“Race to Help, Help to Win”
The idea to create the Gran Fondo cycling event in the Czech Republic was born thanks to the large popularity of these events in the world. There are two events which stand out that inspired the organizers of the Bohemian Gran Fondo the most – the iconic La Marmotte in the French Alps and the Pan Massachusetts Challenge (http://www.pmc.org) in the USA. The French event has taken place every year since 1982. It is considered to be one of the hardest bike races in the world and attracts amateur sportsmen worldwide. The American PMC event started in 1980 and, it too, attracts thousands of riders. In addition to the shared ride or 100 or more miles, the PMC also brings forth incredible fundraising (over 39 millions USD raised last year). All of the money went to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, a leading cancer research institution.
The center of the all five courses of Bohemian Gran Fondo is Český Krumlov, the historical town in Southern Bohemia. The historical center is a part of the UNESCO world heritage and the town is the second most visited city after Prague in the Czech Republic with greatly developed accommodation capacities.
In the past, the bordering mountains, where the race takes place, have always provided natural borders between the countries, states and/or political systems. Now, they are interwoven with a wide net of narrow, infrequently used roads with a good surface- almost creating a sort of cycling paradise. Harsh climbs alternate with downhill rides (downhills are not part of the timed sections strictly because of the participants' safety), so each rider can choose his/her very own pace. The participants’ safety is the organizers’ biggest concern.
Participants may choose from five demanding routes of different length. All the routes present a challenge to the riders.
What differentiates the Bohemian Gran Fondo from other similar events in the Czech Republic and beyond is its charitable purpose. The participants’ starting fee supports different projects focusing on breast cancer. The event date, the first weekend in October, corresponds to the start of the international Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Last year, we can proudly announce that the 100.000,- Kc was transferred to the bank account of our charitable partner, Projekt 35.
The charitable character of the event resonates in the motto of the Bohemian Gran Fondo:
“Race to Help, Help to Win”.