USA Cycling Gran Fondo Championship Becomes World Qualifier

The 2023 and 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships will become an official qualifier event for Masters aiming to compete in the 2024 and 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, the national governing body announced in partnership with the international event organizer.

Masters racers who win competitions in their age group (30+) at the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, September 15, in Maryland, will earn an automatic qualification for the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Riders must meet qualification criteria to compete at the 2024 national championship and can qualify through results and participation at Suarez Gran Fondo National Series events and partner events.

Winners of the Masters categories at USA Cycling’s 2023 Gran Fondo national championship will become automatically qualified for the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo worlds in Aalborg, Denmark, from August 29 to September 1.

“We are honored to have Gran Fondo National Championships recognized as an official qualification event for the 2024 and 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships,” said Gran Fondo National Series Founder Reuben Kline. “The designation as a World Championship Qualification Event is the culmination of producing rider-first gran fondos in the U.S. for more than 12 years, and we look forward to welcoming the top Masters to Frederick, Maryland.”

The Gran Fondo Maryland is is open to all riders. National Championships age groups range from 14 to 75-plus.

“This announcement further illustrates how working together with USA Cycling has allowed us to grow our sport,” Kline added. “Although this news affects Masters racers, our Junior and U23 initiatives also aim to provide expedient identification opportunities for emerging talents.”