Maloney and Johnson take Victory at 2025 Boone Gran Fondo
Wet weather didn’t deter hundreds of cyclists enjoying the North Carolina Mountain’s, with over 50 riders qualifying for the 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships in Maryland on September 14th
The Boone Gran Fondo p/b Capua Law Firm is the most fun course of the entire GFNS series, the Boone Gran Fondo twists and turns through wooded climbs and descents before returning to the after party downtown.
There were three distances on offer, the 94-mile Gran Route had 4 timed sections and 8,433 feet of climbing, the 57-mile Medio route had 3 timed sections and 5,432 feet of climbing, and the 24-mile Piccolo Route had 1 timed section and 2,366 feet of climbing.
In the 94 mile Gran Fondo, Noah Johnson from Mcdonald TN was fastest over the four timed sections in 58:44.60 ahead of 2023 GFNY Puerto Rico and 2024 Gran Fondo Florida and champion Felipe Aros from Miami FL +0:24.99 and Zeb Ramsbotham from Hendersonville NC +1:35.34.
In the women’s category, Madison Maloney from Hudson NC was fastest in 1:03:25 ahead of defending champion and 2025 Tour of Georgia winner Jennifer Thornton-Brooks from Boone NC +1:12.33 and Andrea Buttine from Wilmington NC +3:18.57.
In the 57 mile Medio Fondo, Lucas Hatsios from Boone NC was fastest over the three timed sections in 47:22.12 ahead of Zac Spicer from Boone NC +1:30 and Sergey Zvezdov from Belmont NC +2:20. In the women’s category Lilly Derry from Asheville NC was fastest in 52:32.80, ahead of Angela Echeverri from Montclair NJ +1:57 and regular rider Jessica Thackray +5:46.
In the 24 mile Piccolo Fondo, Chad Smith from Mount Holly NC was fastest over the one timed section in 6:29.85 ahead of Jawad Zafar from Daniels WV +3:50 and Kyle Kuykendall from Fairview NC +5:12. In the women’s category, Erin Murphy from Jacksonville FL was fastest in 10:39.32, only just ahead of Kara Bonneau from Cary NC +0:28 and Elizabeth Markman from Marietta GA +2:25.
In the team competition, it was Noah Johnson, Nicolas Haydar and Timothy Mellas from Team Place Cycling Academy who were fastest with a Combined Time after Bonus of 3:05:59. Jigawatt Cycling were second and North Georgia Cycling Association were third. DARC were fourth. B.B. Barns Femmes women’s team consisting of Hannah Gibson, Whitney Whitt and Evie Edwards were fifth.
@tiasmith_tri commented afterwards, “2nd place in my age group. Extremely heavy rain in 55 degrees for two hours on MAX elevation. Too tired to type anymore. Oh and chad’s bike broke at mile 1, so there’s that. Always, keep going”
Afterwards, everyone celebrated at Capua Law Firm on South Depot Street in downtown Boone, where riders will enjoy a festive atmosphere with an Expo and music.
Everyone gathered for great local food, cold beer and hot drinks, and fantastic raffle prizes after a challenging and competitive ride in more difficult weather conditions this time round.
Link to 2025 Boone Gran Fondo Results: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/boone-2025-results
Next Up: 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships
Riders to compete on five timed segments during 90-mile event in Frederick, Maryland on September 14, 2025
To enhance the competitiveness of 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, organizers Gran Fondo National Series announced the addition of a fifth timed segment to the 90-mile event as well as an updated route.
The 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, which are presented by Ourisman Automotive Group, will be held in Frederick, Maryland on September 14, 2025, in conjunction with Gran Fondo Maryland. Riders in the Junior 14-16 and Male & Female 70+ age groups will compete on a 68-mile course featuring four timed segments. Support from the Maryland Sports Commission grant programs and Ourisman Automotive Group have been instrumental in sustaining the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships in Frederick, Maryland for 2025.
2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships course maps are available from RidewithGPS.com. Riders can preview the timed segments by riding indoors with the Rouvy app.
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 of 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 sustaining the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships in Frederick, Maryland for 2025.
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 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships will compete in the following age groups on September 14, 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.
The 2025 #GFNats are also a qualifier event for riders to race in the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
Register NOW and get a FREE Jersey!
Sign up by August 19, 2025 (26 days before event) and receive a custom pro-level jersey crafted by Suarez Clothing!
For more information, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-maryland or click the button below to register now.
