GFY 2020: Real Race & Virtual Stage Race

The global covid 19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in the sports, cultural and entertainment industry this year. Only a minority of planned non-professional sports events are taking place, with a much reduced scope, and most have been cancelled all together out of safety fears. Following weeks of reflection and discussion with Yunnan Sports and all relevant authorities of the cities on the Granfondo Yunnan tour, we are therefore quite pleased to announce that this year’s event will take place - albeit in a restricted format and largely adapted to today’s needs in the covid 19 world.

This year’s Granfondo Yunnan will consist of a one-day ‘real' long distance race on Sunday, 29 November 2020, preceeded by a virtual stage race on the preceding weekends in November.

The real race will be at least 120km in length at a venue to be confirmed in due course. The race will be limited to 500 participants. New and very important: a separate block will be entirely reserved for 100 female riders and released 20 minutes after the ‘male’ block, which means there will be a woman-to-woman race without any male ‘helpers’ by their side. Something that does not happen very often.

The virtual stage race is expected to be conducted on the Kinomap platform and cover three stages with real video footage rather than computer graphics. On Saturday, 7 November, participants will begin with the virtual version of the 2019 prologue time trial in Mangshi. Stage 2 will offer a flattish and mildly ondulating course alongside the Erhai Lake in Dali. The last virtual stage will cover the meanwhile legendary ascent of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to Maoniuping in Lijiang.

As per local regulations in Yunnan, all participants will be gathered in designated hotels and must undergo a mandatory covid 19 test upon arrival.

All details on the real race, registration and logistics, as well as on the virtual stage race, will be announced in the coming weeks. Please bare with us , it is not easy to make all this happen but we are committed to bringing you a fantastic alternative 2020 Granfondo Yunnan experience! Finally, we are delighted to confirm that the multi-stage Granfondo Yunnan will continue in the coming years until at least 2025!