Seventeen-year-old Bennett Rose of Scarsdale, New York, was the fastest man at the 2026 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, held with Gran Fondo Maryland on Sunday 20 September 2026 in Frederick, Maryland.
Placings were decided by combined time over five timed sections, with four for the 14-16 and 70+ age groups. Rose stopped the clock at 01:09:19 to win the 17-18 category, 15 seconds ahead of Tyler Brendel of Bethesda, Maryland, who took the 30-34 title. Rose was also the 14-16 national champion in 2024, and again in 2025.
Madison Maloney, 24, of Hudson, North Carolina, was the fastest woman in 01:19:50. She finished 2 minutes 27 seconds ahead of Jennifer Thornton-Brooks of Boone, North Carolina, last year’s fastest woman, who still defended the 40-44 title.
Andrew Knight of Marietta, Georgia, won the 45-49 category in 01:10:09, extending his streak to a record 5 consecutive national titles. In the 30-34 division, Brendel beat Michael Reidenbach of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, by 13 seconds, with Jeff Case of Pelzer, South Carolina, 15 seconds back. On the shorter course, Nate Beaver of Columbus, Ohio, won the 14-16 category in 01:02:42, 20 seconds ahead of Ari Ebens of New York.
CATEGORY WINNERS (combined timed-segment time; five or four segments as noted)
Female 17-18: Kate Elwell, Mechanicsburg PA, 01:30:26
Female 19-22: Patricia Higgins, Otego NY, 01:37:58
Female 23-29: Madison Maloney, Hudson NC, 01:19:50
Female 30-34: Olivia Brettschneider, Charlotte NC, 01:27:47
Female 35-39: Sarah Watkins, Evansville IN, 01:25:35
Female 40-44: Jennifer Thornton-Brooks, Boone NC, 01:22:17
Female 45-49: Bridgett Widrig, Grawn MI, 01:27:10
Female 50-54: Allison Paul, Hillsborough NC, 01:35:28
Female 55-59: Denise Esposito, Mohegan Lake NY, 01:29:52
Female 60-64: Susan Haid, Pittsboro NC, 01:37:27
Female 65-69: Lynne Anderson, Boulder CO, 01:34:20
Female 70-74: Patricia Caldeira, Crofton MD, 01:25:52 (4-seg)
Female 75-79: Vicky Nielsen, Ogden UT, 02:19:02 (4-seg)
Male 14-16: Nate Beaver, Columbus OH, 01:02:42 (4-seg)
Male 17-18: Bennett Rose, Scarsdale NY, 01:09:19
Male 19-22: Luke Schneider, West Middlesex PA, 01:11:44
Male 23-29: Maxwell Abner, Greenville SC, 01:10:10
Male 30-34: Tyler Brendel, Bethesda MD, 01:09:34
Male 35-39: Justin Spangler, Salt Lake City UT, 01:11:15
Male 40-44: Noah Niwinski, Asheville NC, 01:12:55
Male 45-49: Andrew Knight, Marietta GA, 01:10:09
Male 50-54: Stu Moran, Weaverville NC, 01:17:21
Male 55-59: Raik Huster, Centennial CO, 01:15:45
Male 60-64: Brian White, Cooperstown NY, 01:20:17
Male 65-69: Douglas Pomeranz, Rancho Santa Fe CA, 01:20:30
Male 70-74: Rick Sorenson, Rutland VT, 01:12:41 (4-seg)
Male 75-79: Mark Holt, Williamsburg VA, 01:30:03 (4-seg)
Male 80+: Joe Brookreson, Martinsburg WV, 02:37:42 (4-seg)
View USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships results HERE
Photo Credit: Icon Media Asheville
© 2026 Copyright Gran Fondo Daily News – All Rights Reserved