Gran Fondo New York signs a multi-year title sponsorship contract with Campagnolo

Jan. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- Gran Fondo New York is the world's most international cycling event and draws a field of 7000 cyclists from over 70 countries to take on a 110-mile route from New York City to Bear Mountain, NY to Weehawken, NJ on May 19, 2013. The event offers a big personal challenge to its participants and an exciting, fun-filled destination trip to New York City for the whole family. While there are thousands of locals from the NY-NJ-CT tri-state area participating, there are also thousands traveling to NYC from Italy, Sweden, UK, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, among many other countries. In two short years, Gran Fondo New York has become a world-renowned event worthy of its classification among the largest and greatest cycling events in the world with media coverage in 17 languages and 30 countries.

Campagnolo's founder, Tullio Campagnolo, is said to have invented the quick release while racing on Passo Croce D'Aune on November 11, 1927. Back then, riders had to flip their rear wheel to use the smaller gear on the opposite side of the wheel. Tullio's hands though were too cold to open the wing nuts quickly. It took him several minutes to succeed and he was passed by 3 of his chief rivals. He fought on and finished forth that year. Coming home after the race, he invented the quick release to avoid such mishaps in the future. Since that pivotal day, Campagnolo has been at the forefront of cycling innovation.

"Like no other company in cycling, Campagnolo combines rich heritage with modern technology such as the 11-speed electronic shifting EPS", says Gran Fondo New York co-founder Uli Fluhme. "I'm proud to have Campagnolo as a partner for Gran Fondo New York because I personally have been using nothing but Campagnolo components for over a decade. And like no other company, Campagnolo is committed to true, Italian Gran Fondo cycling where elite amateurs and recreational riders ride on the same course at the same time to do their best, whether that means competing for the win or finishing a challenging 110 mile course within the 10 hour cut-off time. At Gran Fondo New York we're glad to provide Campagnolo exposure to our participants from over 70 countries in general and US riders in particular."

Lorenzo Taxis, marketing and communications director for Campagnolo, states, “The prestige of an event in New York City is in line with the prestige that Campagnolo represents and the quality of the event is emblematic of the products that we produce. It is only fitting that Campagnolo, a company that has and continues to produce timeless cycling components and wheels for athletes the world over, associates its name with a globally important city such as New York and the City's premier cycling event.”

Last year, Campagnolo became title sponsor of Gran Fondo New York's partner event, Granfondo Roma, held this year on October 13. Both events showcase the future of the sport of cycling where riders and their families can combine a trip to the world's greatest cities with riding and competing on their bikes. Both events raise money for Operation Smile, the international children’s medical charity, proving that fundraising and goodwill have no borders.

Participants and cycling fans alike will have the opportunity to test the latest Campagnolo components and talk with Campagnolo representatives at the pre-race expo of Gran Fondo New York, the NYC Bike Expo. Located at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, the expo is among the largest consumer road cycling expos in the world with 20,000 visitors over two days, May 17 and 18, 2013. For more information about the expo and to register for free as a visitor, go to www.nycbikeexpo.com.

Gran Fondo New York co-founder Lidia Fluhme said: "Having Campagnolo as title sponsor allows us to further improve the GFNY experience for each and every rider at GFNY. Being racers ourselves that has been and will always remain our focus. Please welcome 'Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York'!"

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About Gran Fondo New York (www.granfondony.com)

Gran Fondo New York brings Italian cycling culture to the world's greatest city. On May 19, 2013, 7000 cyclists from over 70 countries and 48 states will take on a challenging 110-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain and back to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge. Gran Fondo racing stems from Italy, where these amateur cycling races take place nearly every weekend throughout Italy giving the cyclists a chance to test and prove themselves on two wheels. Gran Fondo New York raises funds for Operation Smile, the international children's medical charity.