Entries for Gran Fondo Asheville p/b Applewood Manor and 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships On Track to Sell Out
The 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships will be held during Gran Fondo Asheville p/b Applewood Manor this July 17th, 2022. Riders who qualify for #GFNats will complete four timed segments along the 100-mile Gran Route. The non-championship Gran Fondo Asheville event includes Gran (100mi), Medio (60mi), and Piccolo (30mi) routes. Riders do not need to qualify for Gran Fondo Asheville. It is open to everyone and will likely sell out at the maximum of 700 participants.
Applewood Manor, the presenting sponsor for Gran Fondo Asheville and the Gran Fondo National Championship will host course reconnaissance rides leading up to the events, as well as VIP Experiences during the event weekend. A limited number of spots are available for a Saturday evening Gourmet Cookout and Packet Pickup, as well as a Sunday VIP Dinner, both at Applewood Manor. (see below for details and registration).
Those who want to, can push themselves on the timed sections and receive awards and prizes too!
2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship
The 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship will be held in conjunction with Gran Fondo Asheville. A USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship title, complete with a national championship jersey and medal, will be awarded to the winner in each age-group category. All #GFNats participants will also receive a commemorative jersey from Suarez. Riders in the National Championship category will complete the Gran route and start in their own wave, departing 30 minutes prior to all Gran Fondo Asheville riders.
Athletes must qualify to compete at #GFNats through performance and/or participation in select qualifying events. Cyclists who have already qualified to enter the 2022 Gran Fondo National Championships event are listed here. Qualification is based on results and participation at Gran Fondo National Series owned events and select partner events over a rolling 18-month window. Complete qualification criteria can be found here.
The age groups for the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships event will match the USA Cycling age groups used for other National Championship events, offering more opportunities to compete with those closer in age. This is a change from the age groups used in 2021 for the Gran Fondo National Championships and is different from the age groups used for Gran Fondo National Series events.
Cyclists who qualify to compete at the 2022 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships will compete in the following age groups on July 17, 2022:
- 14-16, 17-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and over
UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Qualification
Riders who win in their age group will automatically qualify to race in the 2022 Gran Fondo World Championships in Trento, Italy on September 15-18. This will only apply to age groups that will have a category at the World Championships.
You can find out more about the 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships by clicking here.
Asheville Bike Fest
Gran Fondo Asheville and the Gran Fondo National Championships are showcase events during the first annual Asheville Bike Fest, benefitting Asheville on Bikes. Featuring an extensive outdoor expo, food, beer, and live music, the Asheville Bike Fest will be held at Rabbit Rabbit in downtown Asheville on Saturday and Sunday, June 16-17. Riders will be able to pick up their packets at Rabbit Rabbit on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Rabbit Rabbit will also be the start/finish venue for Sunday’s cycling events.
Prizes for Everyone!
The popular SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series Raffle is held after the podium awards. The raffle features more than $5,000 of prizes from Series sponsors, including:
4-night Stay at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy
Wahoo ELEMNT Rival GPS Watch
Wahoo KICKR smart trainer
Lazer three helmets
Industry Nine hubset
Cane Creek components
Swiftwick socks
Bike Flights travel vouchers
Shimano products
CTS Trainright Memberships
Jittery Joe’s Coffee
UNDRBUDR anti-chafe cream
Ride with GPS Premium Memberships
Solo, Team and Age Group Prizes
Professional chip timing keeps track of every rider on course and allows riders to compete for the best combined time through up to 4 timed sections on route. Riders can compete solo or as a team, while also riding at a more relaxed pace with others between timed sections to and enjoy the super scenic views!
More competitive riders can compete for overall victory and age group podiums for men and women. There is also a team competition, won by the combined time of a team’s fastest three riders. Bonus seconds are awarded for additional team members who finish, meaning there’s a benefit to bringing a larger team. There is no team competition in the National Championship event, only the Gran Fondo Asheville wave.
VIP Experiences with Applewood Manor!
