Giordana named new title sponsor of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series
In the United States, the fourth season of national championship gran fondo racing will kick off under a different name: the Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series.
In the United States, the fourth season of national championship gran fondo racing will kick off under a different name: the Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series. The name change follows the announcement that Giordana Cycling becomes the series’ new title sponsor in 2016.
Teaming up with Giordana, one of the biggest names in cycling, reflects the remarkable growth of gran fondo cycling in recent years, organizers say.
“As endurance sports enthusiasts seek to expand their options,” said Reuben Kline, the Gran Fondo National Championship Series’ founder and president, “the popularity of gran fondo cycling has grown dramatically over the last few years. This partnership with Giordana is very exciting for us; we look forward to optimizing the opportunity not only to grow the series, but to grow the sport of cycling.”
The prestige of partnering with Giordana is evident from the brand’s other arrangements and sponsorships. Along with supporting many squads across all levels of racing, Giordana, of course, is also well known for providing the Tour de France with the famed yellow leader’s jersey in past editions of the race. Continuing that tradition of partnership and support with the Gran Fondo National Championship Series, authorities with the company said, will be another vital exercise in building the sport for new and current generations.
“We are thrilled to come on board as the title sponsor of such an established, high quality event,” said Giordana Andretta, the brand’s namesake and vice president of Gita, Giordana’s parent company. “After attending one of the Gran Fondos last year I saw what a great event it was for the riders and the local community. It really showcased cycling as a sport that anyone can aspire to.”
Kline expanded on that, discussing the ways that the increasing popularity of gran fondo riding is changing the way that cyclists engage with the sport.
“Historically,” he said, “competitive cycling has not been a user-friendly sport, but with the introduction of the time-segmented gran fond format, this is changing. Cycling enthusiasts from beginner to elite now have an outlet to further engage in the sport, in a more fun, more challenging, and safer way. Giordana’s position, as a very well established industry player in the cycling world, will allow us to continue to build the series and grow the sport of cycling through gran fondo racing.”
The Giordana Gran Fondo National Championship Series events will offer courses covering 30, 60 and 100 miles, across a variety of terrain, which riders can tackle in both recreational and competitive formats. For 2016, the event series schedule is as follows:
- Gran Fondo Florida: March 26, 2016.
- Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo: May 14, 2016
- Highlands Gran Fondo: June 5, 2016
- Gran Fondo Asheville: June 18, 2016
- Boone Gran Fondo: August 7, 2016
- Golden Gran Fondo: August 28, 2016
- Gran Fondo Maryland:(2016 Gran Fondo National Championship) September 18, 2016
