A CELEBRATION
Fifth Annual Gran Fondo
By SHELBI LEMEILLEUR
G
ran Fondo: a long-distance cycling
ride that originated in Italy that has
a celebration-like atmosphere. CHI St.
Joseph Health hosts the fifth annual
Gran Fondo in the Brazos Valley on
March 22, celebrating life, wellness, and
accomplishment.
“We try to create the atmosphere
when they get back to the [finish point,
they are greeted by] music, food,
merriment, and celebration that they
accomplished their goal, first, and
secondly that we celebrate our life and
wellness and all that being active and
exercising does for us,” says Tammy Way,
logistics chair of the Gran Fondo.
The Gran Fondo is a 20-, 40-, 70-, or
100-mile bike ride starting at The Stella
Hotel in Bryan and traveling throughout
the Brazos Valley.
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INSITE March 2020
“I think the nicest part of our route is
our 70- and 100-mile routes goes across
Lake Somerville,” says Way. “It’s a nice
scenic area to ride in — beautiful hills
going up to Burton. That’s definitely the
challenging end of the ride. Our 20- and
40-mile routes are fairly flat. More of your
basic riders can ride it.”
While the ride has steadily grown
over the past five years, one of the most
exciting aspects of this year’s ride is the
designation as a recommended ride for
training for events like the Texas MS150.
Recommended rides gain that label by
adhering to strict safety and rider support
guidelines, based on an agreement with
the National Multiple Sclerosis Society,
explains Way. Recommended rides are the
best way to help cyclists prepare for rides
such as the Texas MS150.
Way says this is especially exciting since
for the first time, the MS150 not only rides
through much of the Brazos Valley, but
finishes at Kyle Field.
“With the Texas MS150 coming to
Kyle Field May 2 and 3, part of our route
is on the Texas MS150 route, so we hope
that appeals to people to come out and
ride and get some experience on those
roads before they do the big ride,” Way
says. The Gran Fondo is the only training
ride she is aware of that will cover a nice
portion of the same route from day two
of the Texas MS150.
The proceeds from the Gran Fondo
ride go directly to the CHI St. Joseph
Cancer Center for patient care services.
However, Way says the event is also an
opportunity to promote wellness and
connect with the community.