Ride with Italian Champion Filippo Pozzato at 2024 Gran Fondo Asheville, p/b Applewood Manor
(Gettysburg, PA – January 30, 2024) – Gran Fondo National Series today announced that former professional cyclist Filippo “Pippo” Pozzato will ride the 2024 Gran Fondo Asheville and participate in VIP Experiences at Applewood Manor during the weekend of July 14-16, 2024. Winner of Milan-San Remo, stages of all three Grand Tours, and the Italian Pro National Championship, Pozzato currently organizes professional and amateur cycling events in the Veneto region of Italy.
Pozzato’s connection to Gran Fondo Asheville resulted from an existing partnership between Gran Fondo National Series and Andiamo Cycling, an Italian cycling touring company based out of Garda Bike Hotel in Peschiera del Garda, Italy. Andiamo Cycling is an official tour operator for Pozzato’s VENEtoGO Social Ride, and several Gran Fondo National Series riders and staff attended the event in October 2023.
In addition to the VENEtoGO Social Ride, the Ride the Dreamland project showcases the ancient charm of the Giro del Veneto, the absolute novelty of the Serenissima Gravel, and the spectacle of the Veneto Classic, an unprecedented race with the soul of a Classic and destined to enter the World Tour.
PP Sport Events and Filippo Pozzato have attracted the best pro cyclists to Veneto since 2020, first with the Italian Championships between Cittadella (Padua) and Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza), and then with the Ride the Dreamland project, along with organizing the inaugural Gravel World Championships in Cittadella in 2022.
“Cycling is an international sport and one of the best ways to experience other parts of the world,” said Gran Fondo National Series Founder Reuben Kline. “We had a great time at events organized by Filippo and his company, PP Sport Events, so we invited him to promote his #RIDETHEDREAMLAND events and participate in our events in Asheville, North Carolina.” Pozzato will be joined by Davide Magon, one of Garda Bike Hotel and Andiamo Cycling’s most popular guides.
"For me, cycling is everything and the love for the sport has a truly international language. Being a guest at the Asheville Gran Fondo and meeting enthusiastic cyclists during the VIP Experiences at Applewood Manor is a pleasure," commented Filippo Pozzato.
"I’m looking forward to visiting the United States and cycling among the group to share thoughts, exchange ideas and get to know new realities."
Applewood Manor VIP Experiences with Filippo Pozzato and Davide Magon
Riders will have multiple opportunities to meet and interact with Filippo Pozzato and Davide Magon, including:
· VIP Dinner at Applewood Manor on Friday, July 14: Hosted by Stephen Collins, owner of Applewood Manor, guests will enjoy a gourmet meal and wine pairings from the Manor’s extensive wine collection.
· VIP Packet Pickup and Cookout at Applewood Manor on Saturday, July 15: Enjoy an evening on the grounds of Applewood Manor with special guests.
· Guided and Supported Recon Ride on Saturday, July 15: Join Filippo Pozzato, Davide Magon, and special guests for a spin to preview parts of the Gran Fondo Asheville course.
Registration is open for the 2024 Gran Fondo Asheville, p/b Applewood Manor, and the VIP Experiences with Filippo Pozzato.
About The Applewood Manor (www.applewoodmanor.com)
Built in 1912 and nestled on an acre of towering trees just a short walk from downtown Asheville, The Applewood Manor is a boutique hotel meets bed & breakfast experience, featuring six luxurious suites with highly curated amenities, farm to table dining and bespoke experiential services for cycling, culinary and business leadership. Applewood differentiates and elevates guest experience with the support of an exceptional network of brand partners including Duxiana beds (www.duxiana.com), 1stDibs (www.1stDibs.com) and many others recognized at https://www.applewoodmanor.com/partners.
About Gran Fondo National Series (granfondonationalseries.com)
Founded in 2012 by event director Reuben Kline, the Gran Fondo National Series is the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States. Gran Fondo National Series was the first series to implement timed-segment racing into US gran fondo events and has crowned Gran Fondo National Champions and Gran Fondo National Series Champions since 2012. Since 2020, Gran Fondo National Series has been the organizer of the official USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships.