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The granfondo dedicated to Eddy Merckx celebrates its sixth edition. The start will be Sunday, June 10th from Rivalta di Brentino Belluno (VR). Saturday 9th workout in “pink” with the professional women cyclists. On Sunday appointment with hand bike
 
Never change a winning team. The organizers of the sixth edition of Granfondo Internazionale Eddy Merckx, led by the general manager Alessia Piccolo, have understood this.
So for the 2012 edition, scheduled for Sunday, June 10th in Rivalta di Brentino Belluno, in Verona, will be revived once again the proven winning formula, with the two paths: Granfondo of 155.5 km and Mediofondo of 85.6 km.
The substance of Granfondo dedicated to Eddy Merckx will remain the same both for the race itself, and for the other appointments, indeed that of Rivalta is really an event, thanks to the various activities proposed during the whole weekend.
At first will return a very welcome initiative of the last year: the workout “in pink”. Just like in 2011, the professional women cyclists will be part of a special training program in the afternoon of the eve of Granfondo Eddy Merckx, Saturday, June 9th.
The “pink ride” will be open to all women that want to cycle alongside the cyclists of MCipollini – Giambenini-Gauss team, which includes, for example, Tatiana Guderzo, Elena Cecchini, Monia Baccaille and Marta Bastianelli. Last year, because of the large number of requests, it was decided to extend the participation to “boys”, and it will be so also next June, so as to give to everyone a day of outdoor sports.

Granfondo Internazionale Eddy Merckx will be at the forefront in the world of women’s cycling and then it will explore other fields of sport, such as the often little known hand-bike. Also this year the race will allow to cycle with hands. Indeed Sunday, June 10th at the start there will also be bicycles with three wheels moved by the force of arms, the hand-bikes, which allow athletes with disabilities to “cycle” through the use of hands. This past June, the hand-bike race took place on a path of 5.8 km (repeat 3 times) with start and finish in Rivalta, and it was won by Robert Brigo, happy not only for his success but especially for giving visibility to this sport.

Last year at the start, alongside with the 2100 participants there were a lot of champions such as Eddy Merckx, Jos De Schoenmacker, Jos Huysmans, Karel Rotiers, Willy Vekemans, Italo Zilioli, the Italian champions Giovanni Visconti and Monia Baccaille, the Olympic champion Nicole Cooke and the winner of the 8* stage of Giro d’Italia 2011, Oscar Gatto.
This year we return to cycling in the hills of Verona with a hike in Trentino, as mentioned the paths are the same of last year: Granfondo of 155.5 kilometres and 3,200 metres in altitude,  and Mediofondo of 85.6 km and 1700 metres of difference in level.
Granfondo Internazionale Eddy Merckx, inserted in the circuits Nobili / Supernobili and Challenge Giordana, has already opened the registrations, the fee is 30 Euro until 3rd June, and then it will be slightly higher.
Info: www.granfondoeddymerckx.com