Gran Fondo National Series Launches 2020 Calendar with 9 U.S. Events
The largest series of one-day gran fondo cycling events in the United States, the Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS) have announced their 2020 event calendar
(Colorado Springs, CO – November 18, 2019) The largest series of one-day gran fondo cycling events in the United States, the Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS) today announced their 2020 event calendar, the opening of registration, and new brand signature: “Ride for this”.
2020 Calendar
Starting in southern California on March 7 with the Malibu Gran Fondo and returning to California to finish the season with The Jensie Gran Fondo in the fall, the 2020 Gran Fondo National Series includes nine events:
Malibu Gran Fondo – March 7, 2020 – King Gillette Ranch, CA
Gran Fondo Florida – March 22, 2020 – San Antonio, FL
Team Type 1 Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo – April 26, 2020 – Helen, GA
Highlands Gran Fondo – June 7, 2020 – Butler, NJ
Golden Gran Fondo – June 28, 2020 – Golden, CO
Gran Fondo Asheville – July 19, 2020 – Asheville, NC
Boone Gran Fondo – August 2, 2020 – Boone, NC
Gran Fondo Maryland – September 20, 2020 – Frederick, MD
Jensie Gran Fondo – Fall 2020 – San Francisco, CA
“Ride for this”
The Gran Fondo National Series aims to take U.S. cycling events in a new direction, breaking down the barriers between “racers” and “riders” and creating events that are welcoming, challenging, safe, fun, and supportive of both competitors and non-competitive cyclists. With “Ride for this”, GFNS invites cyclists to ride for fun, for competition, for camaraderie, to spend time with friends, to challenge themselves, to help local community nonprofits, and to have their best day ever on a bicycle.
“The Gran Fondo National Series is America’s original gran fondo series,” said Event Director Reuben Kline, who founded GFNS in 2012. “To move cycling forward in the United States, events need to simultaneously meet the needs of competitors, non-competitive riders seeking new challenges, and cyclists seeking camaraderie, safety, and community. No matter what you’re riding for, you can do it at a GFNS event.”
GFNS Features
Now in its eighth year, the GFNS continues to innovate in the gran fondo space. Key features of the GFNS include:
New for 2020: Super Gran courses. In recognition of their length and cumulative elevation gain, the four most challenging courses (Georgia, Golden, Boone, Maryland) have been elevated to “Super Gran” courses.
Unsurpassed Professional Support: GFNS works with local law enforcement, volunteer groups, mobile mechanics, sag vehicles, and safety motos to create a safe cycling environment where support is always close by.
Community-Focused Post-Ride Party: With locally sourced food, beverages, vendors, and entertainment, GFNS events finish line parties showcase regional products.
Timed Segments: Safer, more social, and more inclusive than start-to-finish competitions, timed segments allow riders to ride hard, but then regroup, socialize, refuel and hydrate, and ride safely to the next timed segment.
Series Championship: Cyclists are Nationally ranked in this season-long competition based on their best three finishes in any 2020 GFNS events.
Team Competition: Ranked by the combined segment times of the fastest 4 team members, teams also gain bonus seconds based on how many teammates finish.
Local and National Non-Profits: Every GFNS event partners with a local nonprofit, to raise funds, and increase awareness of cycling in the communities. Along with the local beneficiaries GFNS events also support Team Type 1 Foundation (TT1), Riders can choose to extend their efforts on and off the bike to raise funds for TT1.
The GFNS has successfully coordinated more than 50 gran fondos across the nation and have had nearly 17,000 participants. In 2017 GFNS merged with the international Haute Route brand of multi-day cycling events. Together, Haute Route and GFNS have established a worldwide catalogue of one-, three-, and seven-day cycling events in the United States, Europe, Mexico, Oman, Brazil, and China.
About the Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS)
The Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS) was established in 2012 as the Gran Fondo National Championship Series by Reuben Kline, who has more than 25 years of experience in the cycling industry, including five years as a professional mountain bike racer, 13 years as a full-time race director, and over 22 years as promoter of the Michaux Endurance Series. GFNS is comprised of 9 European-style rides staged across the United States. Part personal challenge, part serious competition, the GFNS leads riders through country roads with challenging climbs and incredible scenery on some of the most beautiful courses in North America. For more information, or to register for an event, go to www.granfondonationalseries.com.
Stage 1 - Le Perray-en-Yvelines
