Beatriz Vanegas and Dan Montgomery fastest at 2026 Gran Fondo Highlands

The 2026 Gran Fondo Highlands delivered a fast, tactical day of racing defined by precision execution across the event’s timed segments with 1,000 riders participating

The 2026 Gran Fondo Highlands delivered a fast, tactical day of racing defined by precision execution across the event’s timed segments. With four segments in the Gran Fondo, three in the Medio, and two in the Piccolo, riders had to balance group dynamics, recovery zones, and perfectly timed efforts to maximise their cumulative segment totals. Cool temperatures and dry roads created ideal conditions for fast riding, and the Highlands course rewarded those who could surge decisively on the climbs and settle quickly between efforts.

Beatriz Vanegas and Dan Montgomery set the fastest cumulative segment times of the day, each delivering controlled, repeatable power across the Highlands’ signature climbs. Vanegas built her advantage through consistent pacing across all four segments, while Montgomery produced the day’s standout ride with dominant efforts in the middle-timed sections that opened the gap he needed to secure the overall men’s win.

Racing remained tight across all distances. In the Medio Fondo women’s field, Katrina Biss-Iurato paced her efforts perfectly across all three timed sections to secure the win. The Medio Fondo men’s race produced one of the closest battles of the day, with Andrew Querner delivering the strongest cumulative time. Querner’s consistency across all three segments allowed him to edge out Leonardo Torres by 28 seconds, with Mark Sumner completing the podium after a powerful ride that also earned him the M/O 55–64 category victory. The front group stayed tight throughout, but Querner’s pacing and segment timing ultimately proved decisive.

In the Piccolo Fondo, where only two-timed segments decide the race, Amber Zaharchuk and Josiah Mueller delivered explosive opening efforts that set the tone for their victories. Zaharchuk established her lead early and defended it on the second segment, while Mueller surged on the opening climb and held his advantage to the finish.

The team competition added another layer of strategy to the Gran Fondo event. With each squad’s top three riders contributing to the cumulative team time, every segment mattered. Team Solutions Cycling delivered the most complete performance of the day, with Montgomery, Arango, and Afflitto combining for a dominant set of segment totals that put the team comfortably atop the standings. Their ability to place riders near the front of multiple segments created a margin that no other team could match. Continental Ostroy secured second place with a balanced trio of strong rides, while CCNS rounded out the podium after a consistent showing across all four timed sections. The battle for the remaining top-10 positions remained tight, with several teams separated by only seconds on the final cumulative leaderboard. A total of 23 teams participated.

Once riders crossed the finish line and the racing intensity faded, the Highlands Gran Fondo shifted into the relaxed, celebratory atmosphere it’s known for. The region’s hilly terrain outside Butler offers some of the best climbing in New Jersey, including ascents toward the state’s highest point. It’s a course that rewards all-around cyclists — riders who can punch up short, steep climbs and still have the energy to push the pace in a group between segments. Despite being just 30 minutes from New York City, the route feels worlds away, with quiet country roads, shaded tree canopies, and rolling terrain that surprises even seasoned local riders. The Gran Route crosses the Appalachian Trail eight times, showcasing dramatic ridgelines and sweeping views that make the Highlands one of the most scenic events in the Series.

The event’s proximity to major cycling communities in New York and New Jersey brings together a large, diverse peloton of competitive, supportive, and fun-loving riders. It’s a perfect blend of challenge and camaraderie, and many participants pair the event with a family visit to NYC. Safety and support remain central to the experience, with a fully marked and marshalled course, law-enforcement assistance, safety motos, mechanic and SAG vehicles, and staffed feed stations ensuring riders can focus entirely on their effort.

Afterwards, riders kicked back and celebrated with a refreshing beer provided by Ramstein Brewing — the perfect post-ride reward. With legs tired and spirits high, cyclists raised a glass to their accomplishments and enjoyed a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that stretched long into the afternoon. It was a fitting end to a challenging day on the bike and a reminder of why the Highlands Gran Fondo remains a favourite stop on the calendar.

More than $5,000 in prizes from Series sponsors were awarded through the post-race raffle, with all riders eligible to win. Participants earned an extra raffle ticket simply by wearing any Gran Fondo National Series jersey during the event, adding to the festive atmosphere at the finish.

A total of 132 riders earned qualification for the 2026 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, to be held during Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick, MD on September 20, 2026. Highlands continues to be one of the strongest qualification events in the Series, drawing deep fields across all distances.

The event also supported the Boy Scouts of America, Patriots’ Path Council #358, with a portion of proceeds benefiting local youth programs and outdoor leadership initiatives.

2026 Gran Fondo Highlands Top 10 Women

1, Beatriz Vanegas, Teaneck NJ, 15:36.53, —
2, Franziska Auer, Brooklyn NY, 15:57.87, +3:26.29
3, Laura Schulte, New York NY, 16:07.35, +3:53.22
4, Anna Carlson, Brooklyn NY, 16:18.39, +5:00.03
5, Louise Branca, The Bronx NY, 16:52.75, +6:49.63
6, Alecia Mcclintock, Boonton NJ, 16:55.21, +9:30.56
7, Kerri Robbins, Davidsonville MD, 18:28.15, +11:54.13
8, Lexi Hutton, Guttenberg NJ, 18:54.98, +12:17.59
9, Irene Cheski, Fairlawn NJ, 19:07.11, +14:34.00
10, Sereena Coombes, Queensbury NY, 18:20.78, +17:00.17

2026 Gran Fondo Highlands Top 10 Men

1, Dan Montgomery, Andover NJ, 13:03.66, —
2, Daniel Arango, Hillsborough NJ, 13:04.62, +0:16.07
3, Gavin Camby, , 13:30.86, +0:58.14
4, Miha Brezavscek, New York NY, 13:52.06, +1:50.57
5, Max Blinderman, New York NY, 13:51.79, +1:51.68
6, Justin Afflitto, Basking Ridge NJ, 14:48.02, +2:42.52
7, Alex Larsh, New York NY, 14:07.64, +2:55.26
8, Daniel Paroby, , 14:40.41, +3:04.83
9, Ryan Hwang, New York NY, 14:06.68, +3:34.40
10, Matteo Leibowitz, New York NY, 14:29.12, +3:44.67

2026 Medio Fondo Highlands Top 10 Women

1, Katrina Biss-Iurato, Basking Ridge NJ, 18:55.01, —
2, Sara O'Shea, Columbia PA, 17:48.84, +0:14
3, Viktoria Gerboth, Sparta NJ, 18:55.97, +0:55
4, Idy Judowitz Lkwd NJ, 19:00.34, +1:59
5, Beatrix Ueberheide, New York NY, 17:41.93, +2:14
6, Sabrina Seibel, New York NY, 19:10.83, +2:41
7, Kathleen Jennings, New York NY, 19:09.64, +2:51
8, Lisa Stefanelli Erdenheim PA, 19:28.11, +2:59
9, Susan Myers, Union City NJ, 18:53.91, +3:21
10, Sarah Vogel, Slingerlands NY, 20:39.21, +4:41

2026 Medio Fondo Highlands Top 10 Men

1, Andrew Querner, Sloatsburg NY, —
2, Leonardo Torres, Brooklyn NY, +0:28
3, Mark Sumner, Slingerlands NY, +1:43
4, Ryan Knight, Chamblee GA, +1:47
5, Doug Chiasson, Athol MA, +2:26
6, Paolo Testa, Tenafly NY, +2:47
7, Simon Clark, New York NY, +3:29
8, Claudio Santos, Cranford NJ, +3:39
9, Bradley Sponaugle, Martinsburg WV, +3:56
10, Timothy Irving, Kinnelon NJ, +4:01

2026 Piccolo Fondo Highlands Top 10 Women

1, Amber Zaharchuk, Burlington CT, 19:35.94, —
2, Catherine Drozd, Hastings On Hudson NY, 19:40.19, +0:33
3, Katie Finn, Mahwah NJ, 21:16.16, +4:01
4, Meghan Collins, Milford CT, 21:03.53, +4:08
5, Joan Dyer, Towaco NJ, 21:11.75, +4:43
6, Stephanie Macejko, Kinnelon NJ, 23:27.77, +6:22
7, Nina Acevedo, Brooklyn NY, 24:33.73, +8:24
8, Jennifer Bachman, Durham NC, 25:04.62, +12:23
9, Lila Rubin, Philadelphia PA, 26:25.32, +12:28
10, Isabel Esteve, Yardley PA, 26:04.57, +12:54

