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Challenge Fondo KOM/QOM on Table Mountain Returns!

By Popular Demand, 1.3 Mile Timed Segment is Back. Prizes from Ryder Eyewear!

CHICO, California, August 31st – In addition to podium prizes for all categories at the Challenge Gran Fondo on Saturday September 10, Chico Velo will bring back the coveted Table Mountain KOM/QOM prize. The nation’s first and only ‘all abilities’ Fondo (a bicycle ride/race), the Challenge Fondo offers race categories for fully-able and adaptive athletes, and ‘fun ride’ options for recreational riders.

The Table Mountain KOM/QOM ‘Prime’ (French for ‘gift’, an intermediate sprint within a race, offering a prize or points, a way to encourage more competitive riding) is a challenging 1.3 mile climb up Table Mountain from Oroville. All riders in the ‘hilly’ courses will ascend this one climb and will compete for the KOM and QOM titles. The fastest male and female of the day will each win a pair of RYDERS eyewear. Riders will have 48 hours to post their rides to Strava, and winners will be announced on Wednesday, September 14.

The KOM/QOM Strava Segment, “Challenge Fondo KOM/QOM” can be found here:  https://www.strava.com/segments/8299181.

The start and finish of the segment will be marked with ‘feather flags’ and an ORANGE tape across the road. 1415 riders have documented their times on the segment to date, and the current segment record holders are locals Anthony Ferretti, with a time of 6 minutes, 44 seconds, set on Feb 24 2016, and Lindsay Myers, with a time of 8 minutes 42 seconds, set on March 2, 2016. If either or both of the KOM/QOM winners break the segment record, they will receive an additional ‘secret’ prize, so riders will want to save a little ‘juice’ for this, the final climb of the day!

“Cyclists of all abilities are encouraged to ‘Choose their Challenge’ and get ready for a great day on the bike, knowing their entry fee supports Chico Velo’s efforts to make our local roads safer for all cyclists and to encourage people of all ages and abilities to make bicycling a part of their healthy life choices,” said Janine Rood, Executive Director of Chico Velo. “We are delighted to provide this opportunity to bring the community together.”

All riders get an event t-shirt and goodie bag, well-stocked rest stops, on-road support, finisher souvenir, and post-ride meal. Timed riders compete for awards, prizes, and podium positions in traditional age group categories as well as adaptive categories including lower and upper-limb disability, visual or hearing impairment, handcycle, recumbent, and tandem riders. Pre- registration is open until 11:59 PM, September 7. On-site registration will be available Friday, September 9, and on Race/Ride day, Saturday, September 10.

Learn more or register online at www.challengegranfondo.org.

About Chico Velo

Chico Velo encourages and promotes safe bicycling through education and advocacy. As a 501.c.3 nonprofit, Chico Velo hosts cycling events including the Chico Wildflower, attended by 4000 bicycle riders, and manages bicycling programs in the community like Bike Valet parking at local events, Trailworks mountain bike advocacy, Light Up Chico which offers free bike lights to those who cannot afford them, and KidsPedal! which brings bike safety training to local children. To learn more, go to www.chicovelo.org, or email velo@chicovelo.org.

Challenge Fondo, Durham, California, Sept 10th 2016