Ciclosportivo N.A cancels Gran Fondo Steamboat

Gran Fondo Boulder rescheduled for October

Published: February 3, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Ciclosportivo N.A. has canceled one of its three Gran Fondo and Super Corsa events in Steamboat, Colorado that was schedule to take place on August 15 this summer.

In December, Ciclosportivo N.A. announced the introduction of three Colorado-based Gran Fondo rides and SuperCorsa races in Boulder, Vail and Steamboat. It will continue with its previously scheduled Gran Fondo and Super Corsa event in Vail on June 19 however, it has rescheduled its Boulder event which will now take place on October 3.

Ciclosportivo N.A. says it will provide refunds to Gran Fondo Steamboat registrants who are also registered for Gran Fondo Boulder and Vail. For riders registered for Gran Fondo Steamboat only can opt for a refund or transfer of registration to Gran Fondo Boulder or Vail. Full refunds will also be provided to Gran Fondo Boulder registrants who don’t want to transfer their registration to the rescheduled date or to Gran Fondo Vail.

The Steamboat Gran Fondo and SuperCorsa rides were canceled because Ciclosportivo N.A was forced to move its Boulder event from its original April slot to October, which directly over lapped. The Boulder event was rescheduled due to a new special events approval process introduced by the Boulder County Mountain Canyon Cyclists Motorists Working Group that limits the number of special events on canyon roads and requires local approval.

“Though not enforced to date, Boulder County has on its special event permit requirements language limiting the number of special events to any road segment to not more than three per calendar year,” said Ciclosportivo N.A’s media contact. “This is a major concern as the issue was raised by the Working Group, special event approval is given to established events first and there appears to be over three events utilizing some segment of our route but the latter is vague and not well-defined.”

“Boulder County now requires that local officials approve all special events,” he added. “For our Gran Fondo and SuperCorsaT Boulder events that means having to get both Lyons' and Ward's approval. We are not expecting any problem with Lyons but Ward may be a concern. Ward approval comes from an elected official who has constituents.”

Ciclosportivo N.A. offers its Gran Fondo mass-start recreational rides along its trademarked SuperCorsa competitions for USA Cycling licensed professionals and category 1-4 cyclists, all fields combined. In keeping with Italian-style Gran Fondo tradition, its events cover between 100 and 200 kilometres of challenging terrain.