Less that two weeks before the February 21 running of the Arizona Gran Fondo in Scottsdale, key information is missing from the event's website, the site of the packet pick-up knows nothing about it and city officials say they have issued no permits.

Sign up is, however, open on active.com for the $180 event (jersey included).

As it stands at the moment, registered riders turning up at the Scottsdale Public Library, the listed packet pick-up site, may well be disappointed.

"We don't know anything about this," said the Library's Katie O'Connor. O'Connor checked with City Hall and found no record of permits for the gran fondo.

For those that have bought places the cancellation policy gives little comfort.

"After your registration has been processed for the Artizona Gran Fondo, NO REFUNDS will be available on your entry fee."

The comments section of the active.com page has complaints about the lack of information dating back to November and frustration at the lack of communication.

Attempts to reach organizer Ciclismo Volpi and its Executive Director Humberto Olivo were unsuccessful. There was no response to multiple emails through the contact form on the Volpi website (which declares: "We would love to hear from you") or messages left on Olivo's Facebook page.

A number listed as Ciclismo Volpi's on a two 3rd-party websites is no longer in service and a call to a venture capital fund of which Olivo is partner went unanswered.

Riders enjoy the Texas Gran Fondo. Credit: Volpi
The Arizona Gran Fondo is part of the Volpi Gran Fondo Series of five events along with Texas, Colorado, Los Cabos and California.

The Los Cabos Gran Fondo took place on October 18, 2015.

Registration is open for the Colorado Gran Fondo in Colorado Springs on August 27, 2016, and the web page has details of the event including maps and a schedule of events. There appears not to be a link to a registration page, however.

The Texas Gran Fondo happened in April 2014 and 2015 (see reviews). The page for the Texas ride in Fredericksburg currently tells visitors "Information coming soon".

The California Gran Fondo is scheduled for "September 2016" in Big Sur. The website promises: "All Information and Registration details coming October 2015".

As well as running Ciclismo Volpi, Olivo's profile on LinkedIn lists him as holding multiple executive positions.

  • CEO of RödRäv Sky Media, a Media/Production service company
  • Partner of Volpi Health, which designs and oversees Corporate Wellness and Fitness initiatives for Fortune 500 corporate clients
  • Partner of Valyfund Venture Capital L.P., Start Up Investing, Venture Capital and Private Equity placements

Contact details are difficult to come by for the four businesses. Ciclismo Volpi has a website with a Contact Form and Volpi Health has a Facebook page. Web searches turn up no website for RödRäv Sky Media. Valyfund Venture Capital has a "Coming Soon" message on its website with a 2008 copyright tag at the bottom.

0 Comments