THANK YOU FOR A GREAT
Boone GRAN FONDO WEEKEND!
Participant photos are available. Follow our Facebook and Instagram channels, and share your own experiences at Gran Fondo Asheville by tagging your photos with #rideforthis!
Photo Gallery
BIG NEWS!
Espresso News, located just across the street from the Boone Gran Fondo start area, will open early at 7:00 AM on Sunday morning for all of your pre-event coffee needs!
BOONE GRAN FONDO RIDER ROADBOOK
The 2021 Boone Gran Fondo Asheville is available as a PDF download. The information is also available in the Boone Gran Fondo App, powered by Ride with GPS. In both you will find:
Packet Pickup times and locations
Parking information
Course details
Elevation profiles
Timed segment details
Turn-by-turn navigation (app only)
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN ROLLERCOASTER
The rural roller-coaster roads around Boone are a ton of fun, and quite challenging. The climbs aren’t very long, but that means there’s not a lot of time for recovery on the descents, either. This is a great course for all-around riders.
WESTERN CAROLINA’S COOLEST TOWN
In mid-summer, the High Country of North Carolina enjoys 80-degree temperatures while the surrounding East Coast temperatures hover in the high 90s. Early August is a prime time to be in Boone!
SUPPORTIVE FAMILY ATMOSPHERE
The laid back atmosphere of this western North Carolina college town is contagious. One of the smaller fields for a Gran Fondo National Series event, the Boone Gran Fondo has a supportive, family feel, particularly when we all gather for great local food, cold beer, and fantastic raffle prizes after a challenging and competitive ride.
SAFETY AND SUPPORT
Most cyclists can’t discover how great the riding is in Boone because long loops are difficult to self-support. But you can ride with confidence on the marked and marshaled course, supported by law enforcement, safety motos, mechanic and sag vehicles, and staffed feed stations.
PRICES AND DATES
| PRICE PERIOD | GRAN | MEDIO | PICCOLO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until January 10, 2021 | $120 | $100 | $65 |
| Jan 11 - July 8, 2021 | $130 | $110 | $75 |
| July 9 - July 23, 2021 | $140 | $120 | $85 |
| July 24 - July 28, 2021 | $160 | $140 | $105 | July 29 - On-site | $175 | $155 | $120 |
COURSE MAPS & TIMED SEGMENTS
DOWNLOADABLE COURSE MAPS
The routes will be very well marked, but we encourage you to get the RideWithGPS App and load the route to your smart phone or GPS. Use this RSVP LINK to access premium RideWithGPS features and get turn by turn navigation for free.
TIMED SEGMENT MAPS AND PROFILES
Time Sections: (THE COMPETITION) – This is not a start-to-finish race. Your overall time from start to finish does not matter for this competition. Only the timed segments count. Your overall, age group, and gender rankings are determined by your combined time for all timed segments on the route you choose. View Complete Rules and FAQ.
ABOUT THE COURSE
In mid-summer, the High Country of North Carolina enjoys 80-degree temperatures while the surrounding East Coast temperatures hover in the high 90s. Early August is a prime time to be in Boone! The Boone Gran Fondo rolls through Appalachian State University and, after just a few turns, climbs beside picturesque Winklers Creek during the first timed section.
After a short downhill and a climb up the gorgeous Shull’s Mill road, the course passes the Blue Ridge Parkway and turns onto Hwy 221. This section of road was hand built in the 1890’s across Grandfather Mountain and served as the Blue Ridge Parkway until the 1980’s. This second timed section is like a paved roller coaster.
After passing the Grandfather Park entrance, the downhill into Linville is a local favorite stretch of road. The route passes through the Avery County seat, the town of Newland. The back roads of Cow Camp and Squirrel Creek lead to the North Toe River Valley. Here, riders enjoy a few tranquil moments in the valley before the ascent, and third timed section, on the back of Beech Mountain.
Another nice downhill waits on the other side. The beautiful Bethel Valley brings riders to a climb to the Tennessee State Line to end the fourth timed section. From here, the route cruises on a very long gradual downhill grade through the valley and communities of Sugar Grove and Valle Crucis before it takes a climb up Laurel Fork and White Oak roads back to the town of Boone.
ITINERARY
Rules
You Must Obey Traffic Laws. This is not a closed course. That means stop at lights and stop signs. Think Safety First.
Do not cause an accident!!!
Be respectful of others on the road!
NEVER CROSS THE CENTER-LINE OF THE ROAD!!!
During all race sections you have the right of way. When you are outside of race sections you do not have the right of way. You will not be racing through any intersections; this means when you come to a sign or signal you should slow down, stop, and be safe.
As you approach the time sections you must travel through the designated area (in your lane of traffic!) so that your chip can be properly read and recorded. The times for your timed sections will be compiled for your review at the finish. 100 mile = 4 timed sections; 55 mile = 2 timed sections; 20 mile = 1 timed section. You can view all the details for timed section on the above map links, click the map icons for details.
Timed sections are open for specific durations. In order to be timed and eligible for awards you must maintain a progression speed between 23mph and 10mph. NOTE: this is progression speed not average speed, progression speed includes all stopped time. Below is a list stating the times sections are open
Watuaga Pioneers Mountain Bike Team
The Watauga Pioneers Mountain Bike Team will be manning our aid stations. To help support them we are accepting donations which will go directly to the team, which currently has 29 student athletes ranging from 6th through 11th grades, and 16 volunteer coaches.
The team is part of NICA - National Interscholastic Cycling Association and is affiliated with the North Carolina State League of NICA.
