Gran Fondo Hincapie announces official courses for Merced event; only gravel event in series

January 16, 2025

March event will take riders on gravel roads through the foothills and ranchlands of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Greenville, S.C., (Jan. 16, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Gran Fondo Hincapie has been creating cycling experiences for over 13 years and today announces the official courses for their Merced, Calif. event, the only West Coast and gravel event of the Gran Fondo series. Taking place on March 15, and in partnership with El Capitan Hotel Merced and the City of Merced, this is the second year the Hincapie team will host its event in Merced. The event brings a multi-day cycling celebration with scenic and epic rides delivering stunning views, challenging climbs, fast descents, and a post-ride Family Fun Festival. Registration is now open.

Riders will experience an abundance of rolling hills through California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. See below for the course specifics:

• Gran – 81 miles, 4945 ft of elevation, 3 rest stops, 3 timed Speed Zones, 49% gravel
• Medio – 61 miles, 2305 ft of elevation, 2 rest stops, 2 timed Speed Zones, 45% gravel
• Piccolo – 6.5 miles out-and-back loop on the bike path

“The courses in Merced are what gravel dreams are made of,” said Joe Coddington, Technical Director for Gran Fondo Hincapie. “Wide open roads rolling through some of the most beautiful ranch lands the West has to offer paired with views of the Sierra Nevada mountains make this one impossible to forget.”

The Gran Fondo Hincapie offers more than just a big ride—it’s a multi-day cycling celebration. By registering for a Hincapie event, you’re signing up for an unforgettable experience that includes an epic ride and a Family Fun Festival, all included in the registration fee. After Saturday’s ride, enjoy the post-ride festival, featuring gourmet food, live entertainment, podium awards, giveaways, sponsor activations, and drinks alongside hundreds of other riders including cycling pros, celebrities, weekend warriors, and first-time riders. Retired pros, including Olympian and former American professional road cyclist George Hincapie (the event’s namesake), and Iván Domínguez, former Cuban/USA professional road cyclist will be among the Merced event participants.

Riders also receive an event jersey, chip timing, on-course SAG support, fully stocked rest stops, and complimentary participant photography. To pick up your event jersey on-site (rather than having it shipped later), be sure to register by January 20.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Hincapie event back and to once again serve as the hotel sponsor. The El Capitan Hotel truly stands at the heart of the event weekend,” said Robin Donovan, Managing Director at El Capitan Hotel Merced. “Last year, the event brought significant community impact, with downtown businesses thriving and many local vendors actively participating. This event not only creates a fantastic economic opportunity for our community but also serves as a vibrant platform to showcase all that Merced has to offer.”

Gran Fondo Merced kicks off the 2025 Hincapie season. There are four additional world-class events on the calendar for this year; the next taking place in Chattanooga, Tenn. (May 3), then Lehigh Valley, Pa. (May 31), Bentonville, Ark. (Sept. 7-8), and finally Greenville, S.C. (Oct. 18), which is where it all started back in 2012. Registration is now open for 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 Merced 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 launching 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.

Media Contact:

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Alexa McRoberts

alexa@verdepr.com