Jeff Case and Jennifer Thornton-Brooks emerged as the standout performers at Gran Fondo Asheville on Sunday 19 July, winning the men’s and women’s Gran competition respectively at one of the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship qualifying events.
Hosted in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Gran Fondo Asheville is part of the Gran Fondo National Series, where riders compete on timed segments rather than overall elapsed riding time. Strong performances also count toward qualification for the 2026 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, scheduled for September in Maryland.
Case, of Pelzer, South Carolina, produced the fastest combined segment time on the Gran Route, stopping the clock in 51:32. Brian Musum, from nearby Brevard, North Carolina, finished just 5 seconds behind after a closely contested battle across the four timed sections, while Asheville’s Taylor Delhagen completed the podium 47 seconds off the winning pace.
The women’s fastest Gran Route rider was Jennifer Thornton-Brooks of Boone, North Carolina, whose time of 56:33 placed her 15th overall. Madison Maloney finished second among the women at 58:40 , with Lia Sprouse third in 56:47.
On the Medio Route, Juan Martinez of Palmetto, Florida, claimed overall honours in 28:17. Youngblood Haske finished second, 24 seconds behind, while Alberto Morales rounded out the podium 50 seconds off the winning time.
Solana Larrea was the fastest woman on the Medio Route, finishing in 29:37, ahead of Emma Ballestas, who crossed the line 7 seconds later.
Gran Fondo Asheville continues to be one of the flagship events on the Gran Fondo National Series calendar and, in June, USA Cycling confirmed it will also host the 2027 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, further cementing Asheville’s place as one of the country’s premier gran fondo destinations.
Gran Fondo Asheville results HERE
Photo Credit: Gran Fondo National Series
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