Gran Fondo del Chianti Classico: Boom of participations and successes

500 are the subscribers to the "Gran Fondo del Gallo Nero". Marco Canella won, followed by Francesco Casagrande. The winner received the equivalent of his weight in bottles of Chianti Classico. The event ended with a big party at the Chianti Classico House



Great success for the second edition of the "Gran Fondo del Gallo Nero", which was held in Radda in Chianti, with departure from the House of Chianti Classico, the first home of the wine and cultural excellence of Gallo Nero. Over 500 cyclists–tourists, amateurs and professionals, Italian and foreign, who chose between two paths along the unmistakable territory of Gallo Nero: one of 135 km and one of 79 km, both immersed in the unique setting of the production area of Gallo Nero, visited every year by thousands of cyclists from all over the world. Many participants from abroad, especially from: France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada and New Zealand.

In the picturesque landscape of the ancient cloister of the House of Chianti Classico they held the awards of the most skilful ones for each category, established on the basis of age (19–32 years old, 33–39 years old, 40–47 years old, 48–55 years old, 56–62 years old, from 63 and up) and of the winners of the absolute rankings for the two paths.

The winner of the long path was Marco Canella, the second Francesco Casagrande, the third Giulio Verlicchi. Right Canella received the first prize which characterizes the "Gran Fondo del Gallo Nero": the weight of the winner of the race in wine, that is equivalent to 54 bottles of Chianti Classico.



"We are very pleased with this second edition of the "Gran Fondo del Gallo Nero" – Sergio Zingarelli, President of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium, says – a participation of so many people feeds even more the prospect of turning the race into a fixed event. Thanks to the favorable weather conditions, the beautiful landscapes, our fine wine, the competitive spirit combined with conviviality, the Gallo Nero today has offered the best of itself to the hundreds of athletes present".



"The Chianti Classico – Giuseppe Liberatore, General Manager of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium, states – has always been committed in many activities to promote the area and to increase the flow of tourism, trying to promote the local economy. It surprises me that in the time of adoption of the Plan of Territorial Address these organizations that work a lot and are in contact with the territory have not been minimally involved, I find this behavior not very constructive".