By BRAD MACLEOD
The annual Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo bicycle race will be held for the fifth time this September and the deadline for super early bird registration ends on Wednesday, May 31.
The Fondo, a cycling event which has been steadily growing since it began in 2013, will take place on September 9, just north of Cranbrook near Saint Eugene’s Golf Resort and Casino.
Super early bird registrants are able to save up to $40 and are eligible to win prizes, including accommodations at St. Eugene, Trickle Creek Lodge in Kimberley, and flights from Cranbrook to Vancouver.
According to organizers, the Fondo is “well ahead of last year’s record participants” and is already confirmed to have two international cyclists travelling from Switzerland. The event is expected to reach their 500 rider registration cap this year.
The 2017 Gran Fondo will have three course options: Piccolo (58 km), Medio (102 km) and Gran (152 km). The race recently earned national recognition after being featured in the May issue of the Canadian Cycling Magazine.