When we realized that the inaugural edition of the Gran Fondo Bogotá was taking place shortly after our already-planned trip to Colombia, we didn’t hesitate to extend our stay to enjoy what was set to be a great day. The first cycling competition through the streets of Bogotá took place on 17 November. It was organized by Cycla, with the backing of Egan Bernal and the necessary support of the local authorities.

The pride of the capital

It was a historic milestone, as the capital of Colombia is one of the cities where cycling is practiced most frequently. As we learned, more than 900,000 bike trips are made daily by the almost eight million inhabitants of Bogotá. During our planning of the stay, we also saw that the Strava segment of the Alto de Patios climb is one of the most frequented in the world; 2.7 million efforts by 110,000 users.

It is clear then that Bogotá needed its own cycling event, one taking place entirely in the city. In 2021, L’Etape du Tour had a stop in Colombia, and although the sportive started in the domain of the capital, it was a point A to point B route that ended far from Bogotá. Last year, the GFNY Bogotá was organized, but it actually took place in nearby Zipaquirá.

Some 5,500 participants were persuaded to take part in this GF Bogotá, which was 115 km long with 1,800 meters of elevation gain. It was a national celebration since 90% of the participants were from the country. With a host like Egan Bernal, and luxury guests headed by Rigoberto Urán or Mariana Pajón, as well as several of the Colombian cyclists currently competing in the elite, the event was going to put Colombia in the spotlight of the cycling scene.

Our experience in the race

The participants had to choose on their registration form whether they were participating in the Point to Point or Segments category. While the first one was a race from start to finish, the Segment category allowed the cyclists to enjoy the course at their own pace and give it their all in the timed segments of Páramo del Verjón, Alto de Patios and Avenida Boyacá.

The Gran Fondo Bogotá started at 5:40 in the morning. We know that in Colombia people get up very early, but the 4 am alarm was painful. About 8 km separated the Hotel Portón where we were staying from the start line, so we had to plan how to get there on time and avoid the most dangerous neighborhoods of the city. Luckily, the organization itself established safe routes so that the participants could access Plaza Bolívar escorted by the police.

Once we reached our position at the start, the various pre-race speeches took place, and the national anthems of both Colombia and Bogotá were played live. The temperature was bearable, and it seemed that the rain that had been present all week was going to give us a break. Little by little all the participants crossed the starting line, covered the first neutralized kilometers, and began the ascent to the Páramo del Verjón.

Bogotá is located at 2,600 meters above sea level, and during the Gran Fondo we would reach 3,200 m. We were at a clear disadvantage compared to the locals who have been training at that altitude all their lives.

After reaching the top of the Páramo del Verjón, a long descent along the same road took us to Avenida Calle 26, where we began the urban section. If riding along the wide avenues of Bogotá free of cars was something spectacular for us, imagine how happy all the residents who normally have to deal with the dense traffic of the capital were.

At around kilometer 75 we entered the Circunvalar, where we would concatenate several short but tough hills before starting the world-famous Alto de Patios. Many people, due to the absence of cars to bother them, set out to set their personal best that day. However, the 85 km we had accumulated made themselves felt, and one could see the faces of suffering throughout the climb.

After tackling once again the hills along the Circunvalar, we entered the neighborhood of La Candelaria to cover the remaining distance that separated us from Plaza Bolívar. Once there, we immersed ourselves in the party that had been prepared, with exhibitors from the sponsors and multiple activities on the main stage.

360 sustainability strategy

It is necessary to highlight the different equality and sustainability initiatives that the organization promoted from the beginning. These issues are not a priority for other events, but the Gran Fondo Bogotá wanted to set an example to follow.

Their environmental strategy consisted of a waste management plan in which all discarded materials were collected and recycled, either at recycling points along the route or in Plaza Bolívar. In addition, part of the proceeds will go towards a reforestation day in the Sumapaz Páramo, with the aim of restoring one of the most important ecosystems for Bogotá and its surroundings.

Emphasis was put on women’s empowerment, and educational campaigns were created aimed at raising awareness among the population about the importance of respecting women, eradicating harassment in cycling and promoting safe spaces for all women. As a result, more than 700 women participated in the event, either in the Gran Fondo or Medio Fondo distance.

Will there be a second edition?

An event of this magnitude requires hard work and the coordination of multiple organizations. No one could confirm with certainty whether there will be a second edition, but after the resounding success of its inaugural edition, all the parties involved will certainly try to take this event to the next level. Related to this, during the press conference at the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá we were informed that the intention is for the UCI to get involved in the event and for the Gran Fondo Bogotá to become part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.