Gran Fondo Maryland, a Suarez Gran Fondo National Series event

GRAN FONDO MARYLAND

Frederick, MD

Sunday September 17, 2023 at 8:00AM

Benefiting: Linganore Mountain Bike Team (high school team)

3 Loops to Choose From: 97.6 mile, 61.4 mile, 27.8 mile

 Event Open to All

4 Timed Sections in the 100 mile loop – Best Combined Time Wins

Age Group Categories

Awards and Winners jerseys for Gran Route Age Group

Awards & Prizes for 60 mile and 30 mile winners

This is a 2021 Gran Fondo National Series event

Ride with your friends, Race with your friends

Fully Stocked Aid Stations to keep you going

Come Challenge Yourself

Fundraising and/or donating is not mandatory.  To streamline the process for those who are interested, a pledgereg page will be created for you upon registration.  Our friends at Team Type 1 greatly appreciate any support!

Price
To advocate for and promote youth cycling, Gran Fondo National Series has created a U23 campaign which allows any rider under 23 to register for any Gran Fondo National Series event for $23. Riders under 23 can register by using the coupon code U23@GFNS (note: all riders will show photo ID at check in, please do not misuse this code, it will be obvious if you do). 

Check-in & Packet Pick Up:

Friday, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at TBD

Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at TBD

Saturday, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Monocacy Brewing Company, located at 1781 N. Market St. Frederick, MD 21701.

Sunday, from 6:00 AM to 7:15 AM, at 500 Fleming Ave, Frederick, MD 21701 (at location of race start)

What does the price of your entry include?

• Traffic control
• Event-specific T-Shirt included with registrations, while supplies last (enter early to get your size...)
• Fully stocked aid stations with energy product and food
• Four Timed Sections 
• Post-race meal, beer from Monocacy Brewing, and entertainment
• Goody-bag with various swag items
• Finisher gift for all Gran Route Finishers
• Awards for age-group placement 
• Chance to win Awards and Prizes for placement
• Chance to win raffle prizes at post event raffle
• The enjoyment of riding an amazing cycling route

Course Description 

After starting in historic downtown Frederick Maryland, the 100 mile Gran Fondo National Series, Gran Route, will gain over 10,000 feet of elevation through several different state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park.  Riders will travel northwest out of the city of Frederick before entering the Frederick Municipal Forest where the first timed section will gain over 1270 feet in a 5.6 mile race segment. At the top riders will be able to relax and enjoy the cool mountain forest as the course plummets over the west side of the mountain range.

The second timed section ascends the southern approach to Harp Hill for a punchy up-down-up-down-up lasting for a brief 1.4 miles and 279 feet of vertical gain. For the next 25 miles and 2500 feet of cumulative gain, the route then follows a mix of small and obscure backroads heading north towards the decommissioned military base of Fort Ritchie.

Time Section #3 is a more dynamic segment and certainly cannot be called a timed climb. Section #3 will require riders to use caution and technical skill with several 90° turns including an old bridge crossing and tarp & chip road surface. The section starts on a wide downhill roadway where for the first 4.9 miles riders lose 500 feet of elevation before hitting the last 1k and 300 vertical feet to the finish of section #3 on top of Hornets Nest Road. Time segment #3 known as The Gully of Darius is a total of 5.5 miles -574 /+386 feet.  From here the route heads south and works its way back exploring nooks and crannies in the Catoctin Mountain Range and travels through Catoctin Mountain National Park  for 22 miles and +2250 feet of untimed pedaling. Past riders will be able to take special appreciation as they descend Park Central Road, which was used in the opposite direct as race section #2 in past years.

As Gran Route riders approach mile 71 they need to take in a deep breath, shake out their legs and prepare for the hardest segment of the day, (this segment also counts as a time segment for Medio Route riders). Section #4 is 11.4 miles +1203 feet and will test every rider’s ability! The segment starts by gaining 784 feet over the first 4.6 miles and then continues for a challenging and undulating 6.8 miles on top of the mountain ridge on Gambrill Park Road through Frederick Watershed and into Gambrill State Park. After completing time section #4, riders will have over 1000 feet of elevation on their side as they drop off the mountain range and into the valley towards the finish, but completing the route in not over, there are still some hills that are sure to make riders know they are still alive. Riders will return back into historic downtown Fredrick and be welcome to well deserved festivities at the finish line, complete with great food, beverage, and more fun.

For information regarding our COVID-19 safety plan, navigate to https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/covid19-safety-plan