Watts and Pfuhler fastest at Sold-Out Gran Fondo Maryland

Gran Fondo National Series celebrated 10 Years of Gran Fondo Racing in Frederick, Maryland on September 19, 2021

A sold-out peloton of riders enjoyed perfect late-summer weather in Frederick, Maryland for the 10^th Annual Gran Fondo Maryland. Riders completed their choice of three distances: the Gran route of 97 miles with 9,133 feet of climbing, the Medio route of 61 miles with 5718 feet of climbing, or the Piccolo route of 28 miles with 2,388 feet of climbing. All routes featured timed segment competitions, a hallmark of Colnago Gran Fondo National Series events, and there was fierce competition for the top spots. Jeffrey Watts and Ina Pfuhler rode away with the fastest combined times of all competitors, and all Age-Group Winners received custom winner’s cycling kits from DNA Cycling.

Whether racing others, challenging oneself, or sightseeing, the event had something for everyone. Routes took riders through several different state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park. Aid stations were stocked and staffed by members of the Lingonere Mountain Bike Team, one of the event’s local beneficiaries. And waiting for riders at the finish line were hot meals from Brewers Alley, beer from Monocacy Brewing Company, a “Recovery Zone” featuring Hyperice recovery devices, and hot showers in Baker Park.

Gran Fondo Maryland was a qualifying event for the 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo Series National Championship.

Results from the 2021 Gran Fondo Maryland also counted towards the best three finishes needed to compete in the season-long 2021 National Series Points Competition. Only one more partner points event (Virginia's Blue Ridge Gran Fondo) remains for riders to score 2021 Series points this season.

Gran Fondo National Series celebrated 10 Years of Gran Fondo Racing in Frederick, Maryland

100-mile Gran Fondo Winners

Custom “Race Winner” cycling kits by DNA cycling were awarded to all Gran Route age group category winners

