Gran Fondo National Championships Among 18 Championships Announced by USA Cycling

The 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships is scheduled for September 15, 2024 in Maryland

The 2024 US Gran Fondo National Championships was one of 18 championships revealed by USA Cycling for the 2024 season. Organized by Gran Fondo National Series for the fourth year, the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships is scheduled for September 15, 2024 in conjunction with Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick, Maryland.

Age group competitors must qualify to enter the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships through performance and participation in cycling events throughout the United States. Qualification events include SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series owned events, Partner-Events in the Series, an E-Fondo Series of esports gran fondos, and other USA Cycling National Championships events.

Gran Fondo National Series is accepting new Partner-Events to the Series. Benefits include nationwide promotion of qualifier events through Gran Fondo National Series and USA Cycling, including targeted email and social media campaigns, on-site promotion during Gran Fondo National Series events, and opportunities to connect with Series sponsors. Direct Partner-Event inquiries to Gran Fondo National Series Founder and Race Director, Reuben Kline, at reuben.kline@granfondoseries.com. 

About #GFNats

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. Riders in the National Championships category will complete the Gran route and start in their own wave, departing 30 minutes prior to all Gran Fondo Maryland riders. Gran Fondo National Championships features a timed segment competition format, which largely eliminates the need for road closures and allows cyclists of varying abilities to regroup, ride together, and stop to take in the scenery. 

Athletes must qualify to compete at #GFNats through performance and/or participation in select qualifying events. Cyclists who have already qualified to enter the 2024 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.

Cyclists who qualify to compete at the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships will compete in the following age groups on September 15, 2025:

- 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, 75-79, 80 and over

Gran Fondo Maryland, presented by Ourisman Automotive Group

Riders do not need to qualify to participate in Gran Fondo Maryland. All normal Gran Fondo Maryland routes (Gran, Medio, Piccolo) are open to all riders to register and do not require qualification. There is a separate start time for USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships participants; they will start 30 minutes prior to the Gran Fondo Maryland riders.

As the presenting sponsor for Gran Fondo Maryland, Ourisman Automotive Group will host two packet pickups at Ourisman dealerships during the event weekend. Support from Ourisman Automotive Group and a grant from the Michael Erin Busch Sports Fund through Maryland Sports Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program though Maryland Sports Commission were instrumental in bringing the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships back to Frederick, Maryland for 2024.

About Gran Fondo National Series

Founded in 2012 by event director Reuben Kline, the Gran Fondo National Series is the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States. Gran Fondo National Series pioneered timed-segment racing into US gran fondo events and has crowned Gran Fondo National Champions and Gran Fondo National Series Champions since 2012. Since 2020, Gran Fondo National Series has been the organizer of the official USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships. 

For more information, please visit: granfondonationalseries.com