Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie is offering 5 exhilarating rides on low-traffic roads. New for 2019, we are offering a 5th ride to celebrate our 5th anniversary: the 88.5 km Mezzo "middle" Fondo! Experienced riders will be challenged by our 160 km Super Gran and 118 km Gran, while intermediate and novice cyclists may prefer the shorter 67 km Medio or 35 km Piccolo rides. Some routes may be slightly tweaked. Riders will ride on low traffic rolling inland roads along lakes and rivers, and pass by towering wooden churches along the panoramic coastal route that hugs beautiful Baie Sainte Marie.
Debating which distance to ride? We highly recommend that you sign up early (by July 31) to take advantage of the best value jersey package. You can change your route distance right up to the morning of the event!
Downloadable maps of each route are below, along with images and elevation profiles.
Super Gran
The 161 km Super Gran is for hardcore cyclists looking to put their skills to the test!
| Distance | 161 km. |
|---|---|
| Experience Level | Very experienced |
| Start Time | 8:30 am |
| Duration | 5.5 hours (± 2 hours) |
| Participants (2018) | 85 |
Key Landmarks
- Université Sainte-Anne: The only French-language university in Nova Scotia
- Église Sainte-Marie Church: Largest wooden church in North America
- Belliveau Cove Park: Home of outdoor lobster suppers and other events
- Église Saint-Bernard Church: Majestic stone church home to art expo
- Bas-de-la Rivière: Scenic coastal loop along St. Mary’s Bay and Sissiboo River
- Highway 340: Low traffic inland highway with long rolling hills
- Mavillette Beach: Sweeping views of ocean and Cape St. Mary
- Église Sainte-Alphonse Church: Situated atop one of a series of small hills
- Smugglers Cove Provincial Park: Coastal provincial park
- Église Sacré-Coeur Church: Towering yellow church close to the finish line
Rest stops
In addition to the start/finish line, there are five rest stops. All have washrooms, hydration, nutrition and first aid supplies.
- Chez Marcel (Bas-de-la Rivière) - 21 km
- Havelock Community Centre (Highway 340) - 47 km
- Carleton School (Highway 340) - 84 km
- Mavillette Beach - 129 km
- Ecole Stella Maris School (Peter Dugas Road, Meteghan) - 144 km
Gran
Experienced riders will be challenged by our 118 km Gran route.
| Distance | 118 km. |
|---|---|
| Experience Level | Experienced |
| Start Time | 8:45 am Wave 1: Advanced Wave 2: Intermediate and Beginner |
| Duration | 4.5 hours (± 2 hours) |
| Participants (2018) | 320 |
Key Landmarks
- Université Sainte-Anne: The only French-language university in Nova Scotia
- Église Sainte-Marie Church: Largest wooden church in North America
- Belliveau Cove Park: Home of outdoor lobster suppers and other events
- Église Saint-Bernard Church: Majestic stone church home to art expo
- Highway 340: Low traffic inland highway with long rolling hills
- Bangor Sawmill: Inland along a scenic meandering river
- Mavillette Beach: Sweeping views of ocean and Cape St. Mary
- Église Sainte-Alphonse Church: Situated atop one of a series of small hills
- Smugglers Cove Provincial Park: Coastal provincial park
- Église Sacré-Coeur Church: Towering yellow church close to the finish line
Rest stops
In addition to the start/finish line, there are four rest stops. All have washrooms, hydration, nutrition and first aid supplies.
- Havelock Community Centre (Highway 340) - 32 km
- La Shoppe Verte store/café (Concession) - 59 km
- Ecole Stella Maris School (Peter Dugas Road, Meteghan) - 82 km
- Mavillette Beach - 96 km
Mezzo
Our fifth route, the new Mezzo Fondo (Italian for "middle"), offers experienced cyclists a challenging yet scenic middle distance that combines sections of the Medio and Gran rides.
| Distance | 88.5 km |
|---|---|
| Experience Level | Experienced |
| Start Time | 9:00 am Wave 1: Advanced Wave 2: Intermediate and Beginner |
| Duration | 4 hours (± 1.5 hours) |
Key Landmarks
- Université Sainte-Anne: The only French-language university in Nova Scotia
- Église Sainte-Marie Church: Largest wooden church in North America
- Belliveau Cove Park: Home of outdoor lobster suppers and other events
- Église Saint-Bernard Church: Majestic stone church home to art expo
- Bas-de-la Rivière: Scenic coastal loop along St. Mary’s Bay and Sissiboo River
- Highway 340: Low traffic linland highway with long rolling hills
- Bangor Sawmill: Inland along a scenic meandering river
- Église Sacré-Coeur Church: Towering yellow church close to the finish line
Rest stops
In addition to the start/finish line, there are three rest stops. All have washrooms, hydration, nutrition and first aid supplies.
- Chez Marcel (Bas-de-la Rivière along the bay) - 21 km
- Havelock Community Centre (Highway 340) - 47 km
- La Shoppe Verte store/café (Consession) - 69 km
Medio
Our most popular route, the 67 km Medio is perfect for intermediate riders.
| Distance | 67 km. |
|---|---|
| Experience Level | Intermediate |
| Start Time | 9:15 am Wave 1: Advanced Wave 2: Intermediate and Beginner |
| Duration | 3.5 hours (± 1.5 hours) |
| Participants (2018) | 400 |
Key Landmarks
- Université Sainte-Anne: The only French-language university in Nova Scotia
- Église Sainte-Marie Church: Largest wooden church in North America
- Belliveau Cove Park: Home of outdoor lobster suppers and other events
- Église Saint-Bernard Church: Majestic stone church home to art expo
- Bas-de-la Rivière: Scenic coastal loop along St. Mary’s Bay and Sissiboo River
- Bangor Sawmill: Inland along a scenic meandering river
- Église Sacré-Coeur Church: Towering yellow church close to the finish line
Rest stops
In addition to the start/finish line, there are two rest stops. All have washrooms, hydration, nutrition and first aid supplies.
- Chez Marcel (Bas-de-la Rivière) - 21 km
- La Shoppe Verte store/café (Consession) - 47 km
Piccolo
At 35 km, the Piccolo offers anyone an excellent introduction to Fondo riding.
| Distance | 35 km. |
|---|---|
| Experience Level | Beginner |
| Start Time | 9:30 am |
| Duration | 2 hours (± 1 hour) |
| Participants (2018) | 230 |
Key Landmarks
- Université Sainte-Anne: The only French-language university in Nova Scotia
- Église Sainte-Marie Church: Largest wooden church in North America
- Bangor Sawmill: Inland along a scenic meandering river
- Église Sacré-Coeur Church: Towering yellow church close to the finish line
Rest stops
In addition to the start/finish line, there is one rest stop. Both have washrooms, hydration, nutrition and first aid supplies.
- La Shoppe Verte store/café (Consession) - 16 km