Asheville Bike Fest culminates with 100-mile Gran Fondo
The second annual Asheville Bike Fest attracted cyclists and cycling enthusiasts from all over the nation on July 14-16, with vendors and fun activities including an industry night, pop-up bike park, and full-scale expo. The weekend culminated on Sunday with the 10th Annual Gran Fondo Asheville p/b Applewood Manor, which took competitors through 30/60/100 mile routes on some of the most scenic landscapes in the US
The weekend event, which ran July 14-16, benefitted non-profit Asheville on Bikes, which advocates for better biking and walking infrastructure in Asheville and the surrounding Western North Carolina region.
Over 1,000 cyclists were in downtown Asheville for the full weekend enjoying activities like a pop-up bike park and newspaper delivery competitions during the annual Asheville Bike Fest. It was a celebration of in Asheville for the tenth annual Gran Fondo Asheville event.
The event venue Rabbit Rabbit hosted a film festival showcasing some of the best cycling-themed movies.
The event was a qualifier for the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship in Frederick Maryland on September 17th.
"We are in Western North Carolina, one of the most beautiful places on the planet. We have great roads to ride and beautiful scenery and wonderful hills to climb and descend," said Mike Sule, executive director of Asheville on Bikes. "So in terms of what cyclist are looking for, Asheville and Western North Carolina offers it all."
Participants gathered at Rabbit Rabbit downtown, where they set off on a bike ride through the mountains Sunday morning, July 16.
Reuben Kline, the director of Gran Fondo National Series, said the event is both competitive and recreational, using the Gran Fondo timed section format for those putting their skills to the test.
"Asheville is absolutely amazing. The roads around here, be it road, gravel, mountain, etc.," said Reuben Kline, founder and director of Gran Fondo National Series. "Asheville on Bikes, our beneficiary for this event, the advocacy for commuting, -- I mean the energy behind cycling in Asheville is sensational."
Photo: Reuben Kline, the director of Gran Fondo National Series second on the left, Mike Sule, executive director of Asheville on Bikes second from Right.
Top Ranked Results Included
In the 100 mile women’s category Jennifer Thornton-Brooks from Boone NC was fastest with a race time of 1h 19m 52s ahead of Amy Phillips in second (1h 23m 2s) and Ina Pfuhler Cinicinnati OH in third (1h 24m 35s).
In the 100 men’s category Ethan Burns from Asheville was fastest with a race time of 1h 10m 5s ahead of Andrew Knight from Marietta (1h 10m 9s) and Brendon Sullivan from Atlanta (1h 13m 12s).
In the 60 mile women’s category Regan Fink from Asheville was fastest with a race time of 1h 3m 15s ahead of Valentina Cummings from Asheville (1h 8m 8s) and Jessica Ingram from Asheville (1h 14m 10s).
In the 60 mile men’s category Seager Wilson from Roanoke VA was fastest with a race time of 59m 13s ahead of Daniel Hernandez from Asheville NC (1h 20s) in second and Youngblood Haske from Asheville NC (1h 22s) in third.
In the 30 mile women’s category Alexandra Diaz from Nashville TN was fastest with a race time of 12m 32s ahead of Lindsey Glover of Hendersonville NC (15m 59s) in second and Emily Ramsayer from Emily Ramsayer (17m 19s) in third.
In the 30 mile men’s category Kyle Youmans fastest from Jackson TN with a race time of 12m 17s ahead of Andrew Hill from Harrisburg NC (12m 22s) in second and Giovanni Sanchez from Ocoee FL (12m 25s) in third.
Ten teams took part in the team competition, with team Andrew Knight, Brendan Sullivan and David Anderson from team NGCA P/B TYLER PERRY STUDIOS winning in a combined time with bonuses of 3h 37m 20s ahead of team GRAVELO RACING & FRIENDS in second and TEMPO CYCLISME in third.
Link to 2023 Gran Fondo Asheville Results: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/asheville-2023-results
Reuben Kline, the director of Gran Fondo National Series continued, “What an incredible day at Gran Fondo Asheville! Over 600 riders took on the challenge of riding 100, 60, and 30 miles through the breath-taking mountains surrounding Asheville, North Carolina.”
“We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to our amazing partners who joined us in making this event a roaring success.”
“Your support and collaboration made this event truly unforgettable. Together, we celebrated the spirit of cycling, pushing our limits, and embracing the stunning beauty of Asheville’s landscapes.
“To all the riders who participated, congratulations on your incredible achievements! Your determination and perseverance were truly inspiring. “
Next up is the Boone Gran Fondo!
The Boone Gran Fondo p/b Capua law Firm on Sunday, August 6th is a great way to escape the summer heat, enjoy quiet mountain roads, and experience Boone's unique downtown environment
Boone is nestled in the Western Carolina Appalachian Mountains. The scenery is unparalleled with grand vistas stretching over 100 miles. The laid back atmosphere of this western North Carolina college town is contagious. One of the smaller fields for a Gran Fondo National Series event, the Boone Gran Fondo has a supportive, family feel with great local food.
There are distances of 24, 57, or 95 miles to suit all abilities of cyclists. The rural roller-coaster roads around Boone are a ton of fun, and quite challenging. The climbs aren’t very long, but that means there’s not a lot of time for recovery on the descents, either. This is a great course for all-around riders.
Register NOW and SAVE!
Registration is open, but with just over a month to go you'll need to hurry to secure a place on this epic challenge across the High Country of North Carolina!
Prices go up on July 28th, so register now and save!
For more information, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-boone, or click the button below to register now.
