PRESS RELEASE (02/16/2017)
Everything is ready for the seventh edition of the Granfondo City of Loano, bicycle race organized by the LoaBikers Sports Group which will be staged Sunday, February 19 On the roads of the Riviera and hinterland.
La Granfondo, promoted with the contribution of the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the City of Loano, is one of the most anticipated trials on the cycling calendar and will feature some of the best two-wheel specialists. Among them, has confirmed his presence the Albanian national champion Eughert Zhupa, rider from Team Professional Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia, the team of Angelo Citracca and Luca Scinto. A presence that will add further luster to the event.
“The Granfondo organized by GS Loabikers," says Councillor Remo Zaccaria - is the first of many national and international events that we will host at Loano this year, thanks to the efforts of numerous sports associations. Sport and tourism represent a winning formula to increase tourist attendance in our city at times of the year when it is not possible to focus only on the sun and the sea. The Granfondo will bring athletes, coaches, companions and fans to Loano for a pleasant weekend in which they will be able to savor Loano hospitality.”
La Granfondo City of Loano will be held over a distance of 106 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1,650 meters. The cyclists will start at 10 a.m. from Via Pendola to Loano and then join the Aurelia, riding the first 12 kilometers to Albenga. Arrived in the city of towers, the athletes will point firmly upstream leaving the coastal area to engage in the first slight climbs that will take the group to Villanova d'Albenga and then to Ortorevo, until reaching Ranzo. The first effort of the day will be represented by the 5 kilometers that will lead, after some passages that will test the riders“ legs, to Costa Bacelega, where the suggestive ”balcony“ over the Arroscia Valley will begin, which will see the cyclists touching the villages of Onzo, Arnasco and Cenesi. The descent of Cisano sul Neva will soon give way, immediately after Zuccarello, to the 15-kilometer climb up to the Scravaion Pass, where the ”Cima Coppi" of the Granfondo is located at 816 meters above sea level. The final exertions will see the athletes aiming toward Bardineto and then, on a slight climb, up to Giogo di Toirano. From there, the riders will descend toward the sea along an easy, rideable descent. Arriving at the Boissano crossroads, the day's protagonists will find themselves overcoming a final asperity that could decide the race given that, once the top of the hill is accomplished, there will be only two kilometers to go before the finish in Via Pendola in Loano.
The Granfondo City of Loano will be valid for the awarding of the 6th Laura Pesce Memorial, with a special award to be presented to the first woman in the W2 band.
L’expo area will also host the booth dedicated to the Cisalpine Cup, of which the event will be the first test. The awards ceremony for the event will be held at the 4 p.m. And they will close the day.
Online registration will close on February 17. Afterwards, it will be possible to register for the event on the days of Saturday 18, from the 3 p.m. at 7 p.m., e Sunday, February 19, from the 7:30 a.m. at 9:30 a.m., in the secretariat set up in the “Su da Dos” Restaurant” always at Loano.
