Highlands the next round of the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series

A beautiful opportunity to escape New York City and ride through High Point State Park in New Jersey

The Colnago Gran Fondo National Championship Series® event in the Highlands region on Sunday, June 6th is just over 30 minutes’ drive from New York City, the state parks around Butler, NJ offer a hilly and beautiful opportunity to escape the city and ride in the countryside!

With courses covering 35, 60 and 100 mile journeys through rolling farmland, hilly ridgelines, and winding roads that weave up and down the lush green mountains. The Highlands is a 1,300 square mile region of Northern New Jersey which is noted for its scenic landscape and environmental importance.

Start and finish venue at High Point Brewing Company in Butler, NJ. Route goes over "High Point" the highest point in New Jersey, through High Point State Park were you'll enjoy the closed park road for a time segment.

You will be pleasantly surprised to find riding this good is located so close to the busy New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

A great event for all-around cyclists who can power up short climbs and still have the energy to push the pace in a group.

The Routes

The event has courses to suit all abilities of cyclists; the Gran Route (100 miles, 4 timed sections), the Medio Route (60 miles), 3 timed sections and the Piccolo Route (35 miles 2 timed section).

The Gran Route crosses the Appalachian Trail eight time and showcases some of the best riding around. It’s hard to believe riding this good is located in such close proximity to the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

Ride with your friends, Race with your friends

Riders have the opportunity to pace themselves and enjoy the view, professional or competitive cyclists can "show their strength" at every section. When you’re outside those timed sections, you have an opportunity to look around and enjoy the beautiful scenery, relax, stop at aid stations and regroup with friends.

No racing license required and support includes fully stocked aid stations and SAG support to keep you going. Enjoy fresh healthy food from Boca Bowl and Ramstein Beer at the finish line, plus chances to win valuable prizes!

Awards and Prizes

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.

Awards and Prizes

Custom “Winner Kits” from DNA Cycling, incliding jersey and bib shorts are awarded to all Gran Route age group winner.

The series believed riders on podiums shouldn't be the only people to get cool stuff too! At every Gran Fondo National Series event, any rider could win one of the following, plus additional prizes from our incredible sponsors:

- Hyperice Hypervolt
- 4-night Stay for 2 at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy
- Wahoo KICKR Core
- Industry Nine hubset
- Lazer Sphere MIPS helmet
- Cane Creek components
- Bike Flights travel voucher
- Shimano products
- Shott Performance coaching package
- DNA Cycling Mid Pack Attack (awarded to rider in the exact middle of the overall results)

Timed Sections

Riders will gain up to 7,400 feet in vertical elevation as they ride through three counties within New Jersey and New York regions in close proximity to the metropolitan area but cleverly using many back roads you never thought could be tucked away - to minimize exposure to traffic.

The 100 mile Gran Route has 4 timed sections and 7,400 feet of climbing, the 60 mile Medio route has 3 timed sections and 4,300 feet of climbing and the 35 mile Piccolo Route has 2 timed sections and 2,450 feet of climbing.

This is not a start-to-finish race. Your overall time from start to finish does not matter for this competition. Only the timed segments count. Your overall, age group, and gender rankings are determined by your combined time for all timed segments on the route you choose.

T-1 Macopin

After leaving Butler, riders will have just 1.3 miles to warm up before the first timed section of Macopin. 4.6 miles, riders will climb over 683 feet, average 2% grade.

Riders have just 5 miles until the second timed section.

T-2 Clinton Road aka “Clinton Reservoir”

Clinton Reservoir comes into view and hails the start of the second timed section. Its 5.8 miles and will suit riders who like a constantly shifting gradient either up or down. In only goes up 295 feet but hides away a bigger amount climbing due the undulating terrain. Relax it’s only 8 miles to the first feed station.

Riders will have 25 miles of beautiful winding roads to enjoy before reaching the second feed station. This is just before the 3rd timed section on Ridge Road, on their way to High Point.

T-3 Ride Road aka “the Highpoint”

Its 4.8 miles long and climbs 3 pitches with nothing more steep than 8% until the end where it rears up to 11%. It’s got 423 feet of climbing.

Enjoy the 6 mile descent down to the 3^rd feed station.

Riders will then cross into New York for 20 miles of quiet back roads.

T-4 Longhouse aka “the State Line”

2.1 miles long the climb ascends 316 feet over the New York to New Jersey state line. The last feed station is well placed just 2 miles after the last timed section.

As for recommendations for race day, Reuben Kline, race director says “riders should conserve their energy throughout the race in order to tap into their reserves in the timed sections”.

Downloadable Maps

The routes will be very well marked, but we encourage you to get the RideWithGPS App and load the route to your smart phone or GPS. You can access premium features and get turn by turn navigation for free.

- Gran loop, 100 miles
- Medio loop 60 miles
- Piccolo loop, 35 miles

In-Person events are back!

Currently the Highlands Gran Fondo will be held using the series’ Socially Distanced Event Format, which features, wave-start format breaking riders into groups, distanced packet pickup, mask requirements for start/finish and aid stations, one-way aid stations with pre-packaged food and drinks, and a new finisher chute. Depending on regulations the format could change, on May 10^th the state of New Jersey is expected to increase outdoor gathering regulations to 500, which could allow for a mass-start event.

The timed-segment Gran Fondo format pioneered in the United States by Gran Fondo National Series is perfectly suited for times like these, see you out on the course!

In-Person events are back!