The famous MoCo epic is back in fall 2022 for its 12th edition. The epic takes place in Boyds Maryland and features some of mid-Atlantic’s best single-track. The Epic is not a singular mountain bike race but rather more of a festival spanning the entire weekend of October 8th-9th. Saturday features multiple festival family-friendly rides for the kids including a 4 mile and 11-mile race, and finally a ‘gravity soul pump and jump competition for everyone.’ When it comes to the proper events (non-child), there is an 11 mile, 15 miles, 30 miles, 40 mile, 55 miles, and a considerable 75-mile event respectively. Being such a well-attended event with many great sponsors, the festival boasts fully stocked aid stations, great food after the races, and music. The MoCo Epic is sure to impress the offroad enthusiasts and gets the Strambecco stamp of approval as being one of the premier mountain bike weekend festival in the Mid Atlantic and the United States as a whole.
With proximity to huge cycling communities in Washington and Baltimore, and an early fall spot on the calendar, Gran Fondo Maryland is where cyclists go to celebrate their summer fitness before the cold weather comes. Some ride hard, and others just cruise, but everyone wants to get back to Frederick to enjoy a gourmet lunch from renowned chef Bryan Voltaggio!
You may not associate Maryland with climbs, but Gran Fondo Maryland has one of the highest ratios of elevation gain per mile of 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 Super Gran route.
The Gran Route is 97 miles with +9100 elevation gain through several different state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park. After exploring this incredible region, riders will return back into 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 +5700 elevation gain and the Piccolo route is 28 miles and +2300 elevation gain.
Gran Fondo Maryland is a Gran Fondo National Series event. The series was established in 2012 and is comprised of eight European-style ride/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 terrain in endurance sports. Timed sections allow riders to compete in specific segments of the course, 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 best time through highlighted sections.
