This Sunday, Colombia hosts the first edition of the Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia Ride Like a Pro, an amateur competition replicating the demands of a professional Giro stage. With 2,500 registered cyclists and over 1,000 meters of elevation gain, the event establishes the country as an official venue for this iconic cycling brand. Angelo Gobbo, director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Colombia, expresses pride in bringing this experience to the nation.
The race, organized under license from RCS Sports & Events—the group behind the professional Giro d'Italia—will take place in Cundinamarca with challenging elevations mirroring the original event. Angelo Gobbo explained that this Ride Like a Pro project aims to bring Italian cycling to amateurs worldwide, positioning Colombia as the sixth country to host it, following the United States, Spain, Brazil, and Ecuador.
Interest has exceeded expectations: registrations opened on December 3 and reached 2,500 participants in two months, despite year-end holidays. Gobbo credited this success to local cycling enthusiasm and the novelty of it being the first time in the country. Economically, the impact is significant, with 100% hotel occupancy in towns like Guatavita and Sesquilé, and increased visibility for lesser-known areas such as Machetá, Guateque, and Tibirita.
The Cundinamarca Governor's Office has supported logistics and security, including over 170 road blockade points and police collaboration, meeting RCS's strict standards. Jorge Emilio Rey, governor of Cundinamarca, welcomed the event: “We will be the sixth country in the world to have this honor. Not every day does one receive such an illustrious visitor. How good that it arrives in our geography, that of Cundinamarca.”
Prizes include around 100 million Colombian pesos in cash across categories and two trips raffled to the professional Giro d'Italia. Additionally, a Village by the Tominé reservoir will provide an Italian experience with food, music, and culture, open to the public. Gobbo envisions the event long-term: “The Giro in Colombia will be long-term. It has come to stay.” Trade between Italy and Colombia totals 1.620 million dollars, with over 300 Italian companies present.
