Gran Fondo Hincapie returns to Chattanooga on May 3

March 13, 2025

Designed for riders of all ability levels, May bike event will feature challenging routes, stunning Tennessee landscapes, and winding mountain roads.

Greenville, S.C. (March 13, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Gran Fondo Hincapie has been creating cycling experiences for over 13 years and is excited to return to Chattanooga, Tenn., this Spring for its eighth year. Taking place on May 3, registration is now open, and participants who register by March 23 will receive their free event jersey at packet pickup (rather than having it shipped after the event).

On Saturday at 8 a.m., starting from the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, riders will wind their way through downtown city streets in the center of the River City and then up into the scenic mountain roads along the Tennessee River and Suck Creek. Below are the course specifics for each of the three distances:

• Gran – 79 miles, 5612 ft of elevation, 3 rest stops, 3 timed Speed Zones/KOMs
• Medio – 57 miles, 3952 ft of elevation, 3 rest stops, 2 timed Speed Zones, 1 KOM
• Piccolo – 10 miles, 463 ft of elevation, 1 climb/Speed Zone

“Gran Fondo Hincapie is an incredible event that brings riders of all ages and skill levels from across the country and internationally, right here to Chattanooga,” says Barry White, Chattanooga Tourism Co. President and CEO. “Our community is thrilled to host this cycling celebration, where the challenge of the course meets the excitement of a post-ride festival, making it a must-experience weekend for participants and locals alike.”

Hincapie Gran Fondo events are acclaimed for the cycling celebrities in attendance, such as Olympian and former American professional road cyclist George Hincapie (the event’s namesake), who will ride alongside the event participants, as well as the event organizer’s careful attention to safety, on-course SAG support, course and segment timing, fully stocked rest stops, complimentary participant photography, and a free Family Fun Festival post-ride. These attributes make Hincapie events more than just a big ride—they’re multi-day cycling celebrations. The post-ride festival and expo, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, will feature gourmet food by chef Biju Thomas, live entertainment, podium awards, giveaways, sponsor activations, and drinks alongside hundreds of other riders.

Other weekend festivities include a Night with the Stars dinner on Friday night. Located in the heart of Downtown Chattanooga, riders are invited to join George for great food and top-rated wine, all in the ambiance of the twinkling lights and the quiet garden of the Waterhouse Pavilion at Miller Plaza (tickets available). A Hincapie Sportswear Warehouse Sale will also take place on Friday from 12 to 5 p.m., offering attendees an opportunity to grab fresh new gear at excellent prices. A SRAM happy hour will round out Friday’s activities from 3 to 5 p.m., with complimentary beverages from official sponsor and local favorite Tennessee Brew Works.

This is the second Hincapie Gran Fondo event of the year. The first event took place in Merced, Calif., in March, and the next event will travel to Lehigh Valley, Pa., on May 31. The final event will take place Oct. 18 in Greenville, S.C., where the Hincapie Gran Fondo events started in 2012. Registration is now open for all of the 2025 events.

To learn more about Gran Fondo Hincapie, please visit https://hincapie.com/ or follow along on social media on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

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Photos from Hincapie Gran Fondo Chattanooga 2024 HERE (Credit: Hincapie)

General Hincapie Gran Fondo photos HERE (Credit: Hincapie)

About Hincapie

Cycling is our life. It’s what we know, and it’s who we are. But we are not a bike company. We’re a people-who-ride-bikes company. We are cyclists, and we are makers. We are master craftsmen of custom-made, high-performance cycling apparel. Our team is our family. Not only do we design our cycling apparel, but we also make it in our family-run factory. We also create and run upscale cycling events. We have a restaurant and hotel that hosts visiting cyclists from all over the world. We manage a spring series of races. Cycling inspires everything we do, and every day we work even harder to improve the sport, make it more accessible to others, and build a strong community for future cyclists. Join us on our journey.

​​About George Hincapie

George Hincapie is a retired professional road cyclist who was one of the most accomplished American cyclists of his generation. Over his 19-year career, he competed in 17 Tours de France, the most of any American cyclist, participated in five Olympic Games, and excelled in the Spring Classics, including winning Gent-Wevelgem in 2001 and securing multiple top-10 finishes in Paris-Roubaix. Since retiring from professional cycling in 2012, Hincapie has remained active in the sport as a co-founder of Hincapie Sportswear, which specializes in cycling apparel, and launched a professional cycling team. He is also the co-owner of Hotel Domestique, a luxury cycling destination in South Carolina, and hosts the Gran Fondo Hincapie series with his family.

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Alexa McRoberts

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