REGISTER NOW FOR 2026 GRAN FONDO MARYLAND & USA CYCLING GRAN FONDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS and GET A FREE COMMEMORTIVE JERSEY!
The 2026 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships (GFNats) event will be held at Gran Fondo Maryland. The 15th Annual Gran Fondo Maryland, presented by Ourisman Automotive Group will be held in Frederick on September 20, 2026.
To compete in the National Championships category riders must qualify (see details here). Riders do not need to qualify to participate in Gran Fondo Maryland. All normal Maryland Gran Fondo 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.
Want to rock the official event jersey?
Be sure to register by August 21 to guarantee yours!
All athletes who sign up by August 21st will receive a commemorative jersey! There are two different commemorative jerseys one for GFNats, and one for Gran Fondo Maryland participants. There will be a limited supply of jerseys for size exchanges on the day of the event. Don't forget to complete your kit with matching bib shorts, available during signup and on-site.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMEMORATIVE JERSEY
3 SCENIC AND CHALLENGING ROUTES
Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick on is the perfect way to cap off your summer cycling season. The event has something for everyone, taking riders through several different state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park.
Frederick, Maryland is within an hour of Washington DC and Baltimore, and within 4 hours driving distance from many of the biggest cities on the East Coast, including Philadelphia, New York City, Pittsburgh, Roanoke, Richmond, and Norfolk.
Maryland is the original event that kick-started the Gran Fondo National Series in 2012 and established the foundation of the popular timed section format, essential to the competitive element.
The well designed, quiet and breathtakingly beautiful routes take riders on a challenging and scenic loop north through several different parks, forests and protected watersheds, almost touching the Pennsylvania state line before heading south into the Catoctin Mountain National Park, Frederick Watershed, and Gambrill State Parks.
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.
Visit Frederick welcomes you to hip and historic Frederick County, MD. Here you'll find information about hotels and ways to make your stay in Frederick enjoyable and memorable.
TIMED SECTION MAPS
With up to five timed sections, cyclists can compete for prizes across a range of categories for men, women and a team event too.
While riders have the opportunity to pace themselves and enjoy the view, professional or competitive cyclists can "show their strength" at every section. When you’re outside those timed sections, you have an opportunity to look around and enjoy the beautiful scenery, relax, stop at aid stations and regroup with friends.
The Gran route has 5 timed climbs of Hamburg Hill, Harp Hill, Ritchie Road, The Gully of Darius, and Gambrill Park. The Medio route 3 timed climbs of Hamburg Hill and Gambrill Park. The Piccolo route contains the timed climb of Hamburg Hill.
With timed-segment competitions, your overall time from start to finish does not matter. Only the timed segments count. Your overall, and age group rankings are determined by your combined time for all timed segments on the route you choose. In between time segments riders can take in the beautiful scenery, stop at feed stations, and connect with other riders.
- Time Section #1 (all riders)
- Time Section #2 (GFNats & Gran & Medio only)
- Time Section #3 (GFNats & Gran only)
- Time Section #4 (GFNats & Gran)
- Time Section #5 (GFNats & Gran & Medio only)
2026 USA CYCLING GRAN FONDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gran Fondo Maryland will also host the national championships and riders will compete on five timed segments while riding the Gran Route with a modified route for 14-16 & 70+ Age group riders.
The 2026 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, which are presented by Ourisman Automotive Group, will be held in Frederick, Maryland on September 20, 2026, in conjunction with Gran Fondo Maryland. Riders in the Junior 14-16 and Male & Female 70+ age groups will compete on a 70-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 2026.
2026 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.
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 2026.
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 2026 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 2026 #GFNats are also a qualifier event for riders to race in the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
SOLO, TEAM AND AGE CATEGORIES AWARDS
All 5 timed segments count for Gran route. Sections 1, 2, & 5 count for Medio route, and only section 1 counts for Piccolo riders.
- Awards presented three deep for each age group category for fastest section times
- Custom SUAREZ winners kits for all Gran Route age group category winners
- Awards and for top 3 riders in each age category for Gran, Medio and Piccolo winners
- Finisher Medals for Gran, Medio and Piccolo finishers
- For the Gran Fondo Route there is the team prize. Teams must have three or more riders to qualify. Team riders are still eligible for individual awards.
EXPERT SUPPORT
As with all Gran Fondo National Series events, there are full stocked feed stations on all routes to keep you fed and hydrated, with individually packaged food options.
There will be 4 aid stations along the Gran route, 3 on the Medio, and 1 on the Piccolo (about every 20 miles). Food and water will be provided in single-serving packages. We will provide Water, Heed sports drink, Soda, Hammer Gel, Hammer Bars, Bananas, Clementines, Cookies, Chips, Fig Bars, Pecan Nation snack packs and other items.
Aid-Station will have bathrooms.
Ride with confidence on the marked and marshalled course, supported by law enforcement, safety motos, mechanic and sag vehicles, and staffed feed stations.
POST RIDE PARTY
After exploring this incredible region, riders will return back for well-deserved festivities at the finish line, complete with great food from food vendors and breweries and more fun.
It has a supportive, family feel, particularly when everyone gathers for great local food, cold beer, and fantastic raffle prizes after a challenging and competitive ride.
Gran Fondo National Championships riders who finish Top 5 in a competition category (male and female by age group) will be invited to the podium presentations. National Champions will be awarded 2026 USA Cycling National Champion jerseys.
Awards presented three deep for each category for fastest section times. Custom produced Gran Fondo Event Winners kits will be awarded to the fastest riders in each age category of the Gran Route 100-mile event.
THE RAFFLE
Any rider who completes any 2026 SENA Gran Fondo National Series event format on the scheduled weekend will be eligible for the raffle. Raffle winners must be present to win. Great prizes from our sponsors such as:
Stay at Garda Bike Hotel in Italy
Wahoo ELEMNT ACE Computer
Wahoo KICKR smart trainer
EKOÏ sunglasses
Industry Nine hubset
Monari Federzoni premium balsamic vinegar
Mountain Flow chain lube
Cane Creek components
Swiftwick socks
Bike Flights travel voucher
Shimano products
CTS Trainright Membership
Jittery Joe’s Coffee
UNDRBUDR anti-chafe cream
Ride with GPS Premium Membership
(List subject to change)
REGISTER NOW AND GET A FREE JERSEY!
Sign up by August 21, 2026 (30 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.
BENEFITING LINGANORE MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM
The Linganore Mountain Bike Team is for student athletes in grades 6-12 and sanctioned by the Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League (MICL) and National Interscholastic Cycling Assoc. (NICA).
