Around 3,000 Participants Expected
"Boosting the Local Economy"
Muju County in North Jeolla Province will host the 'Muju Gran Fondo & Medio Fondo Bicycle Race' across the Muju area on October 19.
According to the county on October 13, this event is considered the largest road cycling race in South Korea. It is hosted and organized by the Jeonbuk Provincial Cycling Federation, with support from Jeonbuk Province and Muju County.
This year’s event is expected to attract around 3,000 participants, including about 1,800 athletes as well as coaches, family members, and event officials.
The Gran Fondo course covers a total distance of 124.5 kilometers, starting at 8 a.m. from the Muju Culture and Sports Center parking lot. The route passes through Bunam-myeon (Gajeong Samgeori, Administrative Welfare Center, Bunam Intersection), Anseong-myeon (Bideulmok Samgeori, Haimok Village, Sangimok Samgeori, Sajeon Intersection), Seolcheon-myeon (Hajo Intersection, Baebang Intersection, Rajetongmun, Socheon Bridge, Oebok Village), Mupung-myeon (Mupung Agricultural Distribution Center, Deokji Samgeori), back to Seolcheon-myeon (Gucheondong Samgong Samgeori, Simgok Bridge, Hajo Intersection), and Jeoksang-myeon (Pumped Storage Power Plant PR Center, Chori Village, Sanseong Bridge), before returning to the Muju National Sports Center.
Medio Fondo participants will separate from the Gran Fondo riders at the Hajo Intersection in Seolcheon-myeon, and travel a total of 70.5 kilometers, passing through the Pumped Storage Power Plant PR Center, Chori Village, and Sanseong Bridge in Jeoksang-myeon, before finishing at the Muju National Sports Center.
Park Youngseok, head of the County Facility Sports Operations Division, stated, "This event not only revitalizes the local economy by attracting visitors, but also promotes tourism resources and enhances the regional brand value, generating direct and indirect benefits each year. Muju, already well-known among cycling enthusiasts, offers an ideal setting for cycling with its beautiful and pristine natural environment. We will continue our efforts to establish Muju as the perfect and safest venue for such events."
He added, "Areas expected to experience congestion, such as Hanpungnu Intersection, Dangsan Intersection, and Jungsan Intersection, will be subject to temporary or partial traffic control. We ask for the active cooperation of drivers and residents passing through the event sections on the day for safety."
The county originally planned to hold the event in June, but the schedule was changed due to rain. Since last month, the county has completed inspections and maintenance of road surfaces along the course and installed course guide signs. Coordination with relevant agencies, including the police station and the Namwon National Road Management Office, has also been finalized.
On the day of the event, a general control center will be set up at the Muju Culture and Sports Center Plaza. For safety, more than 30 vehicles-including county traffic guidance vehicles, ambulances, police patrol cars, and motorcycles from the cycling federation-will be deployed. In addition, 420 traffic control personnel will be stationed along the course to manage the event and respond to emergencies.
Meanwhile, 'Gran Fondo' is an Italian term meaning 'to travel a long distance,' and such cycling marathon events are held in various countries, including those in Europe.
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