Inaugural Colnago Gran Fondo National E-Fondo Series Champions Announced
Time-segment competitions proved to be a bit hit in the new E-Fondo Series by the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series, with hundreds of cyclists from around the world riding on the RGT platform!
The Colnago Gran Fondo National Series new 9-event E-Fondo Series was the first e-sports cycling competition to feature timed segments, leveraging RGT Cycling’s innovative “Magic Roads” to recreate the Series’ real-world courses in a virtual environment.
The 9 event E-Fondo Series ran from February 7 through March 7, 2021 and allowed participants multiple opportunities to compete on each course, along with the opportunity to qualify for the E-Fondo Series Championship and the 2021 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship event to be held in Asheville, North Carolina on July 18, 2021.
Four start times per event allowed riders globally to participate on RGT's FREE cycling app. The multiple start times proved particularly useful when we tried to join an event and were informed it had already reached RGT’s 200-rider limit for events!
The events weren’t easy either. We took part in the 60-kilometer opening E-Fondo Florida and struggled to make it to the finish. The RGT platform is very realistic and is a totally immersive experience; race tactics including drafting and group riding are addictive!
So was the racing! Riders had to pace themselves in order to set the best time in the timed sections. We realized that you were better off working in a group and sharing the workload while RGT’s realistic aerodynamic drag kept you pedalling hard on the front of a group!
Like any race, natural selection took place. Because of the format, it was about riding your best over the timed sections rather than the whole race, and working within a group that matched your ability.
With multiple starts for each event, you never knew how well you did until the full results were posted the following day. In an instant-gratification world, having to wait actually heightened the anticipation of learning how you did!
Riders had two ways to qualify for the Championship event: finish top 25% in their age category in any one E-Fondo event, or complete two E-Fondo events. More than 400 athletes qualified for the Championship event!
VIDEO: E-Fondo Series Championship Event
Watch one of the heats of the e-Series Championship, including an interview with race director Rueben Kline, who chose to create the first E-Fondo Series with RGT because of the cycling simulator’s focus on realistic rider dynamics. He said, “We wanted the indoor and outdoor experiences on our courses to be as similar as possible, and realistic in-game physics is what RGT does best. RGT were also excited to integrate our timed-section competition format, complete with on-screen graphics and tracking rider results over multiple events.”
E-Fondo Series Event Results
Overall and Age Group results from individual events are listed below, including the championship event.
Overall winners for each event were:
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E-Fondo Florida |
Male: Joeri Dlnr |
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Female: Caroline Reuter |
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E-Fondo Georgia |
Male: Daniel Jamrozik |
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Female: Amy Phillips |
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E-Fondo Highlands |
Male: Michael Apers (BEL) |
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Female: Amy Phillips |
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E-Fondo Asheville |
Male: Daniel Cadiz |
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Female: Jasmijn Muller |
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E-Fondo Boone |
Female: Amy Phillips |
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Male: Daniel Cadiz |
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E-Fondo Golden |
Female: Amy Phillips |
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Male: Jan Maminák (Czechia) |
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E-Fondo Maryland |
Female: Amy Phillips |
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Male: Daniel Cadiz |
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Jensie E-Fondo |
Female: Tara Whitten (CAN) |
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Male: Tom Hughes (GBR) |
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Championship Event |
Male: Tom Hughes (GBR) |
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Female: Stefanie Sydlik (USA) |
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Florida |
Georgia |
Highlands |
Asheville |
Boone |
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MEN 23- 1.Louis Parmentelat 2.Francisco Zapata 3.Jan Maminák
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MEN 23- 1.Jan Maminák 2.Maxim Van_goolen 3.George Clark
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MEN 23- 1.Jan Maminák 2.Maxim Van_goolen 3.George Clark
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MEN 23- 1.Jan Maminák 2.Sam Koffler
