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The participation to the Granfondo of next May 7th is both the culmination of a sports dream and the opportunity to discover some of Lombardy’s most picturesque corners, from Bergamo’s “Citt\u00e0 Alta” (upper city) to the Val Taleggio<\/em><\/p>\n The 2016 is almost behind us, and the final days of December are usually time for both balances and promises, in everyday life as well as in sports. And for sure, participation to the Granfondo Internazionale Felice Gimondi Bianchi<\/strong>, to be held next May 7th, 2017<\/strong> in Bergamo<\/strong> (Italy), will be part of the new year\u2019s propositions for many cycling passionates.<\/p>\n Also in the 21st edition<\/strong>, entitled to \u201cFelice Gimondi in the pink<\/strong>\u201d, every athlete will choose among the three popular routes – “short”, “medium” and “long”, of 89,4 km, 128,8 km and 162,1 km respectively \u2013 even during the race. Among the participants already applied for the 2017 edition, there are a lot of first timers, coming from Italy as well as from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, Sri Lanka and more: the International charm of the event moves well beyond the Alps.<\/p>\n Granfondo Gimondi-Bianchi provides a perfect opportunity to mix different passions: sports and arts, food and nature. The city of Bergamo and the Granfondo\u2019s landscapes give plenty of reasons to anticipate or extend the stay in Lombardy. You can’t miss Bergamo’s Citt\u00e0 Alta<\/strong> (upper city): Piazza Vecchia, that once Le Corbusier called \u201cone of the most fascinating squares in the World\u201d, beautiful buildings like Palazzo del Podest\u00e0, Palazzo della Ragione and the City Hall tower, Santa Grata’s nunnery, Donizetti’s Museum, the Palazzo della Biblioteca Civica, theTeatro Sociale, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, as well as the city walls and towers.<\/p>\n Outside the city, the Val Taleggio is a must-go: it\u2019s also called \u201cthe small Switzerland\u201d due to its similarities to the Swiss valleys, and it is crossed by both the GF Gimondi Bianchi\u2019s medium and long route.<\/p>\n