The Ridge Hill Putnam Cycling Classic

And why CRCA members should ride it.

by John Eustice

Gran Fondos are excellent for developing (and established!) racers, juniors, men and women, because they offer a European road race experience.  Gran Fondos with one start to finish time & photo-finish are much longer and harder than almost anything on the racing calendar excepting the Pro 1-2 category races.

Cat and mouse tactics are impossible– there’s always a rider going hard up the road and a racer can really test his or her mettle – no place to hide with 126 kilometers and 2000 meters of climbing.

There is a real sense of joy at the finish as well, especially after the first beers...

We’ve designed this event with the NYC rider in mind.  A special, no bike permit required, one-hour train takes you from Grand Central to the start line and back.   There’s great food and drink before, during and after the ride, and you will return home carrying a much higher level of fitness.  Putnam County is rolling out the red carpet for cycling, and this hard and beautiful ride is very much worth the effort.

The May 5 event is the American stop on the UCI World Cycling Tour calendar and a qualifying event for the Masters World Championships.

Win your age category and you get to race (or at least train) in the UCWT jersey - awarded to the winners.

Click here for more details about the event.

Registration available on bikereg.