Gran Fondo Maryland
Key Information
EVENT DATE/LOCATION
September 22, 2019 in Frederick, MD
3 ROUTE OPTIONS
Gran Route (100 mi), Medio Route (60 mi), Piccolo Route (30 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
After starting in historic downtown Frederick, Maryland, the 100-mile Gran Route will gain over 10,000 feet of elevation through several different state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park. After exploring this incredible region, riders will return back into historic downtown Fredrick and be welcome to well deserved festivities at the finish line, complete with great food, beverage, and more fun.
More about the course
Riders will travel northwest out of the city of Frederick before entering the Frederick Municipal Forest where the first timed section will gain over 1270 feet in a 5.6 mile race segment. At the top riders will be able to relax and enjoy the cool mountain forest as the course plummets over the west side of the mountain range.
The second timed section ascends the southern approach to Harp Hill for a punchy up-down-up-down-up lasting for a brief 1.4 miles and 279 feet of vertical gain. For the next 25 miles and 2500 feet of cumulative gain, the route then follows a mix of small and obscure backroads heading north towards the decommissioned military base of Fort Ritchie.
Time Section #3 is a more dynamic segment and certainly cannot be called a timed climb. Section #3 will require riders to use caution and technical skill with several 90° turns including an old bridge crossing and tarp & chip road surface. The section starts on a wide downhill roadway where for the first 4.9 miles riders lose 500 feet of elevation before hitting the last 1k and 300 vertical feet to the finish of section #3 on top of Hornets Nest Road. Time segment #3 known as The Gully of Darius is a total of 5.5 miles -574 /+386 feet. From here the route heads south and works its way back exploring nooks and crannies in the Catoctin Mountain Range and travels through Catoctin Mountain National Park for 22 miles and +2250 feet of untimed pedaling. Past riders will be able to take special appreciation as they descend Park Central Road, which was used in the opposite direct as race section #2 in past years.
As Gran Route riders approach mile 71 they need to take in a deep breath, shake out their legs and prepare for the hardest segment of the day, (this segment also counts as a time segment for Medio Route riders). Section #4 is 11.4 miles +1203 feet and will test every rider’s ability! The segment starts by gaining 784 feet over the first 4.6 miles and then continues for a challenging and undulating 6.8 miles on top of the mountain ridge on Gambrill Park Road through Frederick Watershed and into Gambrill State Park. After completing time section #4, riders will have over 1000 feet of elevation on their side as they drop off the mountain range and into the valley towards the finish, but completing the route in not over, there are still some hills that are sure to make riders know they are still alive. Riders will return back into historic downtown Fredrick and be welcome to well deserved festivities at the finish line, complete with great food, beverage, and more fun.
GRAN FONDO PRICING
| PRICE PERIOD | GRAN | MEDIO | PICCOLO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until January 4, 2019 | $115 | $95 | $60 |
| Jan 5 - Aug 23, 2019 | $120 | $100 | $65 |
| Aug 24 - Sept 11, 2019 | $140 | $125 | $85 |
| Sept 12 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 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
LODGING
In need of a room? Our friends over at Stay22 make it easy to find a hotel or airbnb close to the start venue.
Click directly on the icon in the map below to start you reservation, also use the menu on the map to select dates and number of people.
PARKING MAP
Please follow direction and park responsibly in designated parking spaces. Most on street parking near Baker Park is unmetered, but we encourage you to ensure it’s not a “resident only” location.
Do not park in regulated parking spots, you will get fined.
SHIP - STUDENT HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP OF FREDERICK COUNTY
SHIP was created as the Frederick County Community came together in late 2013 after learning that there are literally hundreds of children within FCPS that are encountering homelessness each year.
Team Type 1 (TT1) Foundation was established with the mission to “instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes.”
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 GRAN FONDO Maryland
THANKS TO OUR LOCAL SPONSORS AND OUR SERIES SPONSORS