Overall Men’s

1^st Jeffery Watts
2^nd Tyler Kirkwood
3^rd Ryan Collins

Overall Women’s

1^st Ina Pfuhler
2^nd Annie Yeager
3^rd Beth Leasure-Hudson

Men 23-

1^st Nathan Surowiec
2^nd Jacob Barrick
3^rd Pushkin Crocker

Men 23-34

1^st Jeffrey Watts
2^nd Tyler Kirkwood
3^rd Ryan Collins

Women 23-34

1^st Annie Yeager
2^nd Heather Hultzapple
3^rd Alice Bechtol

Men 35-44

1^st Lee Sobotkin
2^nd Lucas Mccollum
3^rd Clete Willems

Women 35-44

1^st Heather Shapiro
2^nd Rachel Liberatore
3rd Silvia de Rosa

Men 45-54

1^st Abe Ehlers
2^nd Frank Shewmaker
3^rd Fabricio Quinones

Women 45-54

1^st Ina Pfuhler
2^nd Elizabeth Ginexi
3^rd Lori Eig

Men 55-64

1^st Stephen Tauber
2^nd Michael Price
3^rd Marc Lefkowitz

Women 55-64

1^st Beth Leasure-Hudson
2^nd Patty Fulton
3^rd Suzanne Porter

Men 65+

1^st John Ourisman
2^nd Richard Mcintyre
3^rd John Tonetti

Women 65+

1^st Mia O’Connell

60-mile Medio Fondo Winners

Overall Men’s

1^st Daniel Pessing
2^nd Ryan Rudiger
3^rd Alexandr Andreev

Overall Women’s

1^st Angela Mccollum
2^nd Chris Kelley
3^rd Kat Brady

Men 23-

1^st John Schley Jr.
2^nd Malhar Mahajan
3^rd Aditya Kompella

Men 23-34

1^st Ryan Rudiger
2^nd Alexandr Andreev
3^rd Serkan Balkan

Women 23-34

1^st Alejandra Trippet

Men 35-44

1^st Daniel Pessing
2^nd Jason Giffi
3^rd Thomas Krispin

Women 35-44

1^st Angela Mccollum
2^nd Margit Jochmann
3rd Angela Gucwa

Men 45-54

1^st Yon Lambert
2^nd Christopher Garliss
3^rd Huan Le

Women 45-54

1^st Kat Brady
2^nd Chiharu Owen
3^rd Beth Skubis

Men 55-64

1^st Dennis Crockett
2^nd Steve Chatlin
3^rd Steve Braig

Women 55-64

1^st Chris Kelley
2^nd Marni Harker
3^rd Miriam Kranton

Men 65+

1^st David Rattigan
2^nd John Eidt
3^rd John Olinski

Women 65+

1^st Michelle Shinn

30 mile Piccolo Fondo Winners

Overall Men’s

1^st Will Moseley
2^nd Mike Mason
3^rd Oliver Quinn

Overall Women’s

1^st Darci Miller
2^nd Ashley Shapiro
3^rd Allison Wong

Men 23-

1^st Cleveland Wall

Men 23-34

1^st Luis Gomez
2^nd David Le

Women 23-34

Men 35-44

1^st Will Moseley
2^nd Mike Mason
3^rd Oliver Quinn

Women 35-44

1^st Ashley Shapiro
2^nd Allison Wong
3rd Molly Cobbs

Men 45-54

1^st Frank Boardwick
2^nd Richard Hartman
3^rd Joseph Hall

Women 45-54

1^st Darci Miller
2^nd Melissa Murray
3^rd Tracey Buckethal

Men 55-64

1^st Dennis Crockett
2^nd Scott Anthony
3^rd Antonio Ortiz

Women 55-64

1^st Lib Rood
2^nd Lois Arend

Men 65+

1^st Steven Gagliano

Team Winners

To win the Team Competition at Colnago Gran Fondo National Series, a team’s top three riders have their time’s combined, and then bonus seconds are deducted from each team’s time based on the total number of teammates who finished the event. The top 3 results from the Team Competition at the Maryland Gran Fondo were:

First place: Team Bike Doctor (4 members)
Second place: Blue Bell Wealth Management p/b Cannondale (4 members)
Third Place: Redshift Racing (6 members)

The full results for the 2021 Gran Fondo Maryland can be viewed here.

2021 National Series Points Standings

Results from the 2021 Gran Fondo Maryland also counted towards the best three finishes needed to compete in the season-long 2021 National Series Points Competition. The upcoming Virginia Blue Ridge Gran Fondo in Newcastle, Virginia on October 10 will be the final opportunity for riders to earn points in the 2021 series.

2021 Gran Fondo National Series Standings (as of Gran Fondo Maryland)

Women 23-

1^st Zoe Eckman

Men 23-34

1^st Christopher Pulomena
2^nd Kevin Valenski
3^rd Andres Sola

Women 23-34

1^st Heather Hultzapple
2^nd Madeline Hanley

Men 35-44

1^st Lee Sobotkin
2^nd Mark Detweiler
3^rd Nick Glavac

Women 35-44

1^st Debora Finger
2^nd Stephanie Smith

Men 45-54

1^st Michael King
2^nd William Strebel
3^rd Jon Livengood

Women 45-54

1^stAmy Phillips
2^nd Renee Eastman
3^rd Ina Pfuhler

Men 55-64

1^st Jay Trojan
2^nd Stefan Pfuhler
3^rd Jim Foster

Women 55-64

1^st Beth Leasure-Hudson

Men 65+

1^st Geoff Cooper
2^nd Ralph Schmook
3^rd Tom Gee

The full standings for the 2021 National Series Points Competition can be viewed here.

Prize Raffle

The popular Colnago Gran Fondo National Series Raffle was held after the podium awards. Prizes from Series sponsors included: Sourwood Inn, Hyperice Hypervolt, Industry Nine hubset, components from Cane Creek, Swiftwick socks, Shimano products, a Lazer helmet, Shimano components, Wahoo smart trainer, a holiday at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy, as well as other prizes.

Raffle Prizes:

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

The popular Colnago Gran Fondo National Series Raffle was held after the podium awards

The 2022 Gran Fondo National Series Calendar will be released in October, and registration for 2022 events will be open in October. For more information on the 2021 Colnago Gran Fondo National Series, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com

Register Now for Virginia's Blue Ridge Gran Fondo

The Virginia's Blue Ridge Gran Fondo, taking place on October 10th in Fincastle, Virginia, will feature three different routes - 33, 45, and 75 miles.

Each route has been carefully created to showcase Botetourt's County's rich scenic beauty and it's warm & welcoming communities.

Riders will enjoy the area's natural beauty including the rolling terrain, open farmland, forested mountains, and the James River. Each route will also feature memorable aid stations and charming small towns.

Only Virginia's Blue Ridge Gran Fondo remains for riders to score 2021 Series points this season, that count towards the season-long 2021 National Series Points Competition.

For more information, please visit: http://www.muddysquirrel.com/gran-fondo.html or click the button below to register now: