104 miles with 6,700 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Gran Fondo San Diego - Counties Visited:
San Diego County
Gran Fondo San Diego - Cities/Towns Visited:
San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Rancho San Diego, and Jamul
Gran Fondo San Diego - Climbs:
Mile 12 (cat. 4), 30 (cat. 2), 42 (cat. 4), and 66 (cat. 4)
Gran Fondo San Diego - Stops:
Mile 20 (Olympic Training Center), 42, 65 (Rancho San Diego), and 83 (Olympic Training Center)
Gran Fondo San Diego - Description:
Gran Fondo San Diego starts under the Little Italy arch in downtown San Diego. The first section leads through an industrial area along San Diego Bay. The ride then continues through a suburban section to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.
Here the route gets more scenic, passing Upper and Lower Otay Lake and following Otay Lakes Road. A six mile time trial leads up Honey Springs Road, which merges into Lyons Valley Road. Japatul Road, Dehesa Road, Willow Glen Drive, and Campo Road eventually loop back to Otay Lakes Road, which leads back to the Olympic Training Center.
The following suburban section is partially different from the beginning, and the final section is the same along San Diego Bay.
Gran Fondo San Diego - Pictures:
[Pre-Start]
[Start]
[Olympic Training Center]
[Olympic Training Center]
[Otay Lake]
[Lyons Valley Road]
[Japatul Road]
Gran Fondo San Diego - Personal Notes:
America's original gran fondo has definitely an Italian theme: Ferraris and Ducatis start off the ride, while Pavarotti is playing over the speakers.
At the start I met George A. and Julie V. on their tandem, and we rode together until the first stop. Then I ran into Tom R. and his neighbor, and we rode together until the hill time trial separated us. During the second half I took turns in some pacelines.
Gran Fondo San Diego - Current Weather:
