BGY Airport Granfondo 2024 officially presented

The BGY Airport Granfondo will return on Sunday, 5 May 2024 and will attract thousands of amateur cyclists and enthusiasts to the city and province of Bergamo. The event will take place under the aegis of the Italian Cycling Federation and was officially presented yesterday at a press conference hosted by Sala Traini in the Bergamo headquarters of Banco BPM. Among others who spoke at the conference were Giovanni Sanga, chairman of SACBO Spa, the company that manages Milan Bergamo Airport, Lombardy Region’s Undersecretary for Sport Lara Magoni, and Fabrizio Zambetti, Head of Banco BPM’s Bergamo-Brescia-Lario Territorial Management, his predecessor Roberto Perico, a great friend of the event, Bergamo City Councillor for Sport and Youths Loredana Poli, Bergamo Province Councillor with responsibility for sport Giorgia Gandossi, and the President of the Lombardy Regional Committee of the Italian Cycling Federation Stefano Pedrinazzi. They all emphasised the importance of the event and expressed great praise for the event and its organiser Giuseppe Manenti and his entire well-trained staff.

THE THREE ROUTES

The BGY Airport Granfondo again this year confirms the three traditional routes. Participants will also be able to decide during the race whether to opt for the short, medium or long route. The three routes are suitable for all types of cyclists and different levels of preparation: they range from the short course of 89.4 km (1,400 m altitude difference), through the medium course of 128.8 km (2,100 m altitude difference), to the long course of 162.1 km (3,050 m altitude difference). There are 6 valleys crossed (Val Cavallina, Valseriana, Val Serina, Val Brembana, Val Taleggio, Valle Imagna) and no less than 37 municipalities.

The total uphill kilometres are about 23 for the shortest route, 33 for the medium route and close to 49 for the long route. For the GIM category, which allows any type of bike – muscular and electric, road, gravel and mtb – to participate in the Granfondo BGY, a dedicated grid will be provided and only the short distance will be available. There will be a total of 5 refreshment points along the route, plus the refreshment at the finish line, plus the final pasta party, which is included in the registration fee.

THE EUGENIO MERCORIO CRONOSCALATA

The climb from Nembro to Selvino will be the challenging stretch for the “Cronoscalata Eugenio Mercorio”, the challenge within the challenge of the BGY Airport Granfondo that aims to enhance the competition among climbers and remember the memory of a great friend of the event.

The uphill time trial starts in Via Torquato Tasso in Nembro (325 masl) and will end in Corso Gabriele Camozzi in Selvino (946 masl). The best timed performance dates back to the 2022 edition of the event, with former pro Manuel Senni stopping the clock at 25.21.8.

THE BGY BIKE OFFICE AT THE AIRPORT

Also this year Vittoria will support the home granfondo as mechanical assistance provider through the Servizio Corse, a team of experienced mechanics involved in numerous cycling competitions around the world. At the BGY Airport Granfondo, the Servizio Corse Vittoria will provide assistance with 3 cars, equipped with Vittoria Corsa PRO bikes and wheels, and at 1 fixed point along the route.

That’s not all: Vittoria can also offer support before and after the race. Anyone arriving by plane in Bergamo to take part in the BGY Airport Granfondo can take advantage of a free support service at the airport, provided by Servizio Corse Vittoria, for bike assembly and bike bag storage. A very useful and exclusive service made possible by the collaboration between Vittoria and Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY), the first bike-friendly airport in Europe. The BGY Bike Office is a service that is always operational and, thanks to the exclusive collaboration with the BGY Airport Granfondo, becomes a special opportunity for many enthusiasts who will fly to Bergamo from different cities in Italy and around the world to take part in the prestigious amateur cycling event.

THE OFFICIAL JERSEY

The official jersey of the BGY Airport Granfondo was made by Santini Cycling Wear, with an exclusive limited edition design. A collector’s jersey, a trendy and coveted item for many cycling fans and others, which you can receive for an extra charge when registering for the event.

The design of the 2024 jersey is inspired by the graphics of the event, with the colours white and blue and its symbols. The first is the symbol of the three KOM (Colle Gallo, Selvino and Val Taleggio) which are the three climbs symbolising the event; the chain to represent the three possible routes of 89, 128 and 161 kilometres; the barcode symbolising BGY Airport; the circle that between the start and the arrival from the capital Bergamo encloses all 36 municipalities involved in the passage of the event; and finally the fantasy design that represents just that bit of imagination that is never missing and that every year the organisers put in together with so much passion to give an unforgettable experience to all participants.

Produced in a limited edition, the official jersey can be purchased together with the Granfondo registration for a total of € 90.00 or individually for € 45.00, with the possibility of shipping to Italy and abroad. Further details can be found on the official event website, www.granfondobgy.it.

SANTINI HOSTS NEW HEADQUARTERS

The new headquarters of the event, which on Saturday, May 4, will host the distribution of numbers and race packs, the Expo Village, the press room and the secretariat, will move from Lazzaretto in Bergamo to the new city headquarters of Santini Cycling Wear, in via Zanica 14, in the Malpensata district. A choice that further strengthens the link between the Santini family company and the Granfondo in Bergamo. The area will be open to the public and participants on Saturday 4 May from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. There will also be entertainment and refreshment areas for guests and the public. On Sunday, 5 May, it will then be the traditional Lazzaretto di Bergamo area, near the start and finish line in Via Marzabotto, that will once again be colourful and light up the BGY Airport Granfondo 2024 party.

BGY AIRPORT GRANFONDO AND ART

Also in 2024 the collaboration between the BGY Airport Granfondo and the Fondazione Creberg is renewed, to promote art and culture.

The artist chosen this year is Giovanni Frangi – a Milanese artist of international renown – with two paintings that can be admired in the spaces set up inside the secretariat and the ExpoVillage; they are two monumental paintings – from the Divina Wallpaper cycle – belonging to the Fondazione Creberg Collection and made available to the event for the admiration of the public.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE BGY AIRPORT GRANFONDO?

You can register using the appropriate forms on the official event website www.granfondobgy.it, or at the GMS organisational office in Via G. Da Campione, 24/c – 24124 Bergamo (tel.+39 035.211721).

Closing date for registration: Saturday 13 April 2024.