Bike Rides – Randonee’s, Audax, Sportif’s, Marcha’s or Fondo’s; They are all Fun!
Marathon running encourages lots of ordinary runners to attempt the biggest events in the World. New York, London, Paris, Madrid and all the rest of those well known city races involves thousands of “fun runners”. Cycling didn’t used to have anything like this, yes there were Randonee’s (or Audax), but they were more like bicycle touring events, that you are not allowed to ride too fast or you can be disqualified, but now you can ride Sportif’s (in French), Marcha’s (in Spanish), Fondo’s (in Italian) or what ever they are called where you live.
They are not races, but try telling the riders that! Here we take a close look at these exciting and popular events.
In the past if you wanted to pit yourself against other riders you had to enter a race and this meant you had to join a team, get a race license and then send in your entry and hope that the race wasn’t full.
Now there is an alternative to all that “red tape” and thousands of riders are putting themselves on the start line and are raring to have a go at some of the most testing roads all over the world.
Who Rides Them?
 Great Views |
Sportif, Fondo or Marcha, they are all the same and they are all on testing courses, they are not races, but professionals, ex-pro’s and top amateurs will enter, but there are also riders, and teams, that base their season solely on riding these great (races) events.
Probably 90% of the riders are competing against themselves, the mountains, the elements or their ride mates, in the end they are for anyone who thinks they are fit enough to manage some of the sports legendary roads.
The big events get in excess of 4,000 riders; in the Etape 8,000 will ride. these are riders who want more excitement than they can get from a normal Sunday run or even a basic road race, they are big events.
Some are organized by the same organizations that run the top races in Europe, for instance, the Tour de France runs the Etape du Tour and the Legend of the Tour rides, these are based on different Tour stages, the Etape will use the same road as a stage of the current Tour de France and the Legend will go over a “Classic” stage from the Tours past and who of us would not love to pretend to be a Tour rider for one day?
- In Italy the Tour of Lombardy organize a Fondo on that most famous of courses.
- In Belgium you could ride the Tour of Flanders,
- then there is Paris-Roubaix in France
- and in Spain you could ride the Pedro Delgado Marcha in Segovia,
there are many legends to discover on the roads…
 Sportif Riders |
What Does It Cost?
In the European races the average entry fee is around 25 Euros (approx 38 U.S. dollars), bet when you sign on you receive a bag of bit and pieces that you would pay much more for, including energy bars, clothing, bottles, drinks etc.
The prize list is also great, well for those who finish near the front, but there are prizes for different categories also, so if you ride hard you can be in the money.
There is a series of French races that the first prize is 10,000 Euros and a set of top Mavic wheels, in Spain its normal to win a carbon frame or a group set in many events, for the Italian series there is a car for the best overall rider, but most people are just out for a good, hard day and the prizes are not the reason for being there.
You need to have a license for the season or you can pay a little more for the day, which is great if you are only wanting to ride a couple, insurance is also a must, just incase of any mishaps.
 Ride Profile |
What are the Events Like?
Easy answer is look at any classic professional race and that is the course you will be riding. The big events start the riders in waves as there are so many riders, if you are a novice rider you will be near the back and have to work your way forward through the day, but as you show that you are a good rider you will be seeded further forward and if you are a top rider you will be starting at the front which is safer and you can see where you are going.
Even though up to 8,000 riders line up, you will end up in a group of riders of similar ability as yourself and even be on your own.
Cycling Pyrenees
Let’s face it on some of the climbs used you will be in a world of your own anyway. For example the Marmotte in France crosses the Croix de Fer and then finishes at the top of L’Alp d’Huez, you will not be riding up these mammoths and having a conversation with your ride partners!
 Lots of Riders |
Do you have to be Fit?
Yes, you cant just get the bike out of the garage and think “I’ll ride a Fondo tomorrow” you have to prepare, we are talking of long and hard, tough events that you need to plan ahead for, train like a Pro, well a keen amateur at least, with long rides and if you are riding a mountainous event then lots of climbing training.
Your food and drink is also important, you receive energy drinks and bars from the event organizers, but you must look after yourself and make sure you don’t miss a feed zone.
 Climbing |
Why Do It?
Because they are great fun, you meet lots of like minded people and you get to ride like a Pro on the some of the Monuments of the road race world.
Those are the best and top rides, but there will be one nearer you, that will not have as many starters, wont go over an Alp and best of all it might have a shorter version on the same day, so that you can start on an easier course.
Check out your local bike shop, cycling club or newspaper/web-site for information on a Fondo near you. They are lots of hard fun, you will make lots of new fiends and you can pretend to be a Professional for the day.
Go on give it a go!
 It’s Not Easy! |
Photo’s thanks to Velo Magazine (France) and ASO l’Etape du Tour.