VIP Packet Pickup and Gourmet Cookout - Saturday, July 16
On Saturday, July 16, join Applewood Manor founder Stephen Collins, Gran Fondo National Series founder Reuben Kline, and special guests for a gourmet VIP cookout at Applewood Manor. If you choose to skip packet pickup at Rabbit Rabbit, we'll have your event packet for you at the Cookout. For riders who combine the Cookout with the Saturday Reconnaissance Ride, we'll have professional mechanics on site to provide assistance.
This exclusive VIP experience is limited to 60 guests and costs $125/person. REGISTER NOW
VIP Dinner at Applewood Manor - Sunday, July 17
Wrap up a great weekend in Asheville, North Carolina with a special VIP Dinner experience at Applewood Manor. Enjoy local farm-to-table ingredients prepared by expert chefs in our Michelin Star chef-tested kitchen. Swap stories from the day's epic ride over a great meal and hand-picked selections from Applewood's extensive wine cellar. Join Applewood Manor founder Stephen Collins, Series Director Reuben Kline, and special guests. This exclusive VIP Dinner begins at 6:30pm, is limited to 40 guests and costs $225/person. Must be over 21 years old or accompanied by someone over 21. REGISTER NOW
Built in 1912 and nestled on an acre of towering trees just a short walk from downtown Asheville, The Applewood Manor is a boutique hotel meets bed & breakfast experience, featuring six luxurious suites with highly curated amenities, farm to table dining and bespoke experiential services for cycling, culinary and business leadership.
For more information please visit: www.applewoodmanor.com
The Timed Segments
Asheville features small, twisting and turning tree-lined quiet roads, which is part of the reason that its drawn professional cyclists to North Carolina for decades. The terrain is stunning, demanding, and a ton of fun to experience on a bicycle!
Award-winning timed segment format: Competitions based on best combined time through timed sections.
- Both the National Championship and Gran Fondo Asheville will use the timed segment competition format
- 4 timed sections in Gran Route, 3 in Medio Route, 2 in Piccolo Route
- Overall, Age Group, and Team Competitions
- Custom Winner kits from SUAREZ Cycling awarded to the fastest riders in each age category of the Gran Route.
- Team category winner - 3 complimentary entries good for an event in the next 12 months
- Pick your distance, register, and start training for your best day on the bike all year!
T1- Bear Creek
This timed section is part of the Piccolo, Medio and Gran. Its 3.5 miles with 225 feet of climbing, two distinct climbs feature.
Time Section #1 counts for 30mi, 60mi & 100mi riders: https://bit.ly/3guwiBz
T2 - Walnut Creek
This timed section is part of the Gran only. Its 6.1 miles with 1,015 feet of climbing and is considered a category 2 rated climb, a real test for the Gran Fondo riders.
Time Section #2 counts for 100mi riders only: https://bit.ly/35qma6z
T3 - French Broad River
This timed section is part of the Medio and Gran only. Its 7.2 miles with 374 feet of climbing which is a shallow grade upwards of around 1%.
Time Section #3 counts for 60 & 100mi riders: https://bit.ly/3q0FIYQ
T4 - Elk Mountain
This timed section is part of the Gran and Medio. Its 6.1 miles with 1,471 feet of climbing at an average of 5% and is considered a category 2 rated climb, another real test for riders.
Time Section #4 counts 60 & 100mi riders: https://bit.ly/3wzEEgS
Downloadable Course Maps
100 Mile Gran Route
60 Mile Route
30 Mile Route
The routes will be very well marked, but we encourage you to get the RideWithGPS App and load the route to your smart phone or GPS. Use this RSVP LINK to access premium RideWithGPS features and get turn by turn navigation for free.
Benefiting Asheville on Bikes
Asheville on Bikes cultivates the culture of urban and commuter cycling through advocacy and celebration. We believe that cycling has direct benefit to the health of our community.
Lodging
While looking for a place to stay, check out https://www.exploreasheville.com/2022-gran-fondo-asheville
Register NOW and SAVE!
The events are likely to sell out, register now to secure a place, prices go up June 18!
Current price is just $130 for the Gran, $110 for the Medio and $75 for the Piccolo. The National Championship registration fee is currently $180 and includes a commemorative jersey from Suarez.
For more information on the Asheville Gran Fondo, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-asheville
To register now, please visit: https://www.bikereg.com/asheville-gfns or click the button below:
