLE ON-SITE. Event registration is closed, and we are entirely SOLD OUT. There will be no new entries available on-site.

RIDING THE EVENT:

BIKE NUMBERS. All riders must display their bike number on the front of their handlebars, and helmet number on the front of their helmet.

WRISTBAND. All riders must wear their wristband, which can be found in the technical envelope. Wristbands allow access to aid stations and post-ride lunch.

TIMING CHIP. Athletes riding the 53-mile and 101-mile courses, and all cyclists with numbers 1 – 300, will be issued a timing chip. This must be worn on the ankle. The chip allows us to track all finishers, and to record your time while climbing Honey Springs Rd for King of the Mountain scoring. Timing chips will be collected at the end of the event. Unreturned chips will result in a $35 chip replacement charge.

START TIME. The start area will open at 6:00 AM. The first wave of the 2010 Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego will start at 7:00 AM. Successive waves of approximately 200 riders each will be released at 90 second intervals until all riders have started.

COURSE CLOSURE TIME. The event is officially over at 5:00 PM. Athletes must be off of the course and all services will end at that time.

AID STATIONS. Each course will have aid stations approximately every 15-20 miles. Be cautious when arriving at, and departing from, aid stations. Be sure to stay fueled and hydrated throughout your ride. Consult your cue sheet for specific locations of aid stations.

MECHANICAL SUPPORT. Campagnolo will provide mechanical support. You will find their support on India Street in starting line area; at the Olympic Training Center and Lyons Valley Store aid stations; and in vehicles roving the course.

SAG SUPPORT. If you are unable to finish the event for some physical or mechanical reason, call the event dispatcher at (619) 316-0330. You will be picked up as soon as feasible and either transported to the nearest aid station, where you can arrange to have someone pick you up, or back to the finish line as required by the demands of the event.

ROUTE MAPS & MARKINGS. Route maps can be found on the event website. Cue sheets will be distributed in your technical envelope. All routes will be primarily marked with yellow signs with black arrows. In certain areas, you will also see California Highway Patrol, police, traffic officers and volunteers.

POST-RIDE LUNCH. After your ride, be our guest at an Italian lunch provided by Via Italia Trattoria. You will need your wristband for entry into the lunch tent. This lunch is for registered riders only.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ!:

DANGEROUS DESCENTS. On the 101-mile course, there are certain descents – especially on Lyons Valley Rd – that are steep and winding, and require technical bike handling proficiency to navigate safely. Stay in your lane, and as far to the right as safely possible. It is your responsibility to know the course that you are riding, and to ride within your skill and fitness abilities.

RULES OF THE ROAD. Please remember that all cyclists must obey all traffic laws; this includes – but is not limited to – traffic lights and stop signs. Violators may be ticketed by local law enforcement and/or disqualified and removed from the event. All riders are personally responsible for knowing California’s traffic laws.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. If you have – or witness — a crash or medical emergency, immediately call the event dispatcher at (619) 316-0330.

MISCELLANEOUS:

MEET PAOLO BETTINI. The Olympic and 2x World Champion will be in the expo at the Briko booth from 1:00 to 3:00 on Saturday to sign autographs. Don’t forget your camera!

EVENT EXPO. The event expo will take place on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and on Sunday during the event from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Entry is free, so be sure to check out the exhibitors and bring your family and friends!

FREE PARKING. We have arranged free parking in the North Lot of the County Administration Building for 750 cars… so be sure to arrive early! Entrance to the parking lot is from Pacific Highway, between W. Grape and W. Cedar Streets. Additional paid parking is available in numerous lots within ½ mile of the start line.

WEATHER ALERT! There is a strong chance of inclement weather for part of Sunday’s ride. Please come prepared and dress accordingly. The event will take place, rain or shine.

QUESTIONS? Please note that we will not be answering emails after Wednesday, March 3; thereafter all questions can be answered at packet pick-up or at the event expo on Saturday.

Event Website

We appreciate your participation in the second annual Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego… Thanks for making this event San Diego’s newest cycling tradition. We wish you a safe and fun ride!

Best regards,

Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego

Based near Treviso since 1962, Gaerne has produced its handmade cycling shoes for top pros such as Claudio Chiappucci, Sean Kelly, Marco Pantani and current world champion Cadel Evans.

