On Sunday, Sept. 7, cyclists will be riding the Gran Fondo route, which brings them through the Kimberley Platzl.
Organizers from Kimberley Rotary are hoping that the public comes out to fill the Platzl, as it will be the best place to watch the event.
You can start your day with “Let’s Eat Out”. Go to the Platzl (where you will be able to have a great meal) and watch the almost 400 Gran Fondo riders.
Fondos are mass participation cycling events that have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades. They are beginning to gain momentum in North America and now here in the Kootenays. Some call it “a party on wheels”. For some it is a full-on race, for others it is just a ride. It’s both a sporting event and a cultural experience.
The best place to view this year’s Fondo is the Kimberley Platzl, say organizers.
The first riders (the Gran Fondo) will likely arrive in Kimberley around 9:40 am and the recreational riders (the Piccolo and Medio Fondos) will continue arriving until about 12:30 noon. All this happens on Sunday.
This is the first year that the Gran Fondo is coming through the Kimberley Platzl. The riders will have the opportunity to stop at the Fondo aid station where everyone can check out the cyclists and their equipment.
It is a great opportunity to highlight the Platzl and downtown businesses and to bring awareness to what Kimberley has to offer visitors, potential residents and businesses. Make some noise! Cheer on the riders and support our local businesses.
This event helps to supply funds for Cranbrook and Kimberley Rotary Projects like Kimberley’s planned Spray Park. It is also a fund-raiser for the Lions Club and the “North Star Rails to Trails Society”.
For additional information check out the Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo web site at www.krgf.ca