Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York partners with De Rosa to offer the 2014 GFNY PROTOS frame

NEW YORK - Aug. 21, 2013 - PRLog -- The revered Italian high-end frame manufacturer De Rosa is the Official Bike of the 2014 Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York, held on May 18. De Rosa, founded by Ugo De Rosa and headquartered in Cusano Milanino, Italy, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.  Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York 2014 consists of a 100-mile route with over 8000ft of climbing and a 50-mile non-competitive GFNY BEAR. Both distances provide formidable challenges truly worthy of their New York venue as part of the most international cycling event in the world.

"I've been a fan of De Rosa frames from the day I got into cycling as a kid", says Gran Fondo New York CEO Uli Fluhme. "We're honored to have De Rosa on board as a partner. The Gran Fondo New York philosophy is to partner with companies and people who stand for the same values as we do: passion for the sport of cycling, authenticity and quality. De Rosa is also a natural addition given that Ugo De Rosa and Tullio Campagnolo worked together closely for decades, with Valentino Campagnolo and Cristiano De Rosa continuing the close working relationship, and Campagnolo being the Title Sponsor of the event."

De Rosa has been a builder for many champions such as Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx and Francesco Moser. While De Rosa today focuses on carbon, they continue to work with steel, titanium and aluminum, always staying true to their tradition. "De Rosa is very glad to partner with a great project like Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York. The Gran Fondo market is very important for us. In Italy, De Rosa is the Title Sponsor of Gran Fondo Florence and now adding Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York gives us a prominent presence in the capital of the world" said Cristiano De Rosa.

As part of the partnership agreement, De Rosa will produce a Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York Protos by De Rosa frame. The Protos is the top frame produced by De Rosa and will be awarded to the overall man and woman winners of Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York and will also be available for sale. The official Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York bike will be equipped with Campagnolo Record components. The frame will have the CGFNY colors: NYC style matte black with neon green accents. Besides the winners of GFNY 2014, the eight members of CGFNY's Gruppo Sportivo ambassador team, who lead the free weekly group rides for registered participants of CGFNY14, will each ride a CGFNY Protos by De Rosa.

“Our Gruppo Sportivo riders are regular cycling enthusiasts from all walks of life", Fluhme adds. "They live, ride and race in and around the world’s greatest city. Companies recognize the value of direct interaction with their consumers. A professional cyclist will ride whatever he’s paid to ride. But we are picky New Yorkers. We don’t just ride anything. And if we like something, we love talking about it to our cycling friends during the weekly Gran Fondo New York group rides as well as in our daily lives. Plus: anyone can test ride our bikes.”

A select number of CGFNY Protos by De Rosa frames will be available for purchase. Avid Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York fans have long requested to buy a bike frame of the event. With De Rosa's timeless classic design combined with modern technology and understated Italian style, the CGFNY Protos will have global appeal.