La Leggendaria Charly Gaul Trento-Monte Bondone

The only qualifying event in Italy giving you the chance to qualify for the UCI Amateur Road World Championships UWCT Final 2014. 

After successfully hosting the UCI World Cycling Tour Final in September last year, the city of Trento - in north-east Italy - will this July stage La Leggendaria Charly Gaul Trento-Monte Bondone - a qualifying event for the 2014 UWCT series. 

From 17th to 20th July thousands of cyclists from around the world are expected to visit the Trentino region and enjoy the multi-day event organised by the Trento, Monte Bondone and nearby Valle dei Laghi Tourism Boards, along with the ASD Charly Gaul team.

The event celebrates its 9th birthday this year, and the mediofondo and granfondo courses will remain nearly the same as last year's. On Sunday 20th July all participants will roll out from the picturesque Piazza Duomo in the heart of Trento, and finish the event at the summit of Monte Bondone (1.650m). The Time Trial event will take place in Valle dei Laghi - literally the valley of lakes - a few kilometers outside Trento on Friday 18th July.

La Leggendaria Charly Gaul has been a UWCT qualifying event for the past two years, and 2013 saw almost 3.000 cyclists tackle the legendary Monte Bondone. The mountain, located just outside the city of Trento, is inextricably tied to Charly Gaul and the 1956 Giro d'Italia. The champion from Luxembourg climbed the final, gruelling kilometres in extreme weather conditions and reached the top almost frozen, but triumphant, and subsequently assured of overall victory in that year's Giro.

AS mentioned, participants can choose between two courses: the medio and granfondo. The distances for the events will be 58 and 142km respectively. The total climbing will be 2,000m on the medio and 3,960m on the granfondo.

The first part of the event will see riders process, side by side, from Piazza Duomo in Trento to the first climb of Palu di Giovo. Afterwards, the mediofondo will turn right and begin the legendary "Charly Gaul climb", arriving at the top 38 turns, 1,375m and 18km later. The longer route will descend south to Aldeno to face the climb from Garniga Terme and Viote. Once there, riders will turn into Valle dei Laghi and up to Terlago, before ascending the "Charly Gaul climb".

Entries are now open, so riders can reserve their place today and take advantage of the Early Booking Fee (€45 for the Granfondo event, and €40 for the Time Trial). Once the first 1,000 early entries are taken, entries will cost €58 and €45 separately, or €93 combined.

For more information, visit www.laleggendariacharlygaul.it