Ruthless 719 Ride Returns for the 2024 SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series

March 7, 2024

Distinctive Colorado Springs cycling event continues as a US Gran Fondo National Championships qualifier in 2024

Gettysburg, PA – March 7, 2024 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Gran Fondo National Series is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with the 719 Ride cycling event in Colorado Springs. For the second year, 719 Ride participants can earn points toward the season-long Gran Fondo National Series Points Competition and qualify for the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships. Participants will also compete for generous prizes courtesy of event sponsors Flow Formulas, Garda Bike Hotel, SRM, Wahoo, Ride With GPS, Industry Nine and CTS.

In its ninth year, the 719 Ride Elevation Celebration and Festival of Never-ending Ascending offers a ruthless tour of repetition with a ridiculous amount of elevation gain – 9,190’ in its signature distance (71.9 miles) and 12,800’ in its 100-mile distance. The sweat and fatigue will occur on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

For as low as $40, significantly less than most events, and with other registration options offering more “luxury,” cyclists can ride a 14.4-mile course in the shadow of Pikes Peak as long as their legs, lungs and minds are up for the task. Riders can complete as many laps as they desire for the same registration, and registration opens on March 11, 2024.

“We consistently hear from our participants that the 719 Ride is lots of fun and has ‘great vibes’ while being intensely challenging. However, what makes the event appealing to both hardcore and more casual cyclists alike is that each person can tailor the challenge to his or her fitness level with the number of laps ridden or by riding a lap or two on the main route and then some on the SE, our slightly easier course. I believe the 719 Ride offers a distinctive experience, and I’m excited to welcome the SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series competitors back to our ‘forge of personal excellence’ in 2024.” — Chris Giovagnoni, Founder

As part of the Series, points will be awarded based on two timed sections of the main 719 Ride course. To qualify for the Gran Route standings, riders must complete at least five laps. Rankings will be determined by the sum of a rider’s five fastest timed segments on both sections. For the Medio Route, a rider must complete three or four laps, and rankings will be determined by the sum of a rider’s three fastest timed segments on both sections. Piccolo Route riders must complete at least two laps, and rankings will be determined by a rider’s fastest cumulative time on both segments.

“The 719 Ride is a great addition to the SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series because it provides cyclists in the Rocky Mountain region with more opportunities to qualify for the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, which is a also UCI Gran Fondo World Championships qualifying event this year,” said Gran Fondo National Series Founder, Reuben Kline.

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. Masters (30+) champions from the 2023 and 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships qualify for 2024 and 2025 UCI World Championships, respectively.

About the 719 Ride

The 719 Ride is a homegrown, locally organized cycling event in Colorado Springs riding in the draft of many great and long-established Colorado cycling events. It exists to celebrate the tradition, lore and culture of cycling and help set the pace for cycling fun in the Rocky Mountain region. The 719 Ride is the official cycling event of the 2024 Rocky Mountain State Games.