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MEN 23- 1.Jan Maminák 2.George Clark
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MEN 23-34 1.Joeri Dlnr 2.Mads Schnoor 3.Heiko Homrighausen
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MEN 23-34 1.Daniel Jamrozik 2.Jonathan Crain 3.Jerome Berube
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MEN 23-34 1.Michael Apers 2.Simon Wu 3.Mads Schnoor
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MEN 23-34 1.Jesper Verhoeven 2.Sean Craig 3.Simon Wu
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MEN 23-34 1.Andre Luis_reis_machado 2.Jerome Berube 3.Simon Wu
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MEN 35-44 1.Mathieu Drujon 2.Eduardo Juez 3.James Vickers
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MEN 35-44 1.Shawn Litster 2.David Anderson 3.Chris Navin
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MEN 35-44 1.John Sammut 2.Shawn Litster 3.Matthew Busche
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MEN 35-44 1.Daniel Bourke 2.John Sammut 3.Chris Navin
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MEN 35-44 1.John Sammut 2.David Anderson 3.Andrzej Krajewski
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MEN 45-54 1.Peter Austin 2.Daniel Magalhaes 3.Henrik Mård
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MEN 45-54 1.Daniel Cadiz 2.Uros Vercic 3.Marc Lebrun
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MEN 45-54 1.Gonzague Petit 2.John Polak 3.Andreas Runggatscher
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MEN 45-54 1.Daniel Cadiz 2.James Melville 3.Uros Vercic
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MEN 45-54 1.Daniel Cadiz 2.Uros Vercic 3.Mitch Ide
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MEN 55-64 1.Nick Giles 2.Jojo Rusinek 3.Rob Miller
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Nick Giles 3.Jimi Gibson
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Nick Giles 3.Jimi Gibson
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Jimi Gibson 3.Frankie Andreu
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Gary Hobbs 3.Scott Frey
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MEN 65+ 1.Michael Mauel 2.Butch Wabby 3.Bob Gorman
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MEN 65+ 1.Bob Gorman 2.Fernando Moura 3.Jordan Jacobsen
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MEN 65+ 1.Jordan Jacobsen 2.Michael Mauel 3.Carlton Lee
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MEN 65+ 1.Olav Stana 2.Robert Lewis 3.Jordan Jacobsen
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MEN 65+ 1.Bob Gorman 2.Fernando Moura 3.Jordan Jacobsen
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Urška Korent 2.Johanna Klar
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Johanna Klar
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Johanna Klar 2.Alexandra Benda
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Verena Kott
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Jasmijn Muller 2.Britt Mason 3.Gina Bae
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Stacie Buck 2.Amy White 3.Kara Bonneau
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Jasmijn Muller 2.Tara Whitten 3.Kara Bonneau
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Jasmijn Muller 2.Stacie Buck 3.Gina Bae
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Britt Mason 2.Amy White 3.Kara Bonneau
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Caroline Reuter 2.Amy Phillips 3.Megumi Jones
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Amy Phillips 2.Holly Larsen 3.Mindy Simmons
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Amy Phillips 2.Mindy Simmons 3.Renee Eastman
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Holly Larsen 2.Renee Eastman 3.Amy Phillips
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Amy Phillips 2.Renee Eastman 3.Mindy Simmons
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Rosy Jacobsen 3.Marni Harker
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Kate Williams 3.Anne Wye
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Maria Keller 2.Denise Higgison 3.Anne Wye
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Wanda Mauricio 2.Marni Harker 3.Anne Wye
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Kate Williams 2.Wanda Mauricio 3.Anne Wye
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Ann Barnes 2.Mary Campbell
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks 2.Ann Barnes
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks 2.Ann Barnes
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Golden |
Maryland |
Jensie |
Championship |
Series |
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MEN 23- 1.Jan Maminák 2.Keven Zhao
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MEN 23- 1.Sam Koffler 2.Royce Tran 3.Keven Zhao
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MEN 23- 1.George Clark 2.Sam Koffler 3.Francisco Zapata
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MEN 23- 1.Jan Maminák 2.Sam Koffler 3.George Clark
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MEN 23-34 1.Simon Wu 2.Andre Luis_reis_machado 3.Alexander Baker
