In a first for a mass cycling event in America, live video coverage of the Gran Fondo Hincapie on October 24 will be available as it happens on the event's website and shown on a big screen at the start/finish line.

Riders at the 2014 Gran Fondo Hincapie. Credit: Gran Fondo Hincapie
"While thinking of what we could do to make this year better I thought 'Why not put the Fondo on live video?' " said Rich Hincapie in announcing the coverage of the Greenville, South Carolina event.

He stresses that the cameras will be capturing action from all sections of the course and not just covering the battle at the front.

"A lot of people will immediately default to thinking that only the fast riders will be televised but the coverage will not really be about the racing aspect of the ride," said Rich Hincapie. "The production crew has been briefed on covering the experience of the event, the beauty of the area, and as many of the riders as possible."

Credit: Gran Fondo Hincapie
A quick search on YouTube can turn up multiple GoPro (other cameras are available) views of events of varying levels of technical sophistication shot by participants or organizers.

Live transmission is a completely different level of challenge and traditionally hugely expensive.

Earlier this year, broadcasters of the Spring Classics were roundly criticized for only showing the final moments of the women's races that precede the men along the same course. The defense given was that the cost of aerial support for live pictures from two races simultaneously was prohibitive.

A pro race will use fixed, motorcycle and helicopter cameras with other helicopters or aircraft (or some combination) beaming the signals to trucks which relay it to the broadcaster's outside broadcast truck where the streams are put together to tell the story of the event.

How it works at the Tour de France. Credit: Cycling Tips
This great diagram from Cycling Tips shows how it works at the Tour de France and this is the model for some foreign events. The Maratona dles Dolomites gran fondo is shown live on Italian network television and almost every report comments on the thrill of being buzzed by one of the TV helicopters.
A bird's eye view of the riders at the 2015 Maratona dles Dolomites. Credit: Maratona dles Dolomites
It will be interesting to see how Gran Fondo Hincapie does it. The relatively short course -- in comparison to pro races -- and that it is a loop may well make life simpler for the production team.

The Gran Fondo route is 80 miles with 5,846 feet of climbing and follows one of George Hincapies's favorite training rides for the Tour de France, with three major climbs including the infamous Skyuka Mountain KOM, switchbacks on Green River Cove and a challenging descent down Howard's Gap.

Skyuka Mountain. Credit: Gran Fondo Hincapie
The Medio route is 50 miles and 2,641 feet of up and the Piccolo route is a gentler 15 miles and 663 feet.

Rich Hincapie is predicting over 2,000 riders this year, up 66% from 1,300 in 2014. Online registration is open until October 10 or you can sign up in person on the 23rd and 24th.

 "We've created an overall experience that will be like riding in a Grand Tour or one-day classic pro-race for everyone," said George Hincapie, the event's co-founder and a 17-time Tour de France competitor. "Riding alongside pros, moto-mounted cameras capturing the action, Lexus support cars and police escorts, timed segments and a Lexus King of the Mountain competition; it's as close as you can get to the real thing."

George Hincapie. Credit: Gran Fondo Hincapie
There is also a "Celebrity Chef Dinner" the night before the ride with an Expo - open to all - also on the Friday.

0 Comments