Santa Fe’s location at the foot of the southern Rockies, along with its mild four-season climate, have made it a world-class city for outdoor recreation. With hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation, it’s no wonder the International Mountain Bike Association has named Santa Fe one of 15 Silver Ride Centers in the world.
Nor is it surprising that Grand Fondo New York (GFNY) has chosen Santa Fe as a location for its global endurance sports brand. The term Gran Fondo comes from the Italian term for “big challenge,” and stems from skiing, swimming and cycling endurance races that started in the 1950s. Since 2010, GFNY has employed the open-to-all marathon format used in running events for cycling, and Santa Fe has jumped on board. GFNY Santa Fe takes place Sunday, September 18, 2022.
Basically, a personal endurance challenge, GFNY is all about doing your best, whether you are competing against the other riders, the clock or just pushing your personal best. Two routes are mapped out, a long and medium route. The medium course is non-competitive and recreational. The long route is more competitive, with finishers ranked overall and in their age groups.
The long course takes riders through terrain that can only be described as spectacular. 75 miles long, with over 7,000 feet of climbing, it ends at Ski Santa Fe. In the process, riders transition from rolling hills and grasslands, through piñon-juniper woodlands, on up through cottonwoods, and finally the spruce, fir and aspen of the high mountains. The medium course is 60 miles long, with 3,500 feet of climbing, and finishing in downtown Santa Fe. Challenging is just one way of putting it!
There are so many different ways to experience Santa Fe, and GFNY Santa Fe is one of the more strenuous, but the rewards for those who take the challenge are said to be euphoric. Are you ready to take the challenge for yourself? For more information on GFNY Santa Fe, or to register for the big event, visit the website.
This article was posted by Olivia