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MEN 23-34 1.Jerome Berube 2.Sean Craig 3.Simon Wu
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MEN 23-34 1.Jerome Berube 2.Jonathan Crain 3.Garda Bikehotel
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MEN 23-34 1.Sean Craig 2.Jerome Berube 3.Edgaras Spiridonov
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MEN 23-34 1.Jerome Berube 2.Sean Craig 3.Simon Wu
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MEN 35-44 1.Daniel Bourke 2.Shawn Litster 3.Andrzej Krajewski
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MEN 35-44 1.Nick Glavac 2.Daniel Bourke 3.John Sammut
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MEN 35-44 1.Tom Hughes 2.Daniel Bourke 3.Andrzej Krajewski
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MEN 35-44 1.Tom Hughes 2.Nick Glavac 3.Daniel Bourke
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MEN 35-44 1.Daniel Bourke 2.John Sammut 3.Shawn Litster
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MEN 45-54 1.Richie Appleton 2.Phil Bottigliero 3.Robert Lyons
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MEN 45-54 1.Daniel Cadiz 2.Marc Lebrun 3.Phil Bottigliero
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MEN 45-54 1.Phil Bottigliero 2.Robert Lyons 3.Henrik Mård
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MEN 45-54 1.Robert Lyons 2.Daniel Cadiz 3.Andreas Runggatscher
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MEN 45-54 1.Daniel Cadiz 2.Robert Lyons 3.Phil Bottigliero
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Scott Frey 3.Keith Aitchison
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Keith Aitchison 3.Douglas Forer
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Keith Aitchison 3.Gerald Thiemt
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MEN 55-64 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Frankie Andreu 3.Keith Aitchison
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MEN 55-64 1.Eric" Veit 1.Jojo Rusinek 2.Nick Giles 3.Keith Aitchison
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MEN 65+ 1.Olav Stana 2.Jordan Jacobsen 3.Denis Finnin
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MEN 65+ 1.Jordan Jacobsen 2.Fernando Moura 3.Lucien Mertens
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MEN 65+ 1.Olav Stana 2.Bob Gorman 3.Jordan Jacobsen
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MEN 65+ 1.Olav Stana 2.Bob Gorman 3.Jordan Jacobsen
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MEN 65+ 1.OLAV STANA 2.Bob Gorman 3.Jordan Jacobsen
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WOMEN 23- 1.Callah Robinson
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Emily Smith 2.Noelia Bacigalupe
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Madeline Hanley 2.Marli Dunietz
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Emily Smith 2.Madeline Hanley 3.Marli Dunietz
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WOMEN 23-34 1.Johanna Klar
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Jasmijn Muller 2.Gina Bae
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Jasmijn Muller 2.Kara Bonneau
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Tara Whitten 2.Jasmijn Muller 3.Amy White
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Stefanie Sydlik 2.Tara Whitten 3.Kara Bonneau
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WOMEN 35-44 1.Jasmijn Muller 2.Tara Whitten 3.Amy White
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Amy Phillips 2.Renee Eastman 3.Heather Haviland WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Kate Williams 3.Mike Landmann
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Amy Phillips
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Renee Eastman 2.Holly Larsen 3.Amy Phillips
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WOMEN 45-54 1.Amy Phillips 2.Renee Eastman 3.Holly Larsen
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WOMEN 45-54 1.amy phillips 2.Renee Eastman 3.Holly Larsen
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Anne Wye 3.Maria Keller |
WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Wanda Mauricio 3.Natalie Barron
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Kate Williams 3.Wanda Mauricio
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WOMEN 55-64 1.Denise Higgison 2.Kate Williams 3.Wanda Mauricio
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks 2.Ann Barnes
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WOMEN 65+ 1.Martha Parks 2.Ann Barnes
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E-Fondo Series Points Competition
In the series-long points competition, riders earned points equal to their placing in individual events. First place earned one point, 2nd place earned 2 points, 37th place earned 37 points, and so on. The points competition standings are determined by adding the three lowest scores together. So, if a rider finished 3rd at one event, 8th at another event, and 1st in their last event; the rider’s series score would be 12 (3+8+1=12).
The final standings for the 2021 E-Fondo Series Points Competition are below. Congratulations to all our winners!
