{"id":4096,"date":"2014-06-12T08:00:56","date_gmt":"2014-06-12T15:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.livetoplaysports.com\/news-press\/?p=4096"},"modified":"2015-06-11T16:11:30","modified_gmt":"2015-06-11T23:11:30","slug":"staff-rides-victoria-gran-fondo-victoria-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livetoplaysports.com\/news-press\/2014\/06\/staff-rides-victoria-gran-fondo-victoria-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Staff Rides: Victoria Gran Fondo, Victoria, BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Victoria Gran Fondo is a 270km supported road ride through the wild landscapes of southern Vancouver Island. Known as a \u201cDoppio,\u201d the VGF is double the length of a traditional Gran Fondo event, and climbs over 600 meters of elevation through the Seymour Mountain Range.<\/p>\n

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\u201cRide in the cycling capital of Canada and on a course designed to showcase the rugged beauty and adventurous spirit of the Pacific Northwest coastal terrain.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 victoriagranfondo.com Since 2011 the event has attracted adventurous cyclists looking for a Fondo style ride with a different vibe: epic climbs, quiet roads, amazing vistas, and fantastic rider support. Participants who sign up for the Doppio will test their mettle on a journey from Victoria, through Sooke, Port Renfrew, and Cowichan Lake, ending back at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria. \"granfondo-10\"<\/a> Supported in part by Norco Bicycles and Oak Bay Bicycles, Live to Play Sports staff participated in the VGF last year and rode away from the event with huge smiles and some amazing stories of personal accomplishment. This year we have a team of four riders entering the June 21st<\/sup> event.<\/p>\n

This was by far the most amazing and epic event I have ever ridden. Riding the 270km route in one day pushed me to my limits but was totally worth it. The rider support was beyond what I had expected and the ride itself is worth the price of admission. A must do ride for anyone looking for that next level of rides that will challenge your abilities as a cyclist.\u201d\u00a0<\/i> – Steve P., Sales Representative \u201cThis big ride certainly didn\u2019t disappoint. The course offers up challenging climbs and exhilarating descents through stunning scenery. The intimate feel of this ride and the great people behind its organization will have me coming back again.\u201d\u00a0<\/i> \u00a0\u2013 <\/i>Shaun K., Graphic Designer<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0What\u2019s a Gran Fondo?<\/h1>\n

\"granfondo-3\"<\/a>\u201cLoosely translated from Italian, gran fondo means “big ride”. These rides are often a hundred kilometres or more and designed for a large number of cyclists at a variety of skill levels – everyone from the competitive cyclist to the amateur enjoy these events. The rides are judged by the challenges they offer: steep climbs, long distances and a combination of the two. While these are not races, top finishers are often recognized.\u201d\u00a0– Gran Fondo Canada<\/i> More about the event:<\/strong><\/p>\n