SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series and Zwift Announce Schedule for 8-Event E-Fondo Series
Competitors will be able to qualify for USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships
(Gettysburg, PA – January 5, 2024) – The SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series today announced the event schedule for the 4th Annual E-Fondo Series, an 8-event series of competitive cycling events hosted on Zwift’s industry leading virtual cycling platform.
The 8-event e-sports cycling competition features timed segments like the Series’ real-world events. The e-Fondo Series will run from January 7, 2024 through February 25, 2024.
Timed Segments & Overall Start-to-Finish Position are used for Scoring.
There are multiple timed segments in each event including sprint points, and KQOMs throughout the Zwift routes which are used for the E-Fondo Series scoring. Each of these timed segments as well as riders over-all finish position are all equal value for a rider’s score.
Your position for each segment equates to the points you earn toward your cumulative total in your age group (AG). Your overall time / placement from start to finish in your AG also counts equally toward your points total. So, if you place 1st in your AG on Sprint #1, are 6th fastest in your AG on a KOM, 20th in AG in Sprint #2, and finish 15th over-all in you AG you earned the following: 100 points in sprint #1, 94 points on the KOM, 80 points for Sprint #2, and 85 point for your overall finish (100 + 94 + 80 + 85 = 359 points).
In other words your AG ranking in each sprint, each KOM, and for overall placement are worth equal value with the highest score for each being worth 100 point for the fastest rider in each AG and the riders with the most points in each AG wins.
Note: There are no overall rankings, only AG rankings.
Riders can qualify for the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships p/b Ourisman Automotive event in Frederick, Maryland, on September 15, 2024, based on their participation and results in E-Fondo Series events. The SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series e-Fondo Events will be held on Sundays and Tuesdays at a variety of times to accommodate athletes around the world.
- E-Fondo Florida – Sunday, January 7
- Tour of Georgia E-Fondo – Sunday, January 14
- Cheaha E-Fondo – Sunday, January 21
- Highlands E-Fondo – Tuesday, January 30
- E-Fondo Asheville – Sunday, February 4
- Cache E-Fondo – Sunday, February 11
- Boone E-Fondo – Tuesday, February 20
- E-Fondo Maryland – Sunday, February 25
The complete schedule, including start times, are available on the SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series website. The e-Fondo Series is being run in addition to the full calendar of outdoor events.
Registration, Awards and Prizes
A Zwift paid or free trial subscription is required, but E-Fondo Series events are free to enter. Riders who register on the E-Fondo webpage at granfondonationalseries.com and compete in the E-Fondo Series are eligible to compete in the E-Fondo Series Points Competition.
SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series Event Director, Reuben Kline, chose to create the e-Fondo Series with Zwift because, “We want to give athletes more opportunities to experience the timed-segment competition format that Gran Fondo National Series riders enjoy, as well as opportunities to qualify for the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, particularly for athletes who may not live close to one of our six events or multiple partner events.”
"We’re glad that the Gran Fondo National Series is hosting their E-Fondo events on Zwift this year," said Andrew Bernstein, Senior PR Manager at Zwift. "The Gran Fondo National Series real-world events are beloved by participants and have encouraged greater participation in cycling. We're glad the series is using Zwift to keep their ridersactive and motivated between events."
Open the EFondo Rider Guide that explains the scoring.
Riders can register for e-Fondo Series events for free.
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 was the first series to implement 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.
About Zwift
Zwift is the fitness company born from gaming. We’re dedicated fitness enthusiasts, experienced video game developers, and disruptive thinkers. Play is in our DNA and we know fun fuels results.
Zwift utilizes massively multiplayer online gaming technology to create rich, 3D worlds ripe for exploration. Join thousands of cyclists and runners in immersive playgrounds like London, New York, and Paris as well as our very own Watopia.
Zwift connects wirelessly to exercise equipment: bike trainers, treadmills, and more, so your real world effort powers your avatar in the game.
From friendly races to social rides and structured training programs, Zwift unites a diverse community in pursuit of a more fun, immersive and social fitness experience.
