Gran Fondo Florida is a Gran Fondo National Series event, a producer of some of the best US cycling events. Based on total elevation gain, Gran Fondo Florida is the easiest GFNS event, but with nonstop rolling hills, it’s the hardest gran Fondo in Florida!
Picked as one of the best road cycling events in the Southeast, the event represents a great chance to get the cycling season off to an early Spring start in the warmth of Florida. San Antonio is a small town in central Florida surrounded by horse farms, orange groves, and quiet roads great for cycling. It is conveniently located one hour north of Tampa and 90 minutes west of Orlando. It is a great location to extend your stay to visit beaches in the Tampa St. Petersburg area or Disney World in Orlando.
The race, in part, follows the proposed Olympic road race course that was part of Tampa’s bid to host the Summer Olympic games. The area is also a winter training site for some of the top triathletes in the world. The route starts/ends on Pennsylvania Ave. in San Antonio and navigates the rolling orange groves, horse farms, and crystal clear springs of Pasco and Hernando Counties.
As is customary for GFNS events, there are three events to choose from: Gran, 96 miles and 2700 ft elevation gain; Medio, 55 miles and 1900 ft elevation gain; Piccolo, 36 miles and 1300 feet of elevation gain. You can ride confidently on a well-marked and marshaled course supported by law enforcement, safety motos, mechanics, and sag vehicles. Well-stocked feed stations are ample and supported by a local youth police program.
The GFNS event series was established in 2012 and comprised of 12 European-style rides/races staged in the United States. Every GFNS event offers courses covering 30, 60, and 100-mile journeys through some of the most beautiful and challenging terrains in endurance sports. Timed sections allow riders to compete in specific course segments, while casual cyclists can ride at their own pace. Participants can ride as individuals or on teams. GFNS awards special prizes to the top riders in every age and gender category. Each rider is assigned an electronic timing chip to keep track of their progress throughout the course and to allow riders to compete for the best time through highlighted sections.
For the most dedicated athletes who participate in at least three events, GFNS offers the chance to win a National series championship based on your performance in the cumulative events. The competition spans all rider categories. GFNS events:
