1.     Introduction

Sport is fast becoming an integral part of modern holidays. More and more people are combining their holiday with their chosen sport, giving themselves a chance to gain a stronger connection with the great outdoors. The motivation comes from the need to use one’s free time in a healthy and beneficial way and discover places free of urban development, at the same time enjoying the culture and food typical of the area.

A sporting break is a great way to attract people to a popular location out of season, bringing benefits to local shops and businesses. There are many types of break available such as golf, tennis, trekking, cycling, canoeing and sailing.

Sports tourism brings people to some of the most beautiful parts of Italy and is an ideal opportunity to appreciate local history, traditions, culture and cuisine.

The combination of the idea of providing the opportunity for a sporting break and promoting our area was the inspiration for the creation of the Gran Fondo Costa d’Amalfi.

A challenge to those who love enchanting scenery, the glittering sea, the  world famous landscape and the atmosphere. The opportunity to discover new places. Our sport can bring together friends and opponents to enjoy a special experience

Therefore in collaboration with Italian Cycling Federation (F.C.I.) and  the Regional Committee of Campania, ASD Movicoast intends to introduce young people to sport in general and cycling in particular  in events on  and off-road.

These thoughts are summed up in the words of the psychologist Mario Pucci:

We must never forget that the young are the wealth of society. They are the future. We need to satisfy their sporting  needs in a constructive way

To this end the U.C.I. provided  in 2012 the first official cycling school in Campania.

2.        Detailed Description of events

We are organising two  amateur events:

- Medium distance-80 kilometres with 1800 metres of climbing and 2 G.P.M.’s (Grand Prix des Montagnes);

-  Long distance-120 kilometres with 2500 metres of climbing and 3 G.P.M.’s .

Within each race there will be divisions according to age and ability.

There will also be a special veterans’ event and a joung programme.

Therefore there will be a variety of social and cultural activities.

The following agenda is up-to-date but may change. Please check the NEWS section.

Day 1: 16/03/2013

SPORTS PROGRAMME

In association with the F.C.I. we have arranged the following male and female races:

-       1.00 pm: Veterans over 65

  •  The provincial road championship  with an INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL;

-       2.00 pm: Riders aged 7-12

  •   - First stage – MINICROSS a Scala;

-       3.00 pm: Schoolchildren (15-16) and/or juniors (17-18).

  • - First stage – INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL.

Coinciding with these races there will be guided tours of our area with free lunch available at local restaurants and a buffet for riders.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Amalfi:  

-       From 10.00 am -7.00 pm at the “Antichi Arsenali delle Republiche Marinare” (Hospitality Center) race numbers and chips will be available for collection. At the same location there will be a sports exhibition and presentation of the main event the following day.

For participants and their families staying in designated hotels there will be coupons discount for lunches and dinners in restaurants in Amalfi and Ravello.

Tickets reduced in price will be available for the evening’s musical event.

-3.30 pm: from the Hospitality Center  there will guided tours of historic Amalfi.

Ravello:

-6.30 pm: ” Our Jazz Journey “- at the Oscar Niemayer Auditorium.

Free entry for all participants over the two days of events.

For people staying in Amalfi the local bus service leaves at 8.25 pm. Parking is available at the Auditorium.

The concert is provided by the Ravello Concert Society.

For info and bookings contact: info@ravelloarts.org or telephone 0039089858149

Day 1: 16/03/2013

SPORTS PROGRAMME

In association with F.C.I. there will be races for the following male and female categories:

-       8.00 am:    First Gran Fondo della Costa d’Amalfi

  • 80 &120 kilometres starting in Amalfi and finishing in Ravello.

-       9.00 am:   Schoolchildren (15-16) and/or juniors (17-18).

  • Second stage – A massed start road race from Maiori to Ravello.

-       10.00 am:  Riders aged 7-12

  • Second stage – gimkana in Ravello

At the same time there will be further guided tours of Ravello . Again coupons discount will be available for lunches in local restaurants and there will be a buffet for riders.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Amalfi:  

-8.20 Am: Leaving from the Hospitality Centre there is a guided tour of the “Valle delle Ferriere”. The walk takes about 3 hours and is gentle with a height gain of 500 metres, finishing in Ravello. The route is very scenic following the river Rio Canneto to its source. Along the way there are waterfalls and rapids. Many years ago the river was used to power the old paper mill where the famous Amalfi paper was produced by hand. Nowadays the paper is still in demand and you can learn more at the Paper Museum in Amalfi.You can still see the ruins of the mill that dates back to 12th century. The landscape is unspoilt with breathtaking views and typical examples of Meditterannean plants, terraces of lemons and grapes along the way. Halfway round is the old iron foundry that gives its name to the valley.

The route ends in Ravello near the race finish.

For bookings and info contact : amalfi.alberghi@gmail.com

Ravello:

- 9.00 Am: Starting near the main square there will be two free guided tours of Ravello-the Town of Music. You can experience the charm and the peace that is very much the essence of the place. Part of the tour takes in the gardens of the Villa Rufolo-the inspiration for the  magic Gardens of Klingsor that are in the final part of Richard Wagner’s opera “Parsifal”. Today the gardens are the backdrop to the annual Wagner Festival.

Also on the route is the Villa Cimbrone – in the early 1900′s the residence of the Englishman E.W.Beckett. Nowadays it is now a five star hotel that includes Greta Garbo and Winston Churchill among its  famous guests. In the gardens of the Cimbrone there is the famous “Terrace of Infinity” from where it is possible to see the Gulf of Salerno and the Island of Capri.

For info. and booking contact: info@ravellosense.com

- From 12.00 onwards: At the conclusion of the race there will be awards to competitors, a buffet and a novelty local event at the Oscar Niemayer Auditorium.

For the participants and their families who have used approved accommodation for the weekend  coupons discount will be available for dinner at local restaurants in Amalfi e Ravello, entrance in Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone in Ravello.