Have Some Fun in the Sun at the Gran Fondo Florida

Escape the cold and start your season with a warm ride on quiet roads and rolling hills in central Florida

The 8th edition of the very popular Gran Fondo Florida takes place on March 22, 2020 in sunny San Antonio, FL, where average temperatures are a sublime 70F!

The Gran Fondo Florida is a fun and challenging event for cyclists all of abilities. Whether you’re a novice or very experienced road rider, there’s a distance and format for you to enjoy. The unique timed section format provides both a competitive and all-inclusive social experience for all.

Fun and Challenging Routes

While Gran Fondo Florida is arguably the “easiest” event of the Gran Fondo National Series based on total elevation gain, the nonstop rolling hills makes it the hardest gran fondo in Florida and rewards riders who can work well in groups. 

Cyclists can choose from 3 distances: the 36-mile Piccolo Fondo (1,131 feet climbing, the 54-mile Medio Fondo (1,852 feet climbing) and the 95-mile Gran Fondo (2,706 feet climbing). There’s a distance to suit any ability level and early season form - or lack of it!

Solo, Team and Age Group Prizes

Professional chip timing keeps track of every rider on course and allows riders to compete for the best combined time through up to 4 timed sections on route. Riders can compete solo or as a team, while also regrouping and riding at a more relaxed pace with others between timed sections to and enjoy the super scenic views! 

More competitive riders can compete for overall victory and age group podiums for men and women. There is also a team competition, won by the combined time of a team’s fastest four riders. Bonus seconds are awarded for additional team members who finish, meaning there’s a benefit to bringing a larger team. 

Visit San Antonio, Florida, and Ride in Pasco County

San Antonio is small town in central Florida, surrounded by picturesque horse farms and orange groves. The quiet roads of Pasco & Hernando County are great for cycling and the event is conveniently located one hour north of Tampa and 90 minutes west of Orlando. Come in early or extend your stay to visit the beaches in Tampa and St Petersburg, or the Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando.

The gran fondo follows, in part, the proposed Olympic road racecourse that was part of Tampa’s bid to host the Summer Olympic Games. It travels along rural rolling hills, past horse farms and crystal clear springs, and briefly through Withlacoochee State Forest and the hills surrounding Brooksville, Florida. At the 89 mile mark you will enter a piece of US cycling history along Darby road, once home to the famous Darby Road Race ridden by likes of Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon. This area is and has been the winter training site of some of the top cyclists and triathletes in the world.

As with all GFNS events, riders benefit from fully stocked aid stations and SAG support to keep them going and a Post-Race Food & Beverage Festival for a fun recovery. Ride with confidence on the marked and marshalled course, supported by law enforcement, safety moto’s, mechanic and sag vehicles, as well as feed stations staffed through local youth police program.

“Whether you’re a novice or an elite road rider, there’s a distance, format and lots of FUN for you!”

Reuben Kline series director commented, “Any cyclist of any ability can rock up to one of our events, enjoy a safe and exciting bike ride, make new friends, grab some great swag, enjoy being looked after, maybe win a prize or two - either through raffle prizes or on our podium! Come and give it a try and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Stay fit and have fun! Miles mean Smiles!”

 “There will be great food and cold beers waiting for you at the finish line party!”

The Prizes

All 4 segments count for Gran route. Sections 1, 3 & 4 count for Medio route, and only section 3 counts for Piccolo riders.

- Awards presented three deep for each age group category for fastest section times

- Time Section Primes – The fastest female in section 1 and in section 3, and the fastest male in section 2 and in section 4

- Custom “Race Winner” jerseys for all Gran Route age group category winners

- Awards and Prizes for Gran Route winners

- Awards and Prizes for Medio and Piccolo winners

- For the Gran Fondo Route there is the team prize. Teams must have four or more riders to qualify. Team riders are still eligible for individual awards.

The raffle is held after the awards, amazing stuff from  series sponsors including prizes such as: Wahoo KICK Snap, Industry Nine hubset, components from Cane Creek, Swiftwick socks, Shimano S-Phyre, Jittery Joe’s Coffee, a holiday at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy,  as well as other prizes). Yes, it’s worth sticking around for! (prizes subject to change, but they’ll still be great!)

“Don’t miss the raffle, amazing prizes on offer from the series sponsors. It worth sticking around for!”

Beneficiary

This event raises funds for Pasco County SRO Explorer Program. The School Resource Officer (SRO) Unit is composed of two squads that provide law enforcement services to schools countywide. The SRO Explorer Program provides services for those aged 14-21.

Register NOW and SAVE!

Register now and save, prices go up on February 21st 2020.

It costs just $120 for the Gran, $100 for the Medio and $65 for the Piccolo.

For more information of the Gran Fondo Florida, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-florida/

To register now, please visit: https://www.bikereg.com/florida-gfns

For more information on the 2020 Gran Fondo National Series, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com

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 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 2020 GFNS event of your choice to prepare for the Haute Route.

Learn more about all Haute Route events at http://www.hauteroute.org