The Gavia & Mortirolo international Granfondo turns twenty, the third round of the Gran Trofeo Gs Alpi circuit and the eighth of the Zero Wind Show circuit, scheduled in Aprica on Sunday 23 June. In the collective imagination of many cyclists this granfondo is still called “La Pantani”.
Born in 2005 to remember the pirate Marco Pantani, for five years it gave extraordinary emotions to all cycling enthusiasts. The twentieth anniversary which will be celebrated on Sunday 23 June represents an important milestone, also passing through difficult moments. The twentieth anniversary will be an edition full of collateral events, such as the event reserved for children scheduled for Saturday 22 June in the new pump track, with the final awards ceremony to be held in Piazza Delle sei contrade and the presentation of a finisher medal in recycled wood dedicated to them. The occasion will also be valid for the twentieth anniversary celebration which will also include a moment of entertainment with live music. On Sunday morning there will be a parade of vintage cars that will face Gavia and Mortirolo. The pasta party will celebrate the territory and participants will taste pizzoccheri and bresaola.
«The Granfondo Gavia & Mortirolo is an opportunity to promote our extraordinary territory through sports tourism and outdoor activities – he said Alessandro Damiani, Councilor for Sport of the Municipality of Aprica at the presentation at Palazzo Muzio in Sondrio -. I thank Vittorio Mevio for the professionalism with which he continues to organize this event which has now reached its twentieth year.” Roberto Della Morettapresident of the Sporting club Aprica, presented the youth race that his club will organize on Saturday 22nd, with the aim of involving young cyclists in the area aged between 6 and 12 and also offering the children of the participating cyclists a moment of play and skill.
Maurizio Spreafico, owner of the company Veloplus +, a former professional, recalled his experience along the famous climbs of Gavia and Mortirolo and thanked Mevio with whom he has established a fruitful collaboration this year. Veloplus + supplied the gadgets for the events included in the Gran Trofeo Gs Alpi circuit. Also Pierluigi Negridirector of the Media Valtellina e tourist consortium Carlo Fumagalli (Cycle tourism) highlighted the importance of the event organized by Vittorio Mevio for the promotion of the territory.
During the conference, the celebratory shirt that runners must wear during the race was also presented. The eagle depicted on the back recalls the competition motto: “Up there… where eagles dare”.
Three routes are scheduled, departure scheduled for 7.30 am from Corso Roma to Aprica. The main event, the Granfondo, will be held over a distance of 150 kilometers and 3697 meters of altitude difference. Those who choose this route will have to face the Gavia pass and the Mortirolo pass. Medium route which takes place over a distance of 132 kilometers and 3200 meters of altitude and will tackle the Gavia pass and the Cologna climb. Short route 61 kilometers and 1481 meters of altitude difference with the Mortirolo pass to be tackled halfway through the race. Registrations are made via the event website.
