Jeremy Powers at Worlds. Bart Hazen
SOUTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Cyclocross national champion Jeremy Powers, professional rider for the Jelly Belly Cycling Team presented by Kenda and the Rapha-Focus cyclocross team, is proud to announce the third annual Wheelhouse Sports Grand Fundo, set for Saturday, July 14. For the third year running, the Grand Fundo will raise money to support the JAM Fund in its mission to support young, upcoming cyclists in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. Joining Powers this year are former US Criterium Champion Brad Huff and Emerson Oronte, both Powers’ Jelly Belly teammates, as well as cyclocross standout Justin Lindine.
The Grand Fundo is a 64-mile group ride that showcases some of the best and most difficult roads that the Pioneer Valley has to offer. On top of scenic vistas and rolling climbs, the Fundo features 20 miles of challenging dirt roads. If 64 miles isn’t enough for you, the Grand Hundo is back for its second year, adding more miles (20 of them to be precise), more climbing and more of a challenge.
“The Grand Fundo is what our perfect day on the bike looks like,” says Powers of the Grand Fundo. “It’s got everything Al, Mukunda and I want in a ride, from the route to the organization, the riders and even the food. When I want a route where my friends and I can catch up and not be interrupted by cars or stop lights, this is the one we ride. It’s very much a reflection of our personalities.”
All of the proceeds of the Grand Fundo and Grand Hundo go directly to the JAM Fund, an organization formed by Powers and his longtime friends Al Donahue and Mukunda Feldman. The JAM Fund exists to help young, aspiring cyclists achieve their personal and professional goals. In 2012, the JAM Fund will focus on cyclocross having set its goal of supporting a team of young cyclocross racers, allowing them to contest some of the nation’s biggest races.
“The JAM Fund is something I have an extreme amount of passion for because of the support I had as a junior growing up,” Powers says of the JAM Fund. “By creating JAM, we’re trying to put that in place. We’re doing our best to really make a program that is here for the next 20 years and beyond through the Fundo. With JAM, our goal is to make a difference in the lives of enthusiastic young, up and coming riders and to do our part to keep American cycling going up!”
The JAM Fund will continue its tradition of supporting young, ambitious riders, by awarding $500 grants to selected applicants to the JAM Fund program. More grant recipients will be announced at this year’s Fundo. Those interested in applying for a JAM Fund grant in the future are highly encouraged to attend this year’s Grand Fundo.
There’s more to the Grand Fundo than just the ride, of course. When the riding is over, the annual Grand Fundo pig roast returns for its third edition. Relax and recover with a barbeque, music and beer, all while spending time meeting some of the great cyclists representing the JAM Fund and the Pioneer Valley.
Also returning for the 2012 Grand Fundo is the Grand Fundo raffle, albeit with a new twist. This year, the JAM Fund will be raffling off one of Jeremy Powers’ limited edition Team Rapha-Focus Focus Mares cyclocross bikes, valued at over $5,000. The raffle will also include prize packs from Giro, Rapha, Mad Alchemy and others each valued at over $500.
Tickets for the raffle are $10 each and are available on BikeReg.com or at the Grand Fundo registration area. Anyone is welcomed to purchase tickets and will be entered to win Jeremy’s 2011 Team Rapha-Focus limited edition bicycle. For more information on the bicycle, please visit the BikeReg.com page.
For complete information on the Grand Fundo, including where to stay, what to do in town and more, visit www.grandfundo.com. To sign up for the Fundo or the Hundo, visit the Grand Fundo BikeReg page.
