CANYON ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION AT FNLD GRVL IN ASSOCIATION WITH EU GRVL
- Lahti, Finland plays host to international field of competitors at maiden event on June 10, 2023
- EU GRVL born as a partnership between F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, Canyon/SRAM’s Tiffany Cromwell and US events agency SBT GRVL
KOBLENZ, GERMANY | EMBARGO: WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2023, 11:00 (CET) — Canyon Bicycles will join Formula 1 driver and Canyon ambassador Valtteri Bottas, CANYON//SRAM WMNCYCLING’s Tiffany Cromwell and SBT GRVL at their first European event, FNLD GRVL, which takes place in Lahti, Finland on June 10th 2023.
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Canyon’s Finnish team will join forces with members of the company’s global team, based in Koblenz, Germany, to present the company’s fleet of Grail gravel race and Grizl gravel adventure bikes, and an e-bike option in the shape of the Grail:ON. Canyon will offer on-course aid stations for support during the race events plus free servicing to every Canyon owner in the event village.
The event is expected to attract 1500 professional and amateur global gravel riders for the four-day festival, the centrepiece of which is the one-day race with three event distances to choose from. The three routes include a short 40 km Forest Route, a 77 km Lakes Route, or a unique 177 km Midnight Sun route.
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Canyon’s Gravel brand manager Matthew Leake: “Through testing we know that our gravel bikes perform exceedingly well on fast routes, hilly routes, forested routes, dirt roads, hard packed trails and just about any other gravel route. But I can honestly say that they are untested under the midnight sun. We’re extremely confident that they’ll make the grade under such a meteorological phenomenon but, all the same, we’re still excited to put them through these conditions. We’re excited to bringing our performance gravel bikes to a new region to inspire an audience thirsty for gravel experiences.”
The race is expected to attract Canyon gravel athletes and ambassadors such as Peter Stetina, Carolin Schiff and Griffin Easter, not to mention Tiffany Cromwell and Valtteri Bottas. Cromwell and Bottas, together with SBT GRVL have combined forces to create their EU GRVL partnership, which is offering a 20,000 EUR pro prize purse.
The FNLD GRVL festivities start on Thursday June 8 and roll through until Sunday June 11 with entertainment including social rides, a bike expo and other events in a concept that has made the SBT GRVL formula a success in the United States.
“Gravel events have been building momentum in America over the last few years and have become just as much about the experience as the race itself. We’re excited to take what we’ve done in Steamboat for SBT GRVL and bring it to a European stage,” explains Amy Charity, FNLD GRVL co-founder.
Lahti, an hour’s drive or train ride north of Helsinki, is the 2021 Green Capital of Europe. It sits at the edge of Finnish Lake Country, a region defined by more than 55,000 lakes that dot a forest-covered plateau, including a UNESCO Global Geopark. The region’s gravel roads, which weave through and around the lakes, make for unforgettable gravel riding and highlight the event’s advocacy initiatives focused on climate change and sustainability.
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“A ticket to FNLD GRVL is more than just a race entry, it’s a passport to my hometown of Lahti. I’m excited to have this chance to show riders from all over the world what we have to offer here on the gravel roads of Finland and why it is important to preserve these natural resources,” said event co-organiser Valtteri Bottas.
Registration for FNLD GRVL is open on BikeReg, and additional weekend VIP packages include a Thursday morning coffee and pastry ride with Tiffany and Valtteri, as well as lodging inclusive options that feature a VIP dinner and reception, airport transfers, a Canyon demo bike for the weekend, and a private VIP go kart race track experience with Bottas.
Canyon will be joined by other FNLD GRVL sponsors including Castelli, Zipp, SRAM, Strava, Schwalbe, Outside, Giro, O/TH, Visit Lahti, City of Lahti and Lahden Pyöräilijät Sports Club.
For more information visit FNLDGRVL.com or stay tuned via Instagram, Facebook and Strava for the latest.
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