It might well be arduous, but what a privilege it is to
take part in a sportive organised by the people behind one of the world’s
biggest bike races.
Especially so when
2017 heralds the event’s landmark anniversary, the centenary of Italy’s grand
tour[i] the Giro d'Italia.
The Gran Fondo is the Giro's legacy promotion.
In May 2014 the opening three stages of that year’s Giro
took place in Northern Ireland before the race returned home to the land of la dolce vita.
As part of the deal to say thanks for being
good hosts, it was agreed that a Gran Fondo would be organised in three
consecutive years for amateur cyclists here, beginning in June 2015. This would provide participants with the
novel experience and a sense of racing on roads closed to normal traffic.
So, being year three of the deal this was too
tempting an opportunity to miss.
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| Roll out of Gran Fondo 7 a.m on 4 June 2017 at Parliament Buildings Stormont (Photo: Gran Fondo) |
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| Marshalling at May 2014's Giro |
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| This author exits Stormont for the Mourne route (Photo: SportCam Ltd) |
Having
taken part and managed to finish the long course two years ago in its inaugural
guise, I was hopeful of getting round again.
Even though my legs were a couple of years older, crucially I would be equipped
with a more modern bike.
The hype provided at the pre-race exhibition as well as event publicity helped build an eager sense of anticipation and excitement.
The hype provided at the pre-race exhibition as well as event publicity helped build an eager sense of anticipation and excitement.
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| 16 page GF guide published in the Belfast Telegraph 2 June |
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| The Giro trophy on display at the Gran Fondo exhibition on 3 June |
The staging of a major sporting event like the Giro d’Italia provides fantastic publicity for the hosts, not least because the sport of professional cycling is such a visual spectacle.
What the Gran Fondo may lack in terms of
professional prowess, it more than compensates in the scale of the event with
23-times more participants taking to the roads.
But one aspect that strikes me as a participant is what
it says about our community. I can think
of little better an advertisement for County Down than the sight of so many
people coming out early on a cool Sunday morning to cheer for thousands of
amateur cyclists who are largely unknown to them.
For example, when we reached Ballygowan, the
first village on the course, at approximately 7 30 a.m. groups of local people
were already up and about yelling their encouragement.
So welcoming.
The same happened all day, not just in towns and villages
from Rathfriland to Rostrevor but even on isolated farms. Some even organised family picnics as we raced along, feeding off their support.
Garden fences were festooned in pink, the colour of the Giro’s winning
jersey.
This Fondo occasion is indeed a
great advertisement for the true spirit and togetherness of our community.
It’s also important to acknowledge the priceless back-up
support that the police provided, particularly at road junctions. A private thought occurred about whether or
not this is a cost-effective use of police manpower and time, but I kept that one
to myself. It cannot be pleasant having
to inconvenience the public by closing many roads. The job of policing complicated and dangerous
junctions must seem humdrum for a professional member of the force.
A vital service, however, and one for which
we are grateful, keeping us safe on often hazardous roads.
On which subject, a feedback comment from one cyclist
remarked that the route bypassing Leitrim village was dangerous and unfit for a
cycling sportive. Whether or not this is
because of several years of austerity cuts to public spending including the
roads budget, but it was noticeable that a number of surfaces were uncomfortably
rough and bumpy. This was dangerously so
on some of the steeper (and terrifying) descents.
On one later section, a minor road approaching Saintfield,
a police out-rider slowed down my group very substantially much to everybody’s
annoyance as the prospect of finishing was beckoning. The group of twenty soon multiplied to a group
of at least one hundred. Being forced to
cycle so slowly created safety issues for the growing group. The reason for the enforced slow-down
eventually emerged as being the approach of a junction made tricky by a number
of potholes.
We were lucky with the weather conditions. In case the rain that was forecast for the
early afternoon was to appear, I had invested in an overpriced and seemingly-flimsy
cape. Less than ninety minutes from the
finish, I started to fantasise about getting round dry, free from attack by
precipitation.
Alas, skies slowly began
to darken and eventually to look ominous.
With less than twenty miles to go, a drizzle had the
temerity to appear, soon transforming itself into a heavy downpour. At this stage, wet and aching, it would be
easy to become demoralized. Never,
however, having recorded a DNF in any athletics event, I wasn’t going to
deliver one now. Having survived the
steepest climbs and copious scary descents, fifteen minutes of heavy rain was not
going to deny me a place in the sun crossing the finish line at our imposing
Parliament.
No inconveniences, however irritating, can spoil the
thrill of taking part in such an event.
Apart from road surfaces, there are other issues that the organizers might
have predicted and thought out more efficiently. One is the safety dangers posed by the volume
of traffic on narrow roads.
On the very first categorised climb some 25-30 miles into the route, Dree Hill near Dromara, the ascent assumed a more dangerous edge as a multitude of cyclists had to crawl its way up the
narrow 2 metre wide little road. Some
cyclists near me fell off their bikes, others had to dismount. I joked to a colleague that I didn't bring my
bike to take it for a Sunday morning walk up the hills. By contrast, in year one this same climb was
not a voluminous problem for us.
The other logistical problem and one which provoked most feedback was food stops. In year one
of the event, there were complaints about no such stops. This year two were announced in the course
instructions. In spite of which, there
was no food left at the Hilltown stop on my 10 a.m arrival (which was
reasonably early). The promise of such a
provision removes the necessity to bring personal supplies of bananas or power
bars. Without fuel, any cyclist will
struggle to perform properly.
But it’s the positives recollections that count the most.
I achieved my basic objectives. In particular and what pleased me most was surviving the distance
without either injury or mechanical mishap, I negotiated all five categorised climbs and
descents like Slieve Croob and Spelga, and got to the finish line without
injuring myself or wrecking my bike.
And, according to my Endomondo satellite tracker, I burned 5600 calories.
And, according to my Endomondo satellite tracker, I burned 5600 calories.
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| On the climb of Spelga dam |
The
scenery was magnificent when I took time to look and the public support was
humbling. The photographers did a good
job too.
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| Climbing Slieve Croob |
Above all, I didn’t come in last.
Whereas this year’s official results[iv]
(unlike year one) didn’t categorise 60+year-old riders separately, I calculated
that about 25% of the overall field came in behind me.
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| Crossing the sunny finish line, cape on due to earlier rain |
So from this participant it’s an extravagant grazie
mille and arrivederci to the Giro d’Italia Gran Fondo.
©Michael McSorley
2017
[i] http://www.giroditalia.it/eng/news/i-numeri-del-giro-ditalia-100/
[ii] http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/gran-fondo-2015.html
[iii]
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-teams-arrive-in-belfast.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-opening-ceremony-team-presentation.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/la-grande-partenza.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/dont-knocknaguilliagh.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/arrivederci-irlanda-grazie-mille-giro.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-finish-line-larrivee-il-traguardo.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-opening-ceremony-team-presentation.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/la-grande-partenza.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/dont-knocknaguilliagh.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/arrivederci-irlanda-grazie-mille-giro.html
http://michaelmcsorleycycling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-finish-line-larrivee-il-traguardo.html
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