Gran Fondo Florida Updates Routes to Enhance Rider Experience and Safety
Gran Fondo National Series today announced updated routes for the 13th Annual Gran Fondo Florida, scheduled for March 17, 2024, in Dade City, Florida
Organizers aim to enhance rider experience and safety by rerouting to quieter country roads throughout Pasco County. Cyclists can choose to ride a 98-, 69-, or 35-mile route with timed segment competitions for age group and team categories. Event information and route maps are available at granfondonationalseries.com.
Although no traffic conflicts or official requests necessitated changes to Gran Fondo Florida’s traditional routes, Gran Fondo National Series Founder, Reuben Klein, recognized that rider experience was being affected by economic and population growth. “Pasco County is a phenomenal place to ride a bicycle, but it’s not as rural as it was in 2012. I want all our routes to be challenging, scenic, safe, and fun. I also think it’s important to be considerate and respectful to the communities we visit, which includes minimizing inconvenience for drivers, providing enough aid stations and bathroom facilities, and cleaning up after ourselves.”
To further reduce traffic pressure on local infrastructure, Gran Fondo Florida will use a wave start format. On Sunday morning, March 17, a projected 750 cyclists will depart from Dade City, Florida in groups of approximately 25 cyclists at five-minute intervals. The aim of wave starts is to allow friends to ride in groups while encouraging safe riding behaviors and minimizing conflicts with local drivers. “All riders at Gran Fondo National Series events are instructed to follow the rules of the road, including stop signs, traffic lights, and the yellow line rule,” Kline stated. “On the relatively flat Gran Fondo Florida course, a wave start helps ensure cyclists comply with these important safety rules.”
Registration for the 2024 Gran Fondo Florida – and the entire 2024 Calendar of SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series owned events and Partner-Events – is open. Notable features for 2024 include:
- Free event-specific jersey from SUAREZ included for athletes who register earlier than 24 days prior to an event.
- Shimano U23 Entry Program: To encourage Junior and U23 participation, Shimano is making it possible for riders younger than 23 years old to register for just $23.
- USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships: Riders can qualify for the Gran Fondo National Championships at Gran Fondo Maryland on September 15, 2024 through participation or competition results from Gran Fondo National Series events.
- Prize Raffles: More than $5000 worth of prizes are awarded during the post-race parties at every Gran Fondo National Series event the company manages.
2024 Gran Fondo Florida Maps
Cyclists can choose from 3 distances; the 35-mile Piccolo Fondo (1,428 ft climbing), the 67-mile Medio Fondo (2,714 ft climbing) and the 98-mile Gran Fondo (3,063 ft climbing). There’s a distance to suit any ability level and early season form - or lack thereof!
Timed segment format allows riders to be social and competitive within the same event. During the timed segments, cyclists who choose to compete can "show their strength" and record fast times. When you’re outside those timed sections, everyone has the opportunity to regroup, ride together, enjoy the beautiful scenery, relax, and stop at aid stations.
Riders can compete solo or as a team, while also regrouping and riding at a more relaxed pace with others between timed sections to and enjoy the views!
There are competitions for overall male and female victories, as well as age group competitions for males and females. The team competition is won with 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.
Riders can qualify for the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, to be held during the Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick, MD on September 15, 2024.
Even though the course will be well marked, you can load the route to your smart phone or GPS device.
Use this RSVP Code to access premium RideWithGPS features and get turn by turn navigation for free: https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Event/129012/yAYMAwWppSsESeZJ
Timed Sections
Timed Section #1; Counts for all riders
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42120055
Timed Section #2; Counts for Gran and Medio riders
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45324842
Timed Section #3; Counts for Gran riders only
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4015752
Timed Section #4; Counts for Gran and Medio riders
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4015804
Register NOW and SAVE!
Register now and save, prices go up on February 16th 2024.
It costs just $155 for the Gran and Medio and $100 for the Piccolo.
A custom Suarez Cycling Apparel event-specific jersey is included for riders who register at least 24 days in advance.
For more information of the Gran Fondo Florida, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-florida or click the button below to register now.
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.
For more information, please visit: granfondonationalseries.com