For newer riders the Solvang Century is a rite of passage and for more experienced riders it's a beautiful ride with lots of weather so it was a big loss when Santa Barbara county health officials canceled the 2020 event 48 hours before the start due to COVID-19. After a two year hiatus, the Solvang Century returned and ten Big Orange riders from the Gran Fondo team were there for the event. The weather was definitely a factor with wet and muddy roads, scattered rain, starting temps in the 30's, and gale warnings, but riders bunched into groups, worked together to fight the wind, and made it through.
SoCal riders are excited to see the return of events like this which was sold-out in part because riders have not been able to do large group rides for two years and this year's event organizer limited the field to one thousand riders compared to fields of three to four thousand in years passed. We're excited to see the 2022 calendar is filling up with races, gran fondos, and centuries.
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