axelsgranfondo

Mario Cipollini (aka the Lion King, Cipo, and Super Mario) will ride the 2nd annual Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan on July 8th in Penticton, B.C., Canada.

He'll join Axel Merckx and others, including: former Vancouver Canuck captain, Trevor Linden; Hollywood actor, Ethan Suplee; and, former mountain bike Olympic medalist, Alison Sydor.

Full details here: www.granfondoaxelmerckx.com.

The 2012 Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan (VFGFAMO) is a fully supported ride featuring several categories and distances to challenge cyclists of all levels. The traditional Granfondo spans 160 km, while the shorter Mediofondo and Cortofondo categories feature 92 km and 55 km routes, respectively. This year, the 2012 VFGFAMO has joined the UCI World Cycling Tour as its only North American stop. This new twist in the Granfondo category allows those riders who want to push their competitive limits to do so, and qualify for the chance to race at the UCI World Tour Final in South Africa – and possibly earn a UCI rainbow jersey. The Granfondo weekend on July 6-8 will also feature a full schedule of events leading up to and following the ride.

Bob Dopolina 

How do you get a rainbow jersey for a granfondo?

Seriously?

K.Katso

Apparently they do it now:

https://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENew...MenuId=MTI2Mjc

https://www.uciworldcyclingtour.com/

Bob Dopolina 

sorry, i didn't click the links as I am too busy sitting in my gigantic whirlpool tub in my hotel room drinking some French grapes but what the heck would it be based on? Your MS150 times?

Please someone explain.

ahsposo 

Hard Times in the bike bidness...

ahsposo 

And I'll bet it's not the Ramada Inn...

K.Katso

Not sure about everywhere, but quite a few of them I know about here in Europe are timed. They actually have a "winner" based on that, and in fact most of them refer to the event as a "race." This is the first I have heard of any type of championship created out of it though. I had to look it up after reading the post. I guess if you are rich enough you can travel to all of those destinations and do the rides.

jdon

I can't explain your desire to sit in a cesspool of exfoliated skin, excrement and drippings from various body parts of others. I can however, explain enjoying a nice glass of French wine.

On the ride, I did it last year and really enjoyed it. With Eddy and Mario attending this year, I may have to do it again. Lots of fun.

K.Katso

LOL When did Canada move to Europe? This got moved to the wrong place.

jdon

We are invading. Iceland is already adopting our currency.

K.Katso

Do it before I have to go back there next month - I still have about 4000 Icelandic Krona in my wallet that I can't get rid of.