This trio of riders from Austin were some of the more than 1,500 cyclists in Gillespie County last weekend for the LBJ 100, which marked its largest ever field, organizers said. Routes of 10 to 85 miles challenged bicyclists from all over the nation, who cruised in and out of the LBJ National Historical Park, and in front of the “Texas White House,” the late president’s former residence. See more photos on page C1 of the April 2, 2014 issue of the Standard. — Standard-Radio Post/Ken Esten Cooke
In contrast to the leisurely pace of an estimated 1,500 riders taking part in the LBJ 100 this past weekend, a competitive race will draw nearly 500 cyclists back here this Saturday, April 5, for the “Tour de France”-styled Texas Gran Fondo.
Drawing Category 1 national level cyclists from around the globe for the first race of its kind in the Lone Star State, the event is scheduled to start and finish in front of the Fredericksburg Middle School campus on Travis Street.
Texas Gran Fondo will feature routes of 36 miles (which starts at 8:10 a.m.,) 65 miles (which starts at 8:05 a.m.) and 100 miles (which starts at 8 a.m.) for competing cyclists coming from as far away as Puerto Rico, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Italy, France and the Ukraine. (For route details and maps, visit www.texasgranfondo.com.)
Unlike other major cycling events held here, the Texas Gran Fondo is different because it is a true race, according to Humberto Olivo, organizer.
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