A new tourism event, the Gran Fondo, will be announced Thursday morning at Ballast Point Brewery in Botetourt Center at Greenfield.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR), Botetourt County Parks and Recreation, Muddy Squirrel and the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce are announcing what is being called “a new major VBR Sports event” that will impact the region.

Gran Fondo means ‘big ride” in Italian and is a road cycling event. The VBR Gran Fondo will be Sunday, Oct. 14 and will start and finish at Ballast Point.

Muddy Squirrel is a privately owned, Botetourt-based company that stages various outdoor events such at the Buchanan Tri—Run, Ride and River Race; the new Bear Wallow Gap mountain biking race, the Troutville AT Trail Days, outdoor events at Camp Bethel, etc.