Jake Latham
Now in it’s fifth edition, the Top End Gran Fondo event was launched earlier this week in spectacular style.
Stunned onlookers watched a $25,000 Pinarello hoisted above the city of Darwin by an industrial crane to signify the launch of the 2016 event.
The event will run on August 14 this year and gives riders four months to prepare for the challenge they choose. There will be three distances on offer, a 3km, 60km and 120km Fondo and caters to all ability levels.
Darwin Cycling Club President Stuart Crompton said this years event will focuses on the recreational cyclists of Australia and invites the southerners to the region to experience the ride. “It’s exciting to launch the largest cycling event in the Northern Territory, especially coming off our record numbers of 530 at last years event,” Crompton said.
Like last years course did, the fifth edition will start at the Darwin Waterfront and navigates a lap of the Territory Wildlife Park. The course map can be viewed here.
Registrations are now open, head to www.topendgranfondo.com to enter.
