Boone Gran Fondo
Key Information
EVENT DATE/LOCATION
August 4, 2019 in Boone, NC
3 ROUTE OPTIONS
Gran Route (100 mi), Medio Route (55 mi), Piccolo Route (20 mi)
TIMED SEGMENT RACING
4 Timed Sections in the Gran Route – Best Combined Time Wins
No racing license required
SUPER PRIZES!
Custom “Race Winner” jersey for all Gran Route age group winners
Awards and Prizes for Gran, Medio, and Piccolo age-group podiums
GREAT FINISH-LINE PARTY & RAFFLES!
Hot food and cold beer waiting for you at the finish line, plus chances to win valuable prizes!
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In mid-summer, the High Country of North Carolina enjoys 80-degree temperatures while the surrounding East Coast temperatures hover in the high 90s. Early August is a prime time to be in Boone! The Boone Gran Fondo rolls through Appalachian State University and, after just a few turns, climbs beside picturesque Winklers Creek during the first timed section.
More about the course
After a short downhill and a climb up the gorgeous Shull’s Mill road, the course passes the Blue Ridge Parkway and turns onto Hwy 221. This section of road was hand built in the 1890’s across Grandfather Mountain and served as the Blue Ridge Parkway until the 1980’s. This second timed section is like a paved roller coaster.
After passing the Grandfather Park entrance, the downhill into Linville is a local favorite stretch of road. The route passes through the Avery County seat, the town of Newland. The back roads of Cow Camp and Squirrel Creek lead to the North Toe River Valley. Here, riders enjoy a few tranquil moments in the valley before the ascent, and third timed section, on the back of Beech Mountain.
Another nice downhill waits on the other side. The beautiful Bethel Valley brings riders to a climb to the Tennessee State Line to end the fourth timed section. From here, the route cruises on a very long gradual downhill grade through the valley and communities of Sugar Grove and Valle Crucis before it takes a climb up Laurel Fork and White Oak roads back to the town of Boone.
GRAN FONDO PRICING
| PRICE PERIOD | GRAN | MEDIO | PICCOLO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until January 4, 2019 | $115 | $95 | $60 |
| Jan 5 - Jul 9, 2019 | $120 | $100 | $65 |
| Jul 10 - Jul 24, 2019 | $140 | $125 | $85 |
| Jul 25 through Event Day | $175 | $155 | $110 |
To order this commemorative kit, click here!
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.
TIMED SEGMENT MAPS AND PROFILES
Time Section #1; Counts for 100-, 55-, and 20-mile riders
Time Section #4; Counts for 100-mile riders
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.
DAY OF GRAN FONDO SCHEDULE
The mission of the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation is to support breast cancer patients, survivors, and their families in the High Country of North Carolina. While many wonderful organizations hold events locally, some of the money they raise in the High Country is usually taken out of our community and used elsewhere. We are an all-volunteer organization and 100% of the funds we raise remain in the community.
Benefitting Western Youth Network
WYN recognizes a simple truth—growing up is hard, especially during those pivotal years from 5th through 10th grade. WYN invests in the lives of children and youth in order to build a better future and a stronger community for the High Country. We truly are “raising a community” and we do this by providing unique and quality programming that offers individualized support to over 200 children and youth each year in our Mentoring and After School Initiatives alone.
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 2019 Haute Route entry!
If you ride any GFNS event in 2018, you are entitled to credit the entire entry fee paid toward any 2019 Haute Route three-day or seven-day event. Already signed up for the Haute Route? Then take advantage of a free entry into one 2019 GFNS event of your choice to prepare for the Haute Route.
Learn more about all Haute Route events at www.hauteroute.org
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; 55 mile = 2 timed sections; 20 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
COME JOIN US AT Boone GRAN FONDO
A special thank you to all our sponsors and those who support the
