(Colorado Springs, CO) – USA Cycling and Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS) today published the criteria required for cyclists to qualify for the inaugural USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship, which will be held during Gran Fondo Asheville in Asheville, NC on July 19, 2020.
As described in greater detail in a previous release, the five-year partnership between USA Cycling and Gran Fondo National Series brings the existing nine-event Gran Fondo National Series and one-day Gran Fondo National Championship into the portfolio of official USA Cycling National Championship events.
The Gran Fondo National Series encompasses a growing number of events throughout the United States where riders qualify for the national championship event and earn points toward a separate season-long competition. Participating events will benefit from nationwide marketing and promotion of the series. To elevate the gran fondo experience, participating events will create benefit packages for USA Cycling members, which could include early access to registration, entry incentives, priority check in, preferred start corral position, and more.
A USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship title, complete with a national championship jersey and medal, will be awarded to the male and female winners in each Gran Route (~100 mile) National Championships’ age-group category (minimum age 14 years old) at the annual USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship event.
To compete for the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship, eligible riders must first qualify for a starting slot. Neither a USAC license nor membership is required to qualify for the national championship. A USA Cycling membership is only required to participate in the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship event itself.
“I have wanted to create a qualification system for the national championship for a long time; this is not about USA Cycling trying to regulate the grassroots community spirit of gran fondos,” stated Series Director Reuben Kline, who founded the Gran Fondo National Series in 2012. “Series events will be as they always have been, which is however their event directors choose to run them. To run the National Championship itself, we want to step up the requirements to ensure the competition is fair and champions can attain the prestige deserved.”
Complete qualification criteria available here.
Highlights:
- GFNS Event Results Qualification: In the 18-month period (why 18 months?) preceding the USA Cycling National Championships, a rider must achieve one of the following:
- Top 25% finish in an age group in a Gran Route (~100 mile) at any GFNS Event, based on the number of starters in that age group.
- Top 3 finish in an age group category in Gran Route (~100 mile) at any GFNS Event, regardless of the number of starters.
- Complete two (2) or more Gran Route (~100 mile) events at GFNS Events
- USA Cycling Automatic Qualifications
Current USA Cycling Amateur or Masters National Champion in any USA Cycling Discipline (Masters - any age group).
“Our vision for entering the gran fondo space is to enhance the event experience for USA Cycling Members by working with promoters to create amenities that fit with the culture of their events,” said TK. “Partnering with GFNS is not about using rules and licenses to restrict access to events or collect fees, but rather to create membership benefits that make great events even more appealing for USA Cycling Members.”
For more information, please contact Bouker Pool at bpool@usacycling.org.
For more information on Gran Fondo National Series, please contact Jim Rutberg at jim.rutberg@ocgroup.com.
