If you like your sportives hard and fast, here's some big news: Sportive Breaks and Bryan Steel Coaching have just launched the GB Granfondo Racing Club. An amateur, social club for British riders to race together at the top Granfondos in Europe, members will enjoy pro-level support - including the services of recent ex pros as super domestiques.
"We have been the official partner of the UCI Granfondo World Championships GB Team for the last few years and riders love the atmosphere and excitement of racing as a team," says Sportive Breaks founder Phil Sears.
"We wanted to give riders more opportunities to race as a team and add in some world class support."
That support comes in the form of a legendary Directeur Sportif leading the team in Olympic & World Champ medallist Bryan Steel, and recent pro riders riding in support of club members as super domestiques. The team also benefit from pro level mechanics and private team feed stops around the route on the world's best Granfondos.
The team's super domestiques are swapping big races like the Tour of Britain and Tour de Yorkshire, racing against the best riders in the world, to support amateurs achieve their goals. "I can't wait to help our team members and pass on my experience from 10 years of racing," says Taylor Gunman, former NZ Time Trial Champion and Madison Genesis rider.
The new club is inspired by similar outfits that exist in Europe's cycling heartlands like Italy and France. Granfondo racing clubs are popular on the continent, and are open to strong club riders to come together and race across some of the most famous races in cycling.
The Granfondo Racing Club is aimed at anyone who can qualify for the GB UCI Granfondo Team; a fairly high bar that requires finishing in the top 25% at qualifying events. Within that select group the club will welcome a range of abilities, and the aim is "to help everyone achieve their goals, whether that is a PB, finishing in the top 25% or in the top 10."
Race weekends will be at the heart of club membership, typically involving 3 or 4 night breaks over the weekend of major European granfondos.
All club riders will have access to the same mechanical help, the same race briefing and warm-up rides. The club's super domestiques will stay at the front of the race as pace setters for the first half and then stay back to ride home with the grupetto.
At the finish, the team will celebrate together over dinner and drinks.
2020 Granfondo Schedule
The GB Racing Club 2020 schedule covers nine events, including Mallorca 312, the Marmotte, Etape du Tour and Nove Colli, with a focus on qualifying for the UCI Granfondo World Championships in Vancouver.
"The support team we have put together with our mechanics and super domestiques is unparalleled," says former Olympic rider Bryan Steel who is heading up the team. "Through the season we aim to help our riders achieve their peak performance while having a lot of fun along the way."
Annual membership costs £199 with members receiving team kit and a Scicon race bag. The club is open to anyone who has qualified for the UCI Granfondo World Champs before, or by application for the general public.
Interested riders can find out more and apply at granfondoracingclub.com.
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