Strade Marrone, an organizer of ‘brown road cycling challenges and special events’ in the United States, has announced a series of four Strade Marrone dirt and gravel road challenges along the Colorado Front Range.
Strade Marrone’s cycling challenges are held on unpaved roads composed of approximately 80% dirt and/or gravel. Generally, the rides are 80km in length, and the terrain is mostly rolling with short, steep climbs.
Strade Marrone adds that its events are considered ‘challenges’, where cyclists ride routes as individuals or in small groups where organized, mass-participation bicycle rides and special events are not allowed.
Participation in Strade Marrone events is open to all cyclist types and riding abilities including amateur, professional and recreational. Cyclists are able to ride any bicycle type so long as it is a non-assisted cyclocross, gravel, randonneur, road or vintage road bike. Riders are also able to participate as individuals, or as a member of a cycling club or team.
Strade Marrone cycling challenges are held during the four consecutive weeks beginning Saturday, March 6, 2021. Participants may ride a challenge as often as they like during the week of the Marrone, or beginning Saturday through the following Friday. The final Strade Marrone will commence on Saturday, March 27, 2021, and will end on the following Friday, April 2, 2021.
The primary objective of the Strade Marrone is to encourage riders to get outside and challenge themselves by exploring new roads and routes during the start of the gravel cycling season. Benefits of riding Strade Marrone include prizes to the top-three men’s and women’s finishers at each Marrone, and eligibility to win a raffles including a grand prize, a Campagnolo Ekar 13-Speed Groupset.
Entry starts at US$50 per Marrone. Riders can participate in one, two, three or four of the Strade Marrone challenges, but participation in at least two Marrone is required in order to be eligible for the Campagnolo Ekar 13-Speed Groupset raffle.
