With proximity to huge cycling communities in Washington and Baltimore and an early fall spot on the calendar, Gran Fondo, Maryland, is where cyclists celebrate their summer fitness before the cold weather sets in. Some ride hard, and others just cruise, but everyone wants to return to Frederick to enjoy a gourmet lunch from renowned chef Bryan Voltaggio! Highlands Gran Fondo is a Gran Fondo National Series event, a producer of some of the best US cycling events.
You may not associate Maryland with climbs, but Gran Fondo Maryland has one of the highest elevation gain per mile ratios for any Gran Fondo National Series event. But don’t worry; the perfect pavement and cooler early fall temperatures make this one of our most popular events. This is one of 4 events in 2020 to have the elevated SuperGran route.
The Gran Route is 97 miles with a +9100 elevation gain through several state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park. After exploring this incredible region, riders will return to historic downtown Fredrick and be welcome to well-deserved festivities at the finish line, complete with great food, beverage, and more fun. The Medio route is 61 miles with a +5700 elevation gain, and the Piccolo route is 28 miles and a +2300 elevation gain.
The GFNS event series was established in 2012 and comprised 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.
