March 08, 2013 (Mont-Tremblant, QC) – Simon St-Arnaud, organizer of the renowned 24h of Tremblant events and the city of Mont-Tremblant join together to announce the first edition of the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant, on September 7th 2013. This new cyclosportive invites cycling enthusiasts to discover the heart of the Laurentians on an exceptional road circuit. Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant will take place during the 24h of cycling weekend with the intent of gathering a maximum number of cyclists to end the summer season on a high note.

In Italian, gran fondo means “big ride”, a cycling challenge that gathers a large number of road cyclists of all abilities. Gran fondos or cyclosportives, which have enjoyed great popularity in Europe for decades, are gaining ground in North America. “Considering the growing enthusiasm for this type of event, it is the perfect time to introduce a gran fondo in our region, not to mention that it would contribute significantly to recent efforts of positioning Mont-Tremblant as a destination for major sporting events.” explains Alain Houde, Executive Director of Tourism Mont-Tremblant.

The Mont-Tremblant region will welcome participants, friends and families during this weekend of celebration. Participants and spectators will be in the heart of the action for the official start at Station Mont Tremblant early Saturday morning. Cyclists will have two loops to choose from – 80 km or 125 km. They will ride on secured roads for the pleasure or to take on a personal challenge. The breathtaking views of the region, the winding routes and the quality of the road surface will surely make this event one of the most desirable of the season for all road cyclists.

The finish at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant will be emotionally charged as riders arrive during the Grand Départ of the 24h of cycling on Saturday at noon. Gran Fondo participants will be welcomed with enthusiasm by teams excited to take their own starting line to ride for children in need during this great fundraising event.

“When we started Tremblant’s 24h of cycling, our vision was to make this event a cornerstone to create a grand cycling festival in the Mont-Tremblant region. The Gran Fondo is the second part of that plan”, said Simon St-Arnaud, the founder of the event. “The addition of this gran fondo comes exactly at the right moment when considering the increasing popularity and growing calendar of cyclosportives in Canada and the United-States.”

“We are very excited about the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant. It is an added value for the region that will allow the cycling community to discover its charming qualities”, said Pierre Pilon, Mayor of Mont-Tremblant. “Over the years, we have become an excellent destination for professional and amateur cyclists due to road investments in Mont-Tremblant and our neighbouring towns” added the mayor who believes the residents will welcome the event with open arms.

More than 1000 cyclists are expected for the first edition of the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant. Like us on Facebook to receive updates on our upcoming website launch on March 31st 2013 and be a part of this epic ride in the beautiful Laurentians this fall!