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Registration opens for Fourth Edition of the SLO Gran Fondo

The fourth edition of this classic annual fall cycling event, presented by VisitAvilaBeach.com, will again feature three routes of 25 miles, 61 miles or 100 miles that all showcase the scenic Central Coast of California 

Enjoy epic coastal and wine country vistas, in 70 degree fall weather over rolling miles of clean open road, October 28th - 29th, 2017 in San Luis Obispo County, California

The SLO GranFondo attracted a HUGE amount of attention last summer, when it was revealed that Stage 4 of the 2016 AMGEN Tour of California, which began near the iconic Morro Rock on Wednesday, May 18th and headed up Highway 1 for the first time, that produced a taste of what the San Luis Obispo County and the SLO GranFondo had to offer.

Event weekend begins on Saturday, October 28th 2017 with three timed rides. The 100 Mile SLO GranFondo includes an incredible 4.5 Mile, 1300ft. KOM / QOM up Green Valley Road, just outside the serene coastal town of Cambria. Traditional pink jerseys go to the winner of the GranFondo and polka dot jerseys to the KOM / QOM!

Also on Saturday, all of the riders will then enjoy the celebrated Race SLO Finish Line Festival featuring award-winning Central Coast BBQ, local beer, wine and music. New in 2017 will be the Pro Panel hosted right on stage with television personality and the often irreverent Bob Roll, USA Cycling Chairman Bob Stapleton and our invited pro riders. Listen in on all the best of 2017 and look ahead to what the 2018 cycling season will have in store. All riders will also be able to take advantage of our Bike Valet, washing tents and recovery lounge.

On Sunday, October 29, a limited amount of tickets are available for the VIP Recovery Ride & Wine Event with Bob Roll and our pro riders starting and ending in Avila Beach at Sinor-Lavallee wine tasting room.

The event draws in top teams and hundreds of riders, including professional cyclists Alison TetrickIan MooreHolly BeckMatt Bigos, Ina TeutenbergNeil Shirley and the Clif Bar Team. The event weekend also includes an engaging Pro Panel reception, which for the first time will be held during the finish line festival at the Avila Beach Golf Resort, featuring all the pro riders along with author, Tour de France & Tour of California commentator and former professional Bob “Bobke” Roll and USA Cycling’s Bob Stapleton. Enjoy the Race SLO VIP race experience provided for all of the riders from the beginner to the pro.

Last year Vinny Owens, 35, of Fresno, CA and Jane Despas, 51, of Menlo Park, CA won the coveted pink jerseys in the SLO GranFondo 100 Mile race in 4 hours, 24 minutes, 39 seconds and 4:44:50, respectively. For Despas, an Australian native, impressively three-peated as the women’s champion. In the 100 mile GranFondo, the fastest rider to the top of Old Creek Highway 46 climb, Kevin Bernotas, 28, from Irvine, CA and Despas were also crowned King & Queen of the Mountain (KOM / QOM), clocking 18:22 and 24:02 respectively for the 4.5 mile time trial featuring 1,339 feet of climb, and each earned the coveted polka dot jersey.

Organized by Race SLO, it was recently revealed that the California Central Coast’s leading endurance sports event producer had completed an economic impact study of its three 2016 events: 5th SLO Marathon + Half and 5K (Spring), inaugural SLO Ultra trail races (late Summer) and 3rd SLO GranFondo cycling festival (Fall). According to the comprehensive study compiled by Productive Impact LLC, overall, the three events produced $4.01 million of total economic impact in San Luis Obispo County plus more than $230,000 in local tax revenue.

The SLO Gran Fondo was recently rated one of the Top 10 U.S. Gran Fondos in 2017.

“Our family of annual Race SLO events created not only healthy & fun experiences for our participants as well as their family & friends, but our 2016 community events also proved to have tangible positive economic benefits to our local economy and governments,” said Samantha Pruitt, Race SLO Founder & CEO“This economic impact survey reinforces the growing Race SLO footprint and our beloved Endurance Town USA’s reputation as a healthy & athletic, connected to nature, event destination.”

The SLO GranFondo is happy again to support ALPHA and the Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital Medical Center, two San Luis Obispo County not-for-profit organizations.

“Our fourth SLO GranFondo promises to be another spectacular cycling event stocked with pro riders and cyclists from all over the state visiting us to not only experience Fall on the beautiful Central Coast, but to also enjoy some exciting time trial climbing action at the top level,” said Samantha Pruitt, Race SLO Founder & CEO. “Along with the GranFondo pink jersey ride champions being crowned, we’ll once again celebrate our top Queen and King of the Mountain with the highly coveted polka dot jerseys on stage in Avila Beach at our post-ride food and wine festival.”

Come experience the best the California Central Coast has to offer: year-round sunshine, rolling green hills, unspoiled open roads, first class finish lines and more!

Come Race SLO: #EnduranceTownUSA #SLOGranFondo

For more information and to regsieter, please visit: slogranfondo.com

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