Raconteurs announce a partnership with Gainesville Sports Commission
(January 7, 2020, Saint Augustine Beach, Florida) President and CEO of sports tourism firm, Raconteurs, Matthew Dunn, announced a partnership today with the Gainesville Sports Commission and USA Crits for services coordinating the 2nd Annual Gatoride Gran Fondo in Gainesville, FL. The event will begin and end at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida Saturday, March 7, 2020. “We’re thrilled to partner with these industry titans as their destination and event management reputations are second to none,” said Dunn.
A Gran Fondo is a type of long-distance road cycling ride originating in Italy in 1970 and roughly translates into English as "Big Ride". Italian Gran Fondos are officially defined and certified by the Italian Cycling Federation as a bicycle event at least 120 kilometers (75 miles) long and are individually chip-timed (start to finish) races with prizes for the fastest riders in each category. The starts are done en masse, and the format allows for riders of every level to participate, much like a marathon, where most participants are competing against the clock instead of other participants.
“We have an exciting challenge planned with four options consisting of a kids rodeo and 31, 43, 69 and 90-mile routes,” said Ravi Rajcoomar of USA Crits. “Not only is Gatoride fast becoming one of the premier Gran Fondo style cycling events in the Southeast. It’s also a reunion for Team Florida, the University of Florida’s collegiate cycling team,” said Rajcoomar.
With event sponsors such as Gatorade, LOOK Cycles, BMC, Theragun, AfterShokz, COROS Global, and PowerBar, cyclists are sure to have a great time and take home some amazing gear. Once each distance ride ends, event organizers will raffle off prizes from each sponsor. Riders registered for the Gatoride event will receive a Finisher medal, bib number, time/Order of Finish, stocked rest stops and lunch.
The annual event will raise awareness for LifeSouth Blood Centers and honor Perry C. McGriff Jr., a longtime Gator and mainstay in the Gainesville community. Perry contributed to his community in many ways. He was a former mayor, county commissioner, and state representative. He served as a member of LifeSouth’s board of directors for nearly 30 years and was Chairman of LifeSouth’s Five Points of Life Foundation. Perry also was one of the founding members of the Gainesville Sports Commission. Since 1988, he has served as president and hosted high level sporting events in the community, such as FHSAA Football State Finals and USA Cycling National Championships. These types of sporting events have helped bring in millions of dollars of impact from visitors into Alachua County. Perry was a committed advocate for blood donation. He began donating as a University of Florida student and donated more than 67 gallons of blood in his lifetime.
For more information on the 2nd Annual Gatoride, please visit: https://www.bikereg.com/gatoride?fbclid=IwAR3O-eWbSnxd4KNUPX0yEP0AdmsylhCu7mfT1i80uHYBFxl_nEZ-HGrihRY#Notes