From left, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez, Italian General Consul, Los Angeles, Giuseppe Perrone, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and legendary bicyclist Francesco Moser chat briefly before the 7 a.m. Sunday, July 22 mass start of the first-ever Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia cycling event held in the United States in Pasadena, Calif. Photo Credit: City of Pasadena
The “Spirit of the Giro” which consisted of 1,000 bicyclists took to the streets at 7 a.m. Sunday, July 22, for the start of the inaugural Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia bicycle road tour held in the United States.
Cyclist Francesco Moser helped Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez begin the start as they were taken onto the open road course by police escort and three new Fiat 500 sports cars.
Moser is one of the world’s most iconic riders of all times; a living legend in the cycling world with an impressive 273 career victories and two world championships. He dominated the international cycling scene in the 1970s and early 1980s, earning the nickname “The Sheriff” among fellow cyclists and competitors.
Although now long-retired from competitive cycling, Moser could not resist the urge to make history one more time by joining Mayor Bogaard and Chief Sanchez .
Gran Fondos are long-distance cycling events that have been a tradition in Italy for decades and are becoming quite popular throughout the rest of the world. The term “Gran Fondo” translated from Italian means approximately the “Big Ride” and refers to the event which is a cross between a long-distance recreational ride and a competitive event.
For Pasadena, bicyclists of all ages and abilities joined in the fun Sunday, opting to ride on one of three course distances of either about 25, 67 or 93 miles. All three courses included a traditional ride around Pasadena’s Rose Bowl-America’s Stadium-while the longer course took riders into Pasadena’s neighboring cities and up along Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains.