Annual Coeur d’Fondo scenic bike rides Saturday will feature professional Italian cyclists

More than 1,500 bicyclists are expected to descend on downtown Coeur d’Alene on Saturday for the seventh annual Coeur d’Fondo that allows cyclists to travel scenic routes between 120- and 15-mile distances.

The noncompetitive rides begin at 8 a.m. at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Second Street in front of the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The Gran Fondo is 120 miles, the Medio Fondo is 90 miles, the Centro Fondo is 50 miles, the Piccolo Fondo is 40 miles and the family fun ride is 15 miles.

The Centro Fondo riders will not start at the resort. Instead, they will board the Mish-an-Nock boat beginning at 6:30 a.m. for a boat ride to Harrison, Idaho, where they will begin their 50-mile route. Riders in the Piccolo Fondo 40-mile ride will end their ride in Harrison and ride the Mish-an-Nock back to Coeur d’Alene. The last boat will leave Harrison at 1 p.m.

Both the Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo will follow the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes for part of the route. The family fun ride will follow the Centennial Trail to Higgins Point and back. There will be checkpoints on the rides that offer water, electrolyte drinks, food and snacks.

The longer routes are open to riders age 14 and up. The family fun ride is open to riders of all ages. People can ride the routes for time and compete for “King of the Mountains” and “Wind Sprint Master” awards. Those who want a slower pace can participate in a selfie scavenger hunt while they ride.

Professional Italian cyclists Liam Bertazzo and Guiseppe Fonzi and their sports director Luca Scinto will be participating in the Gran Fondo. The trio is from Team Willier Triestina-Selle Italia. The team is sponsored by METER Groups Inc., which is based in Pullman.

Riders and members of the public can meet the Italian cyclists at a pasta feed Friday at 5 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Pasta feed tickets are $20 and people can visit www.cdagranfondo.com to register. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory to support the gathering of important weather data in Africa.

Late registration is Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 6 to 7:30 a.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza shops across the street from the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The cost is $95 for each of the four longer rides and $30 for the family ride. Only a limited number of riders are allowed in the Centro Fondo and the Piccolo Fondo.

The registration fee for the four longer rides includes entry into the Downtown Association’s Oktoberfest celebration in downtown Coeur d’Alene, which runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday. It includes live music and more than 30 varieties of beer and cider.

Proceeds from the Coeur d’Fondo rides will benefit the North Idaho Centennial Trail Association, a nonprofit organization that helps maintain the Centennial Trail.