Silk Road Vet Brits to Coach Lead Groups in Gravel Fondo Format

LAKEVILLE, Conn. –  Pro National Champion and Connecticut Legend Ben Wolfe will guide riders through the Berkshires at the Lime Rock Park Epic Presented by Specialized on Sunday, October 8. Having raced at the international pro level, Wolfe will mix coaching, some career chronicles, and his iconoclastic roadside comedy to the riding experience.

“I love this gravel fondo format,” said Wolfe, a native of Niantic, Conn., who has won the Natchaug Epic, a spring event conducted in a similar manner. “It’s THE perfect way to either wind up or wind down your season, regardless of what your goals may be. You ride with friends, pin it on the timed segments, recover, chill out and have some laughs all on an amazing course on a fall day. It’s perfect.”

In the fondo format, every rider has a timing chip with the number plate. There are a few dedicated segments that are timed. Each rider’s cumulative time is used to score the event. Riders are welcome to go as hard or as easy as they please.

A legend of a different sort, Chris Brits, will also ride with the lead groups. A native of South Africa, Brits has raced in the last two editions of the Silk Road Mountain Race, a single-stage, self-supported 1880-kilometer race through Kyrgyzstan considered the toughest race in the world. Brits is famous for his ultra distance diesel power that fuels amazing adventures throughout New England and the world.

Both men are incredible coaches, Wolfe working through Charles Coaching and Nutrition Services, and Brits with his firm, Velo Legitimo.  And both men see value in this gravel fondo format.

“We can develop all sorts of files and schedules for our athletes,” said Brits. “But we rarely get a chance to ride and race alongside the client. At Lime Rock, we get to hit it hard a few times on the same route with the same conditions as the riders, finish the segment, re-group, review and get ready for the next one. It’s a fantastic format.”

Brits will also be camping out Saturday night to take in the Ciclismo Classico Bicycle Travel Film Festival which includes a short film on riding in Kyrgyzstan. Should the films inspire attendees to try out some bikepacking, Brits will host a campfire chat on the topic after the film.

All entrants will receive souvenirs, number plates, chip timing, pre-ride mechanical service, SAG support, fully stocked rest stops, beverages, post-ride lunch and craft beers as part of their entry.

The second edition of the  Lime Rock Park Epic Presented by Specialized will be held Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Organized by New England-based Domestique Events LLC, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program. Camping is available Oct. 7 with a special outdoor bike-in theater showing of the 14th Annual Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival, campfire chat with Silk Road Mountain Race finisher Chris Brits, and sunset and sunrise yoga led by Nora Leigh Yoga. For more information, visit www.bikereg.com/limerockepic.