Beginning this Sunday anyone can ride the TOUR Transalp 7-day race for free, well, not the original sold out 2020 event in the Italian Alps which has been COVID-19 cancelled, but instead a special week-long TOUR Transalp Local Roads Edition.

It is an innovative and creative consolation event for the 1000 riders (and every other gran fondo rider) registered for the cancelled 2020 TOUR Transalp.

After race director Marc Schneider cancelled the event, like many participants he felt at a loss, “A year without TOUR Transalp – there is definitely something missing,” he said.

Then he got to work creating the “Local Roads Edition”, 7-days of challenging riding in your own backyard, region and hills in lieu of the Italian Alps.

Here is how it works:

Every day beginning 21 June for 7 days, the Transalp team posts a riding challenge online for all participants, which they ride outside in their home region and upload to Strava. Some stages will be short and intense, others long and challenging.  For example ,instead of climbing 1200 vertical meters to Monte Grappa as planned, participants will now have to climb the same vertical distance on their own climbs at home.  Creative route planning and perseverance will be key to completing each stage.

Prizes from Specialized including clothing, helmet, shoes and more will be raffled off among finishers each day.  Complete five or more stages and you might win a free entry in the next year’s TOUR Transalp when it resumes in the Italian Alps.

Interested?  Find information on the free TOUR Transalp Local Road Edition and 2021 TOUR Transalp race here.

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