2026 Piccolo Fondo Highlands Top 10 Men

1, Josiah Mueller, Baltimore MD, 18:31.45, —
2, Andres Hidalgo, , 18:02.39, +0:38
3, Deven Damiano, S Richmond Hill NY, 18:57.28, +1:07
4, Aron Cruz, Hempstead NY, 19:02.23, +2:00
5, Claudio Torres, Lic NY, 19:59.59, +2:43
6, Gregory Hobbs, Silver Spring MD, 19:20.32, +2:50
7, Noah Kaufman, Maplewood NJ, 20:28.30, +4:34
8, Tim Doyle, Johnson City NY, 20:06.85, +5:40
9, Thomas Battersby, Ringwood NJ, 20:53.62, +5:41
10, Alexis Santana, , 21:50.29, +5:50

2026 Gran Fondo Highlands Team Competition

1, Team Solutions Cycling, 2:07:44.37
2, Continental Ostroy, 2:21:41.93
3, CCNS, 2:24:02.25
4, CRCA/Dave Jordan Racing, 2:30:25.63
5, Qooks, 2:30:57.07
6, Ritmo Cycling Club, 2:32:34.56
7, Gruppo Parallelo, 2:33:08.12
8, FIF BAKR RACING, 2:33:12.82
9, Beachwood Bicycles, 2:35:09.80
10, Kissena Cycling Club, 2:36:00.35
11, Triangle Cyclists, 2:36:41.18
12, Peaks Coaching Group, 2:37:26.5
13, ONYX, 2:38:38.81
14, Bergenline Cycling Club, 2:39:02.18
15, Montclair Cyclists Club, 2:41:49.01
16, Bike4chai, 2:42:00.23
17, Foundation Cycling New York, 2:55:48.22
18, Chichilambos, 2:59:46.12
19, Apex International Cycling Team, 3:04:13.68
20, Rockland Devo/Talent Cycling, 3:16:27.13
21, MTIR, 3:39:17.83
22, Team PEDAL, 3:53:58.61
23, UC Wheelers p/b Los Electrolitos, 4:31:33.92

Link to 2026 Gran Fondo Highlands Photos: https://www.iconmediaasheville2.com/2026-highlands-gran-fondo

Link to 2026 Gran Fondo Highlands Results: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/highlands-2026-results

REGISTER NOW FOR GRAN FONDO ASHEVILLE AND GET A FREE JERSEY!

The momentum continues as the Series heads south for Gran Fondo Asheville p/b Applewood Manor Foundation, one of the premier cycling events of the summer. Riders who register before June 19 will receive a free event-specific SUAREZ jersey with their entry — a perfect reason to secure a spot early and join the fun in Asheville, NC on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Long-time partner Applewood Manor Foundation is hosting multiple VIP Experiences throughout the weekend, including a Friday VIP Dinner and a Saturday VIP Cookout with concierge packet pickup. Anyone participating in either or both VIP Experiences receives a VIP Start Line position on Sunday.

Gran Fondo Asheville features three scenic and challenging routes — Gran (100 miles), Medio (60 miles), and Piccolo (30 miles) — each packed with steep climbs, quiet country roads, sweeping views, and thrilling descents. Riders can expect timed segment competitions, staffed aid stations, a post-event party during Asheville Bike Fest at Asheville Yards, finisher medals, custom SUAREZ winner’s kits for Gran Route age-group champions, and the popular “Mid Pack Attack” prize from Wahoo.

U23 riders can take advantage of Shimano’s 50% discount to help young athletes access more racing opportunities. And as always, the event concludes with a prize raffle featuring up to $5,000 in prizes from Series sponsors.

Starting and finishing at Asheville Yards in downtown Asheville, the event blends world-class riding with a vibrant festival atmosphere — making it one of the most anticipated stops on the 2026 calendar.

For more information, please visit: https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-asheville or click the link below to register now.