Women 23-34: Johanna Klar
Women 35-44: Jasmijn Muller
Women 45-54: Amy Phillip
Women 55-64: Denise Higgison
Women 65+: Martha Parks
Men U23: Jan Maminák
Men 23-34: Jerome Berube
Men 35-44: Daniel Bourke
Men 45-54: Daniel Cadiz
Men 55-64: Jojo Rusinek
Men 65+: Olav Stana
You can find the full results at https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/2021-efondo-results
E-Fondo Series Awards, Prizes and Raffle Winners
Riders who competed in the E-Fondo Series were eligible to earn age group and overall podium awards for individual events as well as the cumulative series. Riders were also automatically entered in Series Prize Raffles for chances to win products from series sponsors. There were separate prize raffles for each event, so the more events riders that entered, and the more chances they had to win!
Congratulations to the following riders who won raffle prizes:
David Magon – Hyperice Normatec 2.0 compression boots - $1000 value
Amy Phillips – Hyperice Normatec 2.0 compression boots - $1000 value
Kate Williams – Hyperice Hypervolt percussion massage device - $349 value
Jonathan Crain – Hyperice Hypervolt percussion massage device - $349 value
Martha Parks – Hyperice Hypervolt percussion massage device - $349 value
Daniel Bourke – Hyperice Hypervolt percussion massage device - $349 value
Holly Larson – Hyperice Hypervolt percussion massage device - $349 value
Christopher Piacesi – Hyperice Hypersphere vibrating fitness ball - $149 value
Brian Ledford – Hyperice Hypersphere vibrating fitness ball - $149 value
2021 Colnago Gran Fondo National Series Calendar
Starting with Gran Fondo Florida in San Antonio, FL on March 21 and finishing the season in California with The Jensie Gran Fondo in the fall, the 2021 Colnago Gran Fondo National Series includes eight events:
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March 21, 2021 |
San Antonio, FL |
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April 18, 2021 |
Helen, GA |
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June 6, 2021 |
Butler, NJ |
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July 18, 2021 |
Asheville, NC |
** USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship |
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August 1, 2021 |
Boone, NC |
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August 29, 2021 |
Golden, CO |
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September 19, 2021 |
Frederick, MD |
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September 26, 2021 |
San Francisco, CA |
Key features of the Gran Fondo National Series include:
COVID-safe packet pickup and small group starts: Working in conjunction with local health departments and adhering to CDC Guidelines and USA Cycling Best Practices, Gran Fondo National Series health procedures maximize rider safety.
COVID-safe Aid Stations: New procedures, like individually packaged food, more space between volunteers and riders, and directed entry and exit lanes ensure we can offer riders great service while focusing on the safety of riders and volunteers.
Unsurpassed Professional Support: The Series 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, Series events finish line parties showcase regional products. Of course, the dynamics the post ride celebration are subject to impacts from COVID-19 restrictions and concerns; that said, the Series loves to throw a party.
Timed Segments: Perfect for COVID-era events by eliminating the need for pack competitions, timed segments allow riders to ride hard, refuel and hydrate, socialize, and ride safely to the next timed segment.
Gran Fondo National Championship: To qualify for the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship event, to be contested on the Gran Route at Gran Fondo Asheville on July 18, 2021, riders must finish in the top 25% of their age group at a 2021 Series event or partner event, or complete the gran route in more than one 2021 Series event or partner event prior to July 18, 2021. All riders who qualified for participation in 2020 are automatically qualified for 2021. To see more on Qualification Requirements, click here. Medio and Piccolo routes at Gran Fondo Asheville are open to all riders to enter, are not championship events, and do not require qualification for riders to participate.
Series Championship: Cyclists are ranked nationally in this season-long competition based on their best three finishes in any 2021 Series events and partner events. Click here to see more on how series points are counted.
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 Series event partners with a local nonprofit, to raise funds, and increase awareness of cycling in the communities.
The Colnago Gran Fondo National Series has successfully coordinated more than 50 gran fondos across the nation and have had nearly 17,000 participants. In 2017, the Series merged with the international Haute Route brand of multi-day cycling events. Together, Haute Route and Gran Fondo National Series have established a worldwide catalogue of single- and multi-day cycling events in the United States, Europe, Mexico, Oman, and Brazil.
For more information, please visit: granfondonationalseries.com