Boone Gran Fondo sets fifth straight attendance record for 2021 Gran Fondo National Series events

Niwinski and Lohry take the Winners Jerseys at North Carolina’s Boone Gran Fondo

A record-setting peloton rolled out of Boone, North Carolina on August 1 for the Boone Gran Fondo. Riders chose from three routes: a 25-mile Piccolo Fondo, 60-mile Medio Fondo and a 100-mile Gran Fondo with over 8,300 feet of climbing. Proceeds from the event went to support the Watauga Pioneers Mountain Bike Team.

Cool temperatures led to heated competition in the 100-mile Gran route at the Boone Gran Fondo. Local realtor Noah Niwinski beat 2021 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Champion Brendan Housler by just 1 second over four timed segments, with retired pro cyclist Travis Livermon in third place. Housler won the Gran Fondo National Championship in the Men’s 35-44 age group and went on to win the Men’s 35-39 Masters Road National Championship in Albuquerque, NM on August 6. Niwinski’s 1-second win is the smallest margin of victory in Gran Fondo National Series history.

Molly Lohry earned the women’s Jersey ahead of Megumi Jones and Jennifer Thornton-Brooks for the women, in a time of 1h 12m 59s a full 6 minutes ahead of Jones and 19^th fastest overall.

In the 60-mile Medio Fondo, Charles Hoover (Asheville) was fastest over the 3 timed sections in a time of 47m 51s ahead of Jeff Brandenburg (Columbia) and James Deane (Raleigh). Judith Beckenbach (Englewood) was the fastest woman in a time h1 2m ahead of Hope Ann Snyder-Walsh (Winston-Salem) and Rosalina Barragan (Houston).

In the 25-mile Piccolo Fondo, Kalib Atkins (Wake Forest) was fastest over the single timed section in a time of 15m 2s ahead of Jonathan Whitson (Canton) and Andrew Hill (Harrisburg). For the women, 67 year old Katherine Paul (Sandy Springs) was fastest in a time of 21m 37s ahead of 70 year old Maria Lloyd (Boone) and 63 year old Penelope Lawrence (Cooper City).

100 mile Gran Fondo Winners

Custom “Race Winner” cycling kits by DNA cycling were awarded to all Gran Route age group category winners

60 mile Medio Route Winners

25 mile Piccolo Route Winners

Photos

Event photo gallery from First Place Photo can be viewed here. Individual participant photos are available to view and purchase using your name or bib number.

Team Winners

To win the Team Competition at Colnago Gran Fondo National Series, a team’s top three riders have their time’s combined, and then bonus seconds are deducted from each team’s time based on the total number of teammates who finished the event. The top 3 results from the Team Competition at Boone Gran Fondo were:

First place: Team No Name (4 members)
Second place: Flatlanders (4 members)

Prize Raffle

The popular Colnago Gran Fondo National Series Raffle was held after the podium awards. Prizes from Series sponsors included: Sourwood Inn, Hyperice Hypervolt, Industry Nine hubset, components from Cane Creek, Swiftwick socks, Shimano products, a Lazer helmet, Shimano components, Wahoo Kick trainer, a holiday at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy, as well as other prizes.

Raffle Prizes:

- Hyperice Hypervolt
- Hyperice Hypersphere
- 4-night Stay for 2 at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy
- Wahoo KICKR smart trainer
- Industry Nine hubset
- Lazer Sphere MIPS helmet
- Cane Creek components
- Bike Flights travel voucher
- Shimano pedals
- Swiftwick socks
- Shott Performance coaching package
- DNA Cycling Mid Pack Attack (awarded to rider in the exact middle of the overall results)

The full results for the 2021 Boone Gran Fondo can be viewed here.

The full results for the 2021 Boone Gran Fondo can be viewed here.

Benefiting Watauga Pioneers Mountain Bike Team

The Watauga Pioneers Mountain Bike Team helped man the aid stations, all donations went directly to the team, which currently has 29 student athletes ranging from 6th through 11th grades, and 16 volunteer coaches. The team is part of NICA - National Interscholastic Cycling Association and is affiliated with the North Carolina State League of NICA.

Register Now for the Golden Gran Fondo

The next round of the Colnago Gran Fondo National Series takes place in Golden, Colorado taking place on Sunday August 29th, and will take riders on an unforgettable journey through the Rocky Mountains.

Conveniently located at the foot of the Rockies in iconic Golden, Colorado, the Golden Gran Fondo offers 90-, 62-, and 20-mile routes featuring some of the same roads used in the Coors Classic, USA Pro Challenge, and “American Flyers”. All routes include a timed climb of Lookout Mountain.

Come for the ride, stay for the prizes! Thanks to Colnago Gran Fondo National Series partners, all riders have a chance to win some great prizes worth over $5,000!

For more information, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-golden or click the button below to register now: