GF
National Championships

Asheville, North Carolina Announced as Host City of 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, Presented by Applewood Manor

(Gettysburg, PA – December 14, 2021) – Gran Fondo National Series is proud to announce that the 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships event will be held in conjunction with Gran Fondo Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina on July 17, 2022. Applewood Manor Bed & Breakfast has signed on as Presenting Sponsor for the events.

Cyclists must qualify to compete in the Gran Fondo National Championships event through participation and/or results at Gran Fondo National Series events and or specified partner events. Gran Fondo National Champions will be determined through timed-segment competitions for age-group male and female cyclists who complete the 96-mile Gran Route of Gran Fondo Asheville. Complete details on qualification criteria are available on granfondonationalseries.com.

Technology entrepreneur and long-time cyclist Stephen Collins acquired The Applewood Manor in 2020 with a vision to create a premier destination for cyclists visiting Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to six luxury suites for guests and a world-class kitchen, the Manor caters to cyclists with services that include ride planning, on-ride guides, follow vehicles, coaching, mechanic services and bike assembly/break-down, logo cycling clothing, sports nutrition, and world-class rental bikes provided by partner 3T. Applewood also offers world-class culinary experiences, business leadership programs and event hosting such as weddings, family reunions and corporate meetings.

As the presenting sponsor for Gran Fondo Asheville and the Gran Fondo National Championship, Applewood Manor will host course reconnaissance rides leading up to the events, as well as a VIP reception during the event weekend.

“Reuben Kline and I share a passion for bringing cyclists together for world-class experiences in great cycling destinations,” said Collins. “So, I am excited to support Gran Fondo Asheville and have the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships here in Asheville, North Carolina.”

Gran Fondo National Series Director, Reuben Kline, added, “With the success of the Gran Fondo National Championships event in 2021, several communities submitted competitive bids for hosting the event in 2022. With support from the City of Asheville and The Applewood Manor, we look forward to delivering a great event for cyclists in Asheville, North Carolina on July 17, 2022.”

About Gran Fondo National Series (granfondonationalseries.com)

Founded in 2012 by event director Reuben Kline, the Gran Fondo National Series is the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States. Gran Fondo National Series was the first series to implement timed-segment racing into US gran fondo events and has crowned Gran Fondo National Champions and Gran Fondo National Series Champions since 2012. Starting in 2020, the organization entered into a partnership with USA Cycling to bring the existing Gran Fondo National Series events into the USA Cycling portfolio including the presentation of an official USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships events.

About The Applewood Manor (www.applewoodmanor.com)

Built in 1912 and nestled on an acre of towering trees just a short walk from downtown Asheville, The Applewood Manor is a boutique hotel meets bed & breakfast experience, featuring six luxurious suites with highly curated amenities, farm to table dining and bespoke experiential services for cycling, culinary and business leadership. Applewood differentiates and elevates guest experience with the support of an exceptional network of brand partners including Duxiana beds (www.duxiana.com), 3T Bike (www.3t.bike), 1stDibs (www.1stDibs.com) and many others recognized at https://www.applewoodmanor.com/partners.