Northern Ireland 'in the pink' again for Grand Fondo 2016

The official Giro D’Italia Big Start legacy event returns to Northern Ireland on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June for the second edition of the Gran Fondo.

During 2014 over 950 volunteers helped deliver the Big Start Giro d'Italia, one of the cycling world's elite and iconic events and one of the three Grand Tours, along with the Tour de France and Vuelta a España

Following the success of last years Grand Fondo, the 2016 event will be a special experience with fully closed roads, two challenging cycling routes, post ride party with wood fired oven pizzas, pasta dishes and Italian beer and wine. This exciting weekend will also feature activities for families and friends at Titanic Belfast Giro Expo and photo opportunities with the Giro D’Italia Trophy.

Volunteers will carry out a range of roles including Marshalling and Meet and Greet and will open up the opportunity to see behind the scenes, get closer to the action and play a role in making this popular event a huge success.

Sinead O’Hanlon from Newry is once again volunteering at this prestigious event. Sinead said: "The Giro D'Italia coming to Ireland was such a wonderful event for the province and to be part of something so unique was great. I like to cycle and watch professional cycling on TV so this was the perfect opportunity to help out.”

Sinead added,  “We were marshalling early morning in Keady a few hours before the race was scheduled to pass us - but the lovely couple who owned the house we were outside invited us to their home for breakfast. This was very welcome and very kind, it demonstrated the nature of the Irish people.”

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this years great experience!   Register at www.volunteernow.co.uk/events before Friday 22nd April.