Three routes and three different levels of difficulty. This is what awaits amateur cyclists in Ełk on Sunday. On Saturday, children will compete at the new city beach.
PZU Gran Fondo races are for everyone. They are for amateurs with a professional spirit, but also for families who enjoy bike rides without pressure or racing. In Ełk, everyone can find something for themselves. Even if the Family Fondo distance feels like a challenge, this year the organizers have decided to allow starts on e-bikes. Marek Rutkiewicz, the series director, spoke about this today during the press briefing.
This year, e-bikes are also allowed on the Family Fondo distance. This is a step towards cycling fans who need support on this shortest distance. What matters there most is good fun and time spent together on two wheels.
Marek Rutkiewicz – Director of the PZU Gran Fondo Series
The Family Fondo distance in Ełk is 32 kilometres. The slightly longer route, Medio Fondo, already requires more sports effort. Athletes have 68 kilometres to cover. The longest distance is Gran Fondo, which also includes sprint and mountain primes. The elevation gain is 520 metres, and the route is 94 kilometres long.
For the second year in a row, the PZU Gran Fondo Series starts in Ełk. This is a city that takes cycling tourism very seriously. This amateur classic is one of the important parts of promoting the city and the region.
Ełk is the sports capital of Masuria. PZU Gran Fondo Ełk fits very well with our mission to promote a healthy lifestyle. Last year’s race participants appreciated our beautiful route, and I think that sometimes even the people of Ełk do not fully realise how beautiful the routes around our city are.
Wojciech Kossakowski – Director of the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre in Ełk
Milena Kołodziejczyk-Kotasińska, the PZU Gran Fondo Series ambassador from Giżycko, knows this very well. During the briefing, Milena spoke about the tourist value of this region, as well as the difference between riding the routes alone and riding in a group.
I come from Giżycko. This area and the Masurian atmosphere are very close to me and really fantastic for cycling fans. Riding in a group is something completely different from riding solo. During races like this, when we are in a bigger group, we discover hidden power in ourselves. I think this cycling community is something that makes it worth taking part in organised races.
Milena Kołodziejczyk-Kotasińska – Coffee Rider, ambassador of the PZU Gran Fondo Series
There is still a chance to join the PZU Gran Fondo peloton. At the Race Office, which has already been set up in the car park next to the MOSiR hall on Kolbego Street, participants will be able to register tomorrow for each distance. The same applies to the PZU Gran Fondo Kids races.
We invite whole families, even the youngest children from Ełk and the area. You only need to come to the Race Office and register your child. Children can look forward not only to sports emotions, but also to the PZU bike town and a food truck festival at the city beach in Ełk.
Marek Rutkiewicz – Director of the PZU Gran Fondo Series
There will be many attractions, also for those who are still not ready to get on a bike this year. The whole bike town will open on Saturday at 10:00 at the new city beach. On Sunday, the races start at 8:00. All information about the event is available at https://gfseries.pl/en/gf-elk-about-the-race/
