Giordana Named New Title Sponsor of Gran Fondo National Championship Series
2016 campaign kicks off March 26 in San Antonio, Florida
Charlotte, NC – January 28, 2016 – With the new partnership between Giordana Cycling and Gran Fondo National Championship Series the increasingly popular sport of gran fondo cycling in the United States is poised to see continued growth.
The 4th season of national championship gran fondo racing in the United States will kick off the 2016 series with a new name, the Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series.
Giordana Andretta, vice president of Gita and namesake for the brand said. “We are thrilled to come onboard as the title sponsor of such an established, high quality event. After attending one of the Gran Fondos last year I saw what a great event it was for the riders and the local community. It really showcased cycling as a sport that anyone can aspire to. The Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series will become a focal point for customer engagement and product development at Giordana Cycling. Plus I can’t wait to ride one”
Giordana Cycling, established in 1979 as a division of Gita Sporting Goods, LTD, has been involved in bicycle racing at all levels, including sponsorship of many pro-cycling teams, and a provider of the famed yellow Tour de France leaders jersey. The title sponsorship, intended to promote the Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series, embodies the company’s commitment to promoting cycling in the United States and furthers the enthusiasm the gran fondo format has inspired in cycling.
“As endurance sports enthusiasts seek to expand their options, the popularity of gran fondo cycling has grown dramatically over the last few years.” said Reuben Kline, founder and president of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series. “This partnership with Giordana is very exciting for us; we look forward to optimizing the opportunity, not only to grow the series, but to grow the sport of cycling. Historically competitive cycling has not been a user friendly sport, but with the introduction of the time segmented gran fondo format, this is changing. Cycling enthusiasts from beginner to elite now have an outlet to further engage in the sport, in a more fun, more challenging, and safer way. Giordana’s position, as a very well established industry player in the cycling world, will allow us to continue to build the series and grow the sport of cycling through gran fondo racing.”
Every Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series event offers courses covering ~30, ~60 and ~100-mile journeys through some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain in endurance sports. The format provides both a competitive and recreational experience. Timed sections allow riders, solo or team, to compete for the fastest times through specific sections of the course, while also allowing cyclists to ride causally at a more relaxed pace through the non-timed sections. Riders compete for overall and category placement by gender and age. Custom winner’s jerseys, produced by Giordana, will be awarded to all age group winners of the gran route (~100 mile), riders in other distances also compete for awards by age and gender category.
The 2016 GFNCS event schedule
The 2016 Gran Fondo National Championship Series® (GFNCS) schedule is set and registration is open for all 2016 GFNCS managed events.
In addition to the seven annual gran fondo events managed directly by GFNCS, the 2016 series will include several other gran fondos around the nation. Reuben Kline, founder and president of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series® said: “Over the last three years we’ve had inquires and requests from quite a few gran fondos around the county asking to be part of the series. We intend to announce several events that will not be managed directly by GFNCS but will be included in the series competition. In 2015 Bicycling Magazine’s Spring Classic was part of the series and will be one of the events we include again for 2016.”
The 2016 GFNCS event schedule:
- Gran Fondo Florida - Saturday March 26, 2016
- Bicycling Spring Classic - Sunday April 24, 2016
- Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo - Saturday May 14, 2016
- Highlands Gran Fondo - Sunday June 5, 2016
- Gran Fondo Asheville - Saturday June 18th, 2016
- Boone Gran Fondo - Sunday August 7, 2016
- Golden Gran Fondo - Sunday August 28, 2016 (Rated by Gran Fondo as one of the hardest Gran Fondos in the US and in the Top 15)
- Gran Fondo Maryland (2016 Gran Fondo National Championship)-Sunday September 18, 2016
To register for a GFNCS event visit: www.gfncs.com
To learn more about Giordana Cycling visit: www.giordanacycling.com
To learn all about GFNCS on Gran Fondo Guide, please type "nationals" on our site search (top RHS).
Please click on the photos for a closer look of each event in the series.
GFNCS Championship
The annual series title is awarded to those riders who post the best three finishes in the event series. GFNCS views gran fondos as races. We offer what is arguably the hardest bicycle road racing series in the USA. This eight-event national series, comprised of races held throughout the nation allows riders to compete for a national ranking by age group. Our focus is on promoting health and wellness by providing a competitive cycling outlet in which riders of all skill levels can participate. GFNCS events combine friendly competition with a social atmosphere before, during, and after each event. We also seek to engage youth in the sport of cycling by partnering with (and donating funds to) a local organization that focuses on youth in cycling. GFNCS is committed to inspiring a healthy life style and motivating people to engage in and take pride in their health and the environment.
About Gran Fondo National Championship Series
The Gran Fondo National Championship Series® was established in 2012 and is comprised of seven European-style ride/races staged in the United States. The series is sponsored nationally by Giordana Cycling, Bertucci Performance Watches, Bicycling Magazine, Hammer Nutrition, Swiftwick, SeaSucker Vacuum Mount Bike Racks, Peaks Coaching Group, Feedback Sports, Rudy Project, ProGold Cycling, Jittery Joe’s Coffee, Polar Bottle, Ritchey Bicycle Components, and Capua Law Firm. Founder and President Reuben Kline has more than 25 years of experience in the bicycle industry, including five years as a professional mountain biker, ten years as a full-time race director and 20 years as promoter of the Michaux Endurance Series. The company is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. For more information visit www.gfncs.com.
Gita Sporting Goods, Ltd. is a privately held corporation based in Charlotte, NC. An importer and wholesale distributor of high quality equipment and soft goods it has serviced the U.S. bicycle industry for over 35 years. Gita currently represents the following brands: Giordana, Pinarello, Dario Pegoretti, Campagnolo, MOst, Fulcrum and Gommitalia.