Over 1,500 cyclists qualify for 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships
The 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships is scheduled for September 15, 2024 in Frederick, Maryland
The 2024 US Gran Fondo National Championships is one of 18 USA Cycling Championships that will be held in the 2024 season. Organized by Gran Fondo National Series for the fourth year, the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships is scheduled for September 15, 2024 and will be held in conjunction with Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick, Maryland. The event is presented by Ourisman Automotive Group and funded in part by a grant from the Michael Erin Busch Sports Fund through Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program.
Age group competitors must qualify to enter the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships through performance and participation in cycling events throughout the United States. Qualification events include SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series owned events, partner-events, an e-Fondo Series as well as other USA Cycling National Championships events.
Gran Fondo Maryland does not require qualifications and offers 30, 60, & 100 mile route options for cyclists of varying abilities. This event was the founding event of the Gran Fondo National Series, established in 2012. Participation in the September event has been consistently strong over the past several years; approximately 1,000 racers, beginner to elite, are expected for 2024. Organizers anticipate the National Championship to draw over 1,500 cyclists from across the nation in 2024, along with many family members to ride and spectate.
About #GFNats
A USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship title, complete with a national championship jersey and medal, will be awarded to the winner in each age-group category. Riders in the National Championships category will start in their own wave, departing 30 minutes prior to all Gran Fondo Maryland riders. Gran Fondo National Championships features a timed segment competition format, which largely eliminates the need for road closures and allows cyclists of varying abilities to regroup, ride together, and stop to take in the scenery.
Athletes would have qualified to compete at #GFNats through performance and/or participation in select qualifying events. Cyclists who have already qualified to enter the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships event are listed here. Qualification is based on results and participation at Gran Fondo National Series owned events and select partner-events over a rolling 18-month window. Complete qualification criteria can be found here.
The age groups for the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships event will match the USA Cycling age groups used for other National Championship events, offering more opportunities to compete with those closer in age.
Cyclists who have qualified to compete at the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships will compete in the following age groups on September 15, 2025:
- 14-16, 17-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 and over
Gran Fondo Maryland, presented by Ourisman Automotive Group
Riders do not need to qualify to participate in Gran Fondo Maryland. All normal Gran Fondo Maryland routes (Gran, Medio, Piccolo) are open to all riders to register and do not require qualification. There is a separate start time for USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships participants; they will start 30 minutes prior to the Gran Fondo Maryland riders.
As the presenting sponsor for Gran Fondo Maryland, Ourisman Automotive Group will host two packet pickups at Ourisman dealerships during the event weekend. Support from Ourisman Automotive Group and a grant from the Michael Erin Busch Sports Fund through Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program though Maryland Sports Commission were instrumental in bringing the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships back to Frederick, Maryland for 2024.
Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick on September 15th 2024 is the perfect way to cap off your summer cycling season. The event has something for everyone, taking riders through several different state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park. Frederick, Maryland is within an hour of Washington DC and Baltimore, and within 4 hours driving distance from many of the biggest cities on the East Coast, including Philadelphia, New York City, Pittsburgh, Roanoke, Richmond, and Norfolk.
Gran Fondo Maryland has something for everyone with three routes to suit all abilities, and you can win some fantastic prizes too!
*Register before August 20th to receive a FREE SUAREZ event Jersey!
New for 2024, the SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series including an event-specific custom jersey from SUAREZ Cycling Apparel when you register at least 26 days before a Gran Fondo National Series owned event, for Gran Fondo Maryland the deadline is August 20th 2024.
3 Routes for all Abilities
There are three distances to suit all abilities of riders. The Gran Fondo is 96.8 miles with 9,080 feet of climbing, the Medio 61.4 miles with 5,698 feet of climbing and the Piccolo 27.8 miles with 2,388 feet of climbing.
Timed Sections
The timed segment format allows riders to be social and competitive within the same event. During the timed segments, cyclists who choose to compete can "show their strength" and record fast times. When you’re outside those timed sections, everyone has the opportunity to regroup, ride together, enjoy the beautiful scenery, relax, and stop at aid stations.
No racing license is required for participation in Gran Fond Maryland, and support includes fully stocked aid stations and SAG support to keep you going. Enjoy a great meal and beer at the finish line, plus chances to win valuable prizes!
Even though the course will be well marked, you can load the route to your smart phone or GPS device.
Use this RSVP Code to access premium RideWithGPS features and get turn by turn navigation for free: https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Event/22956/CG1nIlifBZh1N5xC
Time Section Maps
Time Section #1 (all riders)
Time Section #2 (GFNats & Gran only)
Time Section #3 (GFNats & Gran only)
Time Section #4 (GFNats & Gran & Medio only)
Results, Awards, and Prizes
All 4 segments count for Gran route. Sections 1, 2, & 3 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
- Custom SUAREZ winners kits for all Gran Route age group category winners
- Awards and for top 3 riders in each age category for Gran, Medio and Piccolo winners
- Finisher Medals for Gran, Medio and Piccolo finishers
- For the Gran Fondo Route there is the team prize. Teams must have three or more riders to qualify. Team riders are still eligible for individual awards.
Prize Raffle
All Gran Fondo National Series events have more than $5,000 of prizes to give out from Series sponsors, and ALL riders are eligible to win. Not everyone can be fast, while we give great prizes to the winners, we also have great prizes in our raffle. The only rule: you MUST be present to win!
Stay at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy
Monari Federzoni The Passion of Family, a high density premium balsamic vinegar
Wahoo KICKR smart trainer
Lazer helmets
Industry Nine wheelset
Cane Creek eeBarKeep & computer mount
inGamba promotional items
Swiftwick socks
Bike Flights travel voucher
Shimano road components
CTS Trainright Membership
Jittery Joe’s Coffee
UNDRBUDR anti-chafe cream
Ride with GPS Premium Memberships
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 Catoctin Mountain National Park.
Prices go up on Monday September 2nd, so register now and save!
For more information, please visit https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-maryland, or click the button below to register now.
Benefiting Linganore Mountain Bike Team
The Linganore Mountain Bike Team is for student athletes in grades 6-12 and sanctioned by the Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League (MICL) and National Interscholastic Cycling Assoc. (NICA).