…and we’re going to race. Well, Drew is, anyway. I’m going to watch. And eat rapure.
If you’ve been a reader of this blog for a little while, you’ll know that we spent a lot of last summer exploring the French Shore of Nova Scotia, a beautiful and culturally vibrant area that stretches from Yarmouth to Digby.
This fall, cyclists will have a chance to experience this area of the province in a whole new way. The Municipality of Clare, in partnership with the Vélo Baie Sainte-Marie bike shop, will be hosting the first-ever Gran Fondo in Nova Scotia.
What’s a Gran Fondo, you ask? It’s a mass-start cycling ride which brings together road cyclists of all abilities to race, or sometimes just to cycle, en-masse. The event has its roots in Italy. It’s been taking place there since the early 1900s, and has been popular across Europe for decades, but in recent years, it’s gained popularity in North America.
And now, it’s coming to Nova Scotia. Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie will be the first of this kind of event to be held in Nova Scotia. The full event is a challenging 118 km loop. There will also be a P’tit Fondo event, which runs 35 km.
Cyclists in both races will be in for a fitness challenge and a travel treat. This stretch of the province is all panoramic ocean views, historic churches, and charming homes. There will also be opportunities to sample Acadian fare at the nutrition breaks.
The event takes place Sunday, September 27th at 8:30 am. It starts at the Vélo Baie Sainte-Marie bike shop in Saulnierville, and will conclude with an awards ceremony and BBQ. Early Bird registration is available until September 1st, but if you register by August 5th you’ll get an event Louis Garneau jersey.
The Municipality of Clare has invited us to take part in this first annual event, so if you can’t make it, we’ll be sharing photos and updates from the race – Drew from the course, and me from the finish line. In the meantime, you can find event updates on twitter @GranFondoBSM.
Date: September 27, 2015
Price:
Early-Bird Registration – September 7: $75.00 (sorry, no more swag bags available)
Regular Registration: $118.00
Website: http://www.granfondobaiesaintemarie.ca/en/
Follow our adventures live:
@GillianWesleyNS
@DrewMooreNS
