A Gran Fondo is a cycling challenge that takes bicycle riding to the next level. Part personal challenge, part serious competition, the Bankston Banger Gran Fondo courses will lead riders through country roads with challenging climbs and incredible scenery.
SHORT GRAVEL ROUTES: 100 Kilometers and over 4000 feet of climbing on 70% gravel on rural roads. 1 Feed Stop (at the start/finish). The course will be marked for you! You will be passing the start/finish at 20 mile mark, so you could always call it a day and mail it in!
LONG GRAVEL ROUTE: 130 Kilometer and 5500 feet of climbing on 70% gravel on rural roads.2 Feed Stops (At the start/finish). The course will be marked for you! You will be passing the start/finish at 20 and 62 mile mark, again if you sign up for the 80 mile mark but want to call it a day and mail it in!
TIMED EVENT: There will be a shot gun start (at 10:00 A.M. and timing based on your completion of the 100 kilometer and 130 kilometer gravel route. Each route will have "feeds" available. If you are riding for a cause, a personal goal, or for competition, the Bankston Banger Grand Fondo has the ride that will push you to your limits. Steep climbs throughout the 100 kilometer route (paved or gravel) will push you, the best part...the all routes will take you up a category 4 climb just 2 miles from the finish! You will go up one of the most challenging climbs in Iowa, Potter Hill!
FEED ZONE:
1 Feed Zone for each 100 Kilometer route
2 Feed Zones for the 130 Kilometer route (this is an unofficial route and won't be timed)
WHAT DO YOU WIN? Top 3 finishers male and female for the 100 km route will earn a trophy (from Alan Schoer, Local Artists and Art Teacher of Hempstead High School) and all riders will receive tickets to our raffle (held at 5:00 P.M. and you don't have to be present to win). At the finish you can select off the menu from our host, Park Farm (15% of all proceeds will help fund the National Qualifying HHS Debate Team for the 2020 season).
Parking is limited at our venue...100 cars, so please consider car pooling.
Due to limitation with parking we will cap entries to 200 riders total for 2020.
Start/Finish at: 15159 Thielen Road, Durango, IA 52039
On Site Registration will open at 8:00 A.M. Shot Gun Start at 10:00 A.M.
Contact: Don Stanner, dstanner@dbqschools.org or djstanner@gmail.com or 563-580-8132