One Day Gran Fondo National Champions Crowned in Asheville
Florida’s Owen Shott and North Carolina’s Nina Laughlin take overall victory!
The national level amateur cycling event brought more than 500 amateur cyclists, plus their families and supporters, to the city of Asheville.
The Gran Fondo National Series is the largest and most competitive series of Gran Fondo events in the United States, with 10 events nationwide and over 3,000 annual participants.
Last weekend it celebrated the one day championships across a full range of age categories for both men and women on the 100 mile Gran Fondo course.
The competition consisted of the fastest times across 4 timed segments including Bear Creek, Walnut Creek, French Broad River and Elk Mountain Scenic Highway.
Overall, 39 year Owen Shott from Orange Park, Florida was fastest for the men, with 28 year old Nina Laughlin from Pigsah Forest, NC was the fastest for the women.
Women’s Winners
In the women’s 24-34 category, Nina Laughlin from Pigsah Forest took 1st place in a time of 1h 15m 19s, Debora Finger from Miami Florida, second and Kelly Huban from Marietta, Georgia third.
In the women’s 35-44 category, Lesley Mccormack from Mars Hill NC was first, ahead of Jodi Sindelar from Roswell GA second and Krystle Andrews from Atlanta GA third.
In the women’s 45-54 category, Ina Pfuhler from Cinicinnati OH was first, ahead of
Megumi Jones from Navarre FL second and Barbara Wiggins from Mount Pleasant SC third.
In the women’s 55-64 category, Marni Harker from Washington DC was first, ahead of
Juliana Nievergelt from Mount Pleasant SC second and Andrea Hadba from Orlando FL third.
Jill Tarr won the women’s over 65.
Men’s Results
In the men’s Collegiate category, Kyle Kimball from Boone, NC was first ahead of Christopher Gates from Columbus OH.
In the men’s U23 category, Andrew Blackstock from Greenville SC was first ahead of Owen Koppe from Fairview NC.
In the men’s 24-34 category, Noah Niwinski from Boone, NC was first ahead of Stuart Witt from Richmond KY second and Max Kolisch from Miami FL third.
In the men’s 35-44 category, again Owen Shott was first ahead of Ian Tapp from Lexington KY second and Justin Raynes third.
In the men’s 45-54 category, Mitchell Hopkins from Winston Salem NC was first ahead of local rider Paul Capua from Asheville and Nelson Angulo from Coral Gables FL.
In the men’s 55-64 category, Armin Pfaff from Charlotte NC was first ahead of local rider Randy Warren from Asheville second and Brendan Sullivan from Atlanta GA.
In the men’s over 65 category, Tim Oolman from Charleston SC was first ahead of Tom Ratajczak from Asheville NC second and Tom Gee from Paris TN third.
Each Gran Fondo National Championship winner received a custom winner’s kit from DNA Cycling.
Team Results
The team competition consisted of the four riders with their fastest combined times determining the overall winners.
It was Team Racket-Drunken Dragon who were fastest ahead of Sycamore Cycles second, and Darc Third, with Itl Coaching and Performance in fourth.
The Racket-drunken Dragon Team consisted of Noah Niwinski from Boone NC, local rider Paul Capua from Asheville, Nelson Angulo from Coral Gables FlL and Gabriel Larrea from Miami FL.
Link to official results - https://my2.raceresult.com/130236/
Link to official Photos: https://xburningmikex.flashframe.io/event/1503/all/all/0/#/20/
Live and replay tracking can be seen at: https://racemap.com/player/gran-fondo-asheville-2019_2019-06-26/
Series Championship and Ranking
In addition there is the Gran Fondo National Championship Series competition, which is comprised of a riders best three finishes across any of the series events.
With 3 events left in the series, all of the age categories have a tight race with no clear winner https://my.raceresult.com/118133/
Each Gran Fondo National Championship Series winner will receive a custom winner’s kit from DNA Cycling.
Click here for more information on the point’s calculation.
The series culminates at the Jensie Gran Fondo, September 28, 2019 in California.
