A month to go to the Gran Fondo Cipollini + video

If you've got nothing planned on the weekend on 21-22 April then there's still places available on the Gran Fondo Mario Cipollini, featuring the big man himself. Assuming you've got the legs for it (and the pockets, cause it ain't cheap) you can ride with the Lion King around the Somerset lanes. And it's not often we say that.

The GFMC, as we like to call it round here, is unique amongst UK sportives (so far as we know) in that it comes with its own gala dinner the night before, with guest of honour Mr C and a surprise after dinner speaker. The next day it's coffee and cakes at base before you head out for 115km south of Bristol, with a good mixture of flat and bumpy bits. Cipo will be hopping between groups so as many people as possible get a chance to ride with him, and there's gourmet feed stops featuring fresh ground coffee and hand-cut sandwiches, no less. And gels, if you're prepared to stoop so low. The Cipollini team car and motorbike mechanics will be out on the course too, and after the ride you can make full use of the Redwood lodge gym facilities for a shower before a final chat with Mario, and home.

Sound good? head over to www.mcipollinigranfondo.co.uk for more details. In the meantime here's a vid of the man himself looking moody in a variety of bike-related scenarios to whet your appetite. Enjoy!