Gran Fondo Florida is happening on March 21st

Start your season with a warmer ride on quiet roads and rolling hills in central Florida with confidence with a complete COVID-19 Safety Plan in place by the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series

The 9^th edition of the very popular Gran Fondo Florida takes place on March 21, 2021 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 socially distanced and safe experience for all.

Fun and Challenging Courses

While Gran Fondo Florida is arguably the “easiest” event of the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series based on total elevation gain, the nonstop rolling hills makes it the hardest Gran Fondo in Florida.

Cyclists can choose from 3 distances: the 36-mile Piccolo Fondo (1,131 feet climbing, the 55-mile Medio Fondo (1,852 feet climbing) and the 96-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 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 three 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 - just over an hour west of 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.

COVID Safety Plan

With just about two months to go before the 2021 Gran Fondo Florida, we can say with confidence that the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series will host an event on March 21, 2021 in San Antonio, FL. Like you, we are excited to get back out there and participate in cycling events.

Local health policies can change quickly, meaning GFNS may be required to modify the event format at the last minute. However, our intention is to provide riders with advanced notice of the planned event format 30 days, 14 days, and 7 days prior to the scheduled event date. These notifications will be emailed to registered participants and clearly posted on the event web page.

Packet Pickup

Safety procedures will be in place for packet pickups, including social distancing, mask requirements, and enhanced cleaning procedures. In some instances, a Friday drive-thru packet pickup option will be available. Event-specific details will be provided to all participants prior to their event.

Start Formats

Traditional Gran Fondo: Mass Start
Socially Distanced Gran Fondo: Wave Start in groups of 25 riders. Riders can sign up for start times. Gran Route departs between 8-9am, Medio Route departs between 9-10am, Piccolo Route departs between 10-11am. Masks will be required.
2-Day Supported Gran Fondo: Start any time after 6am on Saturday or Sunday. Course open and chip timing active from 6am - 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Solo Fondo: Start marked course any time Saturday or Sunday. Record ride via Ride with GPS Experience.

Timing

Traditional, Socially Distanced, and 2-Day Supported event formats will feature chip timing for timed segment competitions. Solo Fondos will be timed via Ride with GPS file uploads.

Aid Stations

Traditional, Socially Distanced, and 2-Day Supported event formats will include aid stations with nutrition, hydration, mechanical support, and restrooms. Aid stations will include hand sanitizing stations, volunteers with masks and gloves and single-serve food and beverages. High-touch areas and surfaces will be cleaned frequently. There will be lines to receive food and water to ensure practice of physical distancing protocols. Recycling and trash bags will be tied and disposed of properly. Solo Fondos will not have staffed/stocked aid stations; suggested locations for DIY food/water stops will be provided.

Mechanical Support

On-course mechanical support will be available during Traditional, and Socially Distanced event formats. Limited mechanical support will be available during 2-Day Supported Gran Fondo. No on-course mechanical support will be provided during Solo Fondos. As always, although our support partners will do their best to assist as many riders as possible, all riders should be prepared to be self-sufficient.

Finish Area/Expo/Party

Traditional post-event features (finish area, meal, expo, podiums, raffle) will only be held when public health guidelines allow for unrestricted gatherings. For Socially Distanced Gran Fondo we will have alternative finish line procedures, meal/beverage coupons or pre-packaged options, no expo, socially distanced podiums, and we will announce raffle winners via email/social/website. For 2-Day Supported and Solo Fondo formats, there will be no finish area gatherings and both competition results and raffle winners will be announced/notified by email/social/website.

Awards and Podiums

Riders who finish in the TOP 3 in a competition category (overall by course, age groups by course and sex) in a Traditional, Socially Distanced, or Solo Fondo event will be notified by text/email/social/website and receive non-cash awards. Live awards ceremony will be held for Traditional and Socially Distanced events. Riders who choose not to attend will receive awards via mail.

Prize Raffles

Any rider who completes any 2021 GFNS event format on the scheduled weekend will be eligible for the raffle associated with that event. Live prize raffle will only be held during a Traditional Gran Fondo. For all other event formats (including Driveway Challenges), raffle winners will be selected using randomization software, winners will be announced via email/social/website, and prizes will be sent by mail.

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!)

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

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.