Marta Gazzola, the company’s Marketing Manager, said, “the Gran Fondo Colnago project provides an excellent promotional platform for Italian cycling products to gain visibility in the American market. We’re delighted to support these exciting events.”

Look for special Gaerne shoe promotions to be announced in the coming months.

November 19, 2009, San Diego

Normally closed to bicycles, participants will experience the unique thrill of pedaling over the span. Cyclists may choose between courses of 32, 53 or 101 miles in length… all crossing the bridge enroute to Coronado Island.

“We’re delighted to have obtained permission to ride across the Coronado Bridge”, said event director Rob Klingensmith. “Our event is all about showcasing San Diego, and the bridge is one of the city’s most recognizable structures.”

Starting on India Street in the heart of Little Italy, the second annual Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego bicycle event provides a taste of Italian cycling culture to more than 3000 cyclists, fitness enthusiasts and their families. To register or to learn more click here.

About the Coronado Bridge
Since opening on August 3, 1969 the distinctive curve of the Coronado Bridge has been a signature of San Diego. Its 5 lanes curve gracefully between San Diego and Coronado Island.

Spanning just over 2 miles of San Diego Bay, the bridge’s maximum height of 200 creates a 4.7% grade descending to Coronado Island.

The two-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist will preside over the event when it takes place on March 7, 2010 in the Southern Californian city.

Read more at: http://www​.cyclingne​ws.com

Its unparalleled market share among performance-oriented cyclists, combined with its comprehensive support of Gran Fondo USA events, made VeloNews the logical choice.

“Gran fondos and cyclosportive bike events are immensely popular in Europe, and now Gran Fondo USA has introduced America to this exciting style of cycling,” stated John Duke, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher of The Competitor Group, VeloNews’ parent company. “These are precisely the types of events that interest our readers, and we’re thrilled to be part of America’s first gran fondo series.”

VeloNews, known as The Journal of Competitive Cycling, is a multi-media operation that reaches over 850,000 avid cyclists through its print and online properties. It publishes 21 editions annually, including The Official Guide to the Tour de France.

Gran fondos are long distance, mass-participation cycling events – not races – that are held throughout Italy. Participation is open to recreational and competitive amateur cyclists, and thousands of riders of all abilities participate.

Riders (over 1,000) gather at the break of dawn where else but in Little Italy to jockey for the best starting position, meet up with friends, or listen to the wake up music of Frank Sinatra?

Read More at Nakata News

Briko’s CEO Carlo Boroli confirmed that sponsorship of the Gran Fondo Colnago events is now part of his long-term North American marketing strategy. “We’ve decided to participate in the Gran Fondo Colnago project because it represents the best opportunity for Briko to differentiate itself in the US market,” he said.

Briko recently opened an office in the USA to manage its growing North American business in cycling and skiing.

To further support Briko’s efforts in cycling, the company has retained 2-time cycling world champion Paolo Bettini to design a line of high performance cycling apparel. Briko’s Paolo Bettini Collection will be available to consumers in 2010.

“Gran fondo means ‘big ride’ in Italian”, said company co-founder Matteo Gerevini. “And these events combine fun and challenging bike routes with a unique passion for cycling that is only found in Italy.”

Read more at Bicycle Retailer

Gran fondos are long distance, mass-participation cycling events – not races – that have become immensely popular in Italy. Participation is open to recreational and competitive amateur cyclists, and thousands of riders of all abilities participate.

“We have decided to expand and extend our total support of the events organized by Gran Fondo USA because of their understanding of the US cycling market and their commitment to quality,” said Ernesto Colnago, the company’s founder. “The flair, spirit and quality of their events capture the essence of our brand.”

Colnago’s 3-year deal calls for its continued sponsorship of Gran Fondo San Diego on March 7, 2010; the inaugural Gran Fondo Philadelphia to be held on August 8; and events in other cities, which will be named in the coming months.

Participation in all of these events is part of Colnago’s development plan for the United States, where it recently opened it subsidiary Colnago America.

“‘Gran Fondo’ means ‘Big Ride’ in Italian”, said series co-founder Matteo Gerevini, “and these events combine fun and challenging bike routes with a passion for cycling that is uniquely Italian. We’re proud to welcome Colnago to our project – America’s very first gran fondo series — because it’s Italy’s most prestigious cycling brand.”

In 2009 the first Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego attracted more than 1,200 cyclists and is scheduled to return to San Diego for its second edition on March 7, 2010.