GRAN FONDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
This Gran Fondo National Championship course starts with very short, punchy climbs, features long stretches of quiet, narrow, and winding country roads, and finishes with a classic climb up Elk Mountain to the Blue Ridge Parkway and a decent to finish at Wicked Weed Brewing's Funkatorium, in down town Asheville.
Best Party of the year
Even with Gran course riders competing for the Gran Fondo National Championship, the timed segment format gives everyone the opportunity to socialize between segments. With the start/finish and post-ride party hosted at the Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium, this is one of the most festive, supportive, and fun events of the whole season.
Vibrant downtown asheville
Experience Asheville, North Carolina, Lonely Planet’s top U.S. travel destination in 2017. Asheville’s vibrant downtown is a hub for artists, musicians, renowned chefs, craft brewers and distillers. The area also features the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore Estate, and outdoor opportunities like hiking on the Appalachian Trail and water sports on the French Broad River.
safety and support
To create great loops, the Gran and Medio courses use some remote roads where food, water, and services are normally scarce. But you can ride with confidence on the marked and marshaled course, supported by law enforcement, safety motos, mechanic and sag vehicles, and staffed feed stations.
Gran Fondo National championship information
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PRICES AND DATES
| PRICE PERIOD | GRAN | MEDIO | PICCOLO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until January 10, 2020 | $115 | $95 | $60 |
| Jan 11 - Jun 18, 2020 | $120 | $100 | $65 |
| Jun 19 - Jul 10, 2020 | $140 | $120 | $85 | Jul 11 - Jul 17, 2020 | $160 | $140 | $105 |
| On-site | $175 | $155 | $110 |
COURSE MAPS & TIMED SEGMENTS
DOWNLOADABLE COURSE MAPS
The routes will be very well marked, but we encourage you to get the RideWithGPS App and load the route to your smart phone or GPS. Use this RSVP LINK to access premium RideWithGPS features and get turn by turn navigation for free.
* 2020 Gran Fondo National Championship
TIMED SEGMENT MAPS AND PROFILES
Time Sections: (THE COMPETITION) – This is not a start-to-finish race. Your overall time from start to finish does not matter for this competition. Only the timed segments count. Your overall, age group, and gender rankings are determined by your combined time for all timed segments on the route you choose. View Complete Rules and FAQ.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Discover Asheville and compete for the 2019 Gran Fondo National Championship! Experience Asheville, North Carolina, Lonely Planet’s top U.S. travel destination for 2017. Your ride begins in downtown Asheville at Wicked Weed Brewing's Funkatorium, rolls out of downtown, and quickly moves along well-marked winding roads out into pastoral countryside and up to mountain ridge vistas. At the end of the ride, as you descend from the Blue Ridge Parkway into the heart of town, you will be afforded a spectacular cityscape view and greeted by fellow riders and families back at Wicked Weed Brewing's Funkatorium; where you can enjoy the music, vendors, massage therapists, and of course– food and beer!
ITINERARY
Rules
You Must Obey Traffic Laws. This is not a closed course. That means stop at lights and stop signs. Think Safety First.
Do not cause an accident!!!
Be respectful of others on the road!
NEVER CROSS THE CENTER-LINE OF THE ROAD!!!
During all race sections you have the right of way. When you are outside of race sections you do not have the right of way. You will not be racing through any intersections; this means when you come to a sign or signal you should slow down, stop, and be safe.
As you approach the time sections you must travel through the designated area (in your lane of traffic!) so that your chip can be properly read and recorded. The times for your timed sections will be compiled for your review at the finish. 100 mile = 4 timed sections; 60 mile = 3 timed sections; 30 mile = 1 timed section. You can view all the details for timed section on the above map links, click the map icons for details.
Timed sections are open for specific durations. In order to be timed and eligible for awards you must maintain a progression speed between 23mph and 10mph. NOTE: this is progression speed not average speed, progression speed includes all stopped time. Below is a list stating the times sections are open
Benefiting Asheville on Bikes
Asheville on Bikes cultivates the culture of urban and commuter cycling through advocacy and celebration. We believe that cycling has direct benefit to the health of our community.
Benefitting Eblen Charities
Each year Eblen Charities assists tens of thousands of families in the Asheville area with food, housing, medical heating and utilities, medication, and all manner of emergency assistance.
Haute Route Special Offer
As part of the worldwide Haute Route family of cycling events, GFNS is proud to deliver world-class service, as well as valuable incentives to join us at Haute Route 3-day and 7-day cycling events in the US and around the world. If you can finish a GFNS event, you are ready for Haute Route!
To inspire you to do more, Haute Route will apply your full GFNS entry fee toward a 2020 Haute Route entry!
If you ride any GFNS event in 2020, you are entitled to credit the entire entry fee paid toward any 2020 Haute Route three-day or seven-day event. Already signed up for the Haute Route? Then take advantage of a free entry into one 2020 GFNS event of your choice to prepare for the Haute Route.
Learn more about all Haute Route events at www.hauteroute.org
COME JOIN US AT GRAN FONDO Asheville
A special thank you to all our sponsors and those who support the
