Registration for the 2016 Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant now open to prospective riders, cycling enthusiasts

The skis and snowboards of the winter 2015-16 season have barely been out of storage for weeks, but already, plans are coming together for next year’s Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant. The ride, marking its fourth year in 2016, rolls out from May 27 to 29.

Registration for the increasingly popular cycling event is now officially open.

For the 2016 ride, officials with the event expect 2,000 riders to sign up, taking part in what’s become known as one of Canada’s top cycling events. Divided into several pelotons, riders will set out in four different routes of varying length and difficulty. There’s the 160 km Super Fondo for competitive cyclists, the 125 km Gran Fondo for experienced riders, an 80 km Medio Fondo route for intermediate to advanced cyclists, and finally, the 45 km Molo Fondo, a shorter haul for recreational riders.

“The routes we’ve chosen and the distance of each course attract cyclists of all calibers,” said Simon St-Arnaud, the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant’s producer. “The formula is a winner. This year we plan to further enhance the experience for all participants. Some portions of routes—for example, the ascent at Lac Quenouille and the area around Val-des-Lacs—are being reviewed to ensure the best possible conditions.”

Placing riders in a non-competitive cycling environment, the underlying principle of the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant places emphasis on challenge and discovery, as well as safety, of course. In addition to the actual cycling, other activities are planned for attendees, too, with more than just those in the saddle expected at the three-day event

“Most of our participants and their families come and spend the entire weekend,” St-Arnaud added. “We thought it quite natural to deliver a total experience—a love of cycling and a complete range of activities—in an atmosphere unlike any other.”

Recently, that cycling experience merited some notable recognition, when the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant was voted the best inter-provincial, open-to-all cycling event at the Mérite cycliste québécois gala of the FQSC (Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes), Quebec’s federation of sports cyclists. “We see it as a well-deserved award and recognition for the Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant,” said Louis Barbeau, the FQSC’s general manager. “The event’s growing popularity shows how much people appreciate it, not just for the safety aspect but also the array of concurrent, fun activities.”

“The vote was unanimous,” he added.

Participants and attendees of the 2016 event can currently register online, with a 25 percent discount on entry fees when registering before Jan. 15, 2016.