lsberrios1 

Hello guys!

Coming back after an awesome weekend at what has been my favorite organized ride of all time. The Gran Fondo Italia - Atlanta Roswell. This was the first Gran Fondo in Atlanta and I think it was a great success and that in years to come it will become a very famous ride. My first Gran Fondo as well.

It all started Saturday with the Expo. At the expo, several bike shops, local businesses and even Colnago had an exhibition of their products. They had the new Colnago C60 in display as well as the VR1 Aero bike. Very nice stuff but I was surprised to see that none of them were assembled with Campagnolo. Apparently that doesn't sell well in the USA. They also had italian food, beverage, as well as an small exhibition with some beautiful pictures of the past Giro d'Italias. Saturday they also organized a "Bambino Gran Fondo" which was a few laps race for the kids to go around city hall. There was even a crash in which one of the kids got scratched pretty good, but he was ok. My nieces participated in the race and their face of excitement was priceless . During the Saturday festivities there was also a Family ride in which Claudio Chiappucci and his wife rode with the group.

Then Sunday the big event started! There were 957 rides from all over. CLaudio Chiappucci (4xTour de France stage winner and San Remo - Rimini winner) was there as well and he rode the 106 mile route which he won for his age category (51-60). Since I am involved in the cycling community here in Roswell I was offered the honors of being one of the Domestiques or "Gregario" which had me wear a nice Yellow kit, offer help and encouragement to riders and be a cycling ambassador for the Gran Fondo. I rode the 106 miles as "support" which I enjoyed to the max.

That morning everything started with the Domestiques at the front along Claudio Chiappucci. There was a caravan of police motorcycles accompanied by 2 Ferrari 458 Italia leading the way. I'll admit it was a little bit of a hassle dealing with the stop and go of the ferraris when you consider having 1000 riders stopping and going. Their biggest concern? DO NOT HIT THE FERRARI! I also got to see a bike that I don't think i'll ever see again in my life and I wish I had taken pictures of, a BMC Impec Lamborghini edition equipped with Campagnolo SR EPS!!! Insane riding a $27k bike

The ride was divided in three courses, 34, 64 and 106 miles. The total elevation for the 106 was around 7.5-8k ft which was not terrible except for one climb which was Burnt Mountain up in north GA. The climb was 4.5 miles and pretty steep but nothing brutal. There was a King of the Mountain challenge which I wasn't looking to do since I had to help out and encourage. I ended up giving it a go but nothing brutal since I knew I still had 60 miles afterwards. Averaged close to 280 watts for the entire climb which lasted a good 25 minutes. Ended up winning the challenge in my age category (15-29)!!! Stoked since I really didn't think I was going to. I get back to the finish line and my wife comes running telling me "YOU WON YOU WON" and I'm like "wut?....". Yup, won a Fi'zik Arione saddle and a Colnago Coffee mug which I'll cherish forever . Since I was not there for the awards she got up on the podium to take the prizes and take a picture with Claudio Chiappucci. I think it's all right because it wouldn't have looked good for one of the support guys to take the prize in the first place. I was amazed to see that my age group was actually one of the slowest groups in the race. Old guys can haul .

I am very happy after a great weekend with lots of new friends and what has been the best cycling event I've ever been to. I'll be posting pictures as they come to the light. It was well worth attending the event and I'm sure to participate again next year. If you are looking for a great ride next year, be sure to take a look into the Gran Fondo Italia - Atlanta Roswell.

Finish Line


Claudio Chiappucci and his wife Clementine


My Nieces after the Bambini Gran Fondo


Great italian food


Domestiques or "Gregarios" with Claudio Chiappucci. I am the one with the orange sunglasses.


Starting line. I am the domestique with the yellow arm warmers.

lsberrios1 

Off we go with the Ferraris!!!


My KOM prizes!

jerrycan42

Wow that is pretty cool. Very nice when the x-pros come out to fondos. We had Steve Bauer and Bob Roll come out to a Centurion(big fondo up in Collingwood here in Ontario)

lsberrios1 

Some more pics of ME .

Heading up Burnt mountain, a 4.5 mile 5% climb.


Leading the parade right behind two Ferrari 458s.


at the finish line!


With another domestique

rpenmanparker 

Wife? Wife? Last time we heard she was a fianceé. What did she do to make you demote her? Seriously, I'm proud of you. Congratulations.

The rides sounds great. I'm glad you enjoyed it so well and we so useful to the overall production. Good work.

lsberrios1 

Thank you Robert. She was the one to propose to me for a second time after I had just laid back into comfort of having marriage benefits without marriage problems . Now I have both.

rpenmanparker 

Spectacular photo...and all that makes it up.

RobertL

That is a wonderful picture. You did very well as did she. Have fun!