Gran Fondo WC Qualifier Article 030124
National Championships

USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships Named Official Qualification Event for UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

By: Jim Rutberg  March 01, 2024

The 2023 and 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships are official qualifier events for Masters (racing age 30+) aiming to compete in the 2024 and 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Gran Fondo National Series and USA Cycling today announced that the 2023 and 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships are official qualifier events for Masters (racing age 30+) aiming to compete in the 2024 and 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Masters Qualification for 2024 Gran Fondo World Championships

The 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will be held in Aalborg, Denmark from August 29 to September 1, 2024. The 2023 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships was held on September 17, 2023, and winners of the Masters (racing age 30+) categories at the 2023 Gran Fondo National Championships will be automatically qualified for the 2024 World Championships. Qualified riders will be notified directly by the race director for the World Championships.

Masters Qualification for 2025 Gran Fondo World Championships

Masters racers who win their age group competition at the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, which will be held on September 15, 2024 during Gran Fondo Maryland, will earn an automatic qualification for the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Riders must meet qualification criteria to compete at the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships. Riders can qualify for #GFNats through results and participation at SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series events and Partner-Events. Additional #GFNats qualifier events will be announced as they are available.

“We are honored to have Gran Fondo National Championships recognized as an official qualification event for the 2024 and 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships,” said Gran Fondo National Series founder, Reuben Kline. “The designation as a World Championship Qualification Event is the culmination of producing rider-first gran fondos in the US for more than 12 years, and we look forward to welcoming the top Masters to Frederick, MD on September 15, 2024. This announcement further illustrates how working together with USA Cycling has allowed us to grow our sport. Although this news affects Masters racers, our Junior and U23 initiatives also aim to provide expedient identification opportunities for emerging talents.”

Gran Fondo Maryland, September 15, 2024 in Frederick, MD, is open to all riders. Riders must only qualify for the Gran Fondo National Championships wave, which will start 30 minutes before Gran Fondo Maryland riders. National Championships age groups range from 14 to 75+. Only National Champions in age groups 30+ will qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.