Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Bike Ride
On Sunday, July 22, 2012, Pasadena will host the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia, a long distance, mass-start participation bike ride that has become a tradition in Italy and is the world’s second most popular cycling event (after the Tour de France). Participation in the Pasadena event will be open to recreational and competitive amateur cyclists of all abilities.

The long-distance course will start and end with an 8-mile route through Pasadena that begins at City Hall. Upon exiting the 8-mile route, nearly 1,000 riders will chose one of three courses to ride, ranging from 25 to 83 miles. The ride is not competitive, although within the Angeles Crest portion of the course there will be point-to-point timing for a King / Queen of the Mountain trial for those who elect to participate.

To view a map of the 8-mile start and subsequent courses, visit https://www.gfgiro.com and click on “Los Angeles-Pasadena” and then scroll down to “The Course.”

Start Time and Course Information
Cyclists will start at 7:00 a.m. and — led by a police escort — ride from City Hall through Downtown Pasadena, across the Colorado Street Bridge, south on San Rafael, east on La Loma, north on Arroyo Blvd., around the Rose Bowl loop, and up onto Salvia Canyon out to Linda Vista Avenue. The police escort is expected to take place between 7:00 a.m. – 7:20 a.m. No street closures are planned, only rolling closures for about 20 minutes (similar to a Presidential procession). No posted parking restrictions or sound impacts are anticipated.

The Pasadena Police Department will have motor officers on Linda Vista Avenue monitoring the cyclists as they ascend Salvia Canyon and leave the City. Motor officers will be available to assist residents living on or near Linda Vista Avenue should they need to leave the area during that time. A motor officer will also be stationed at Lida Street to ensure that the cyclists are obeying the rules of the road.

Once the cyclists depart Pasadena, the ride becomes the rules of the road. Within Angeles Crest Highway and the state roads outside of Pasadena, the CHP will monitor speed enforcement for both cyclists and vehicles. Other jurisdictions will hire law enforcement (paid for by the event sponsor) to monitor critical intersections and ensure that the rules of the road are enforced.

Upon return to Pasadena, cyclists will no longer ride en masse (as seen during the morning hours) and you will see riders returning as individuals or in small groups. Cyclists will have until 4:30 p.m. to return to City Hall where the Italian Village/Hospitality will be located.

Approximately 40 police officers will assist with the early morning escort ensuring the overall public safety and traffic circulation so that the cyclists pass through the city’s limits as quickly and as safely as possible. The event sponsor has been mandated to file a Traffic Control Plan which will be fully vetted by the Pasadena Departments of Transportation, Public Works, and Police.

Please direct all event inquiries or concerns to Michelle Bernal, City of Pasadena, at (626) 344-7216, or visit the event website at https://www.gfgiro.com for more information.