“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>
Get a free Giordana cycling jersey when you subscribe to Velo with Outside+! It’s our way of celebrating the 2024 Road World Championships in Zurich. Includes free shipping. Hurry, ends Sept. 29.
>”,”name”:”in-content-cta”,”type”:”link”}}”>Join now.
Before Hurricane Helene unleashed a torrent of destruction and devastation on western North Carolina, the Gran Fondo Hincapie was scheduled to run its 13th edition on October 19 in neighboring Greenville, South Carolina.
Now, the event has a new focus: Gran Fondo Hincapie will instead be held as a fundraising event for the local community impacted by the hurricane.
“We initially thought that we were going to cancel the event,” said Rich Hincapie, President of Hincapie Events. “But then I realized that we could use the Gran Fondo to draw attention to the massive devastation in our area and turn the entire thing into a huge fundraising effort.
This year’s event will feature a new, modified 19-mile course that is completely within Greenville County.
“We do not want to take away any police, rescue, or emergency support from North and South Carolina, and so we chose a course with minimal intersections and traffic,” said Jamie Godfrey, Hincapie event manager. “Our top priority is our staff and participants’ safety, so we developed a course that has clear roads and does not go into North Carolina.”
All three distances of the Gran Fondo will still be offered with participants completing multiple laps depending on their distance. The Piccolo will complete one lap of the course; the Medio will do three laps; and the Gran will do four laps. There will be one rest stop along the course loop at mile 6.5, manned by Hincapie staff and volunteers, and Highway 11 will be closed for the entire event.
All other programming aspects of the Fondo weekend have been tailored to maximize fundraising, including special dinners, live auctions, and targeted events.
The weekend kicks off on October 18 with the Hincapie Sportswear Warehouse Sale. That night, participants can mingle with former pros Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, and Jan Ullrich at the Celebrity Chef Dinner
A portion of the revenue from the entire weekend, including the the above events, will be donated to the Polk County Community Foundation.
According to Rich Hincapie, Polk County was selected as the recipient of raised funds due to its longstanding support of and relationship with the event.
“While we understand that many counties are in need, we want to focus on our neighbors in Polk County who have partnered with us and supported our Gran Fondo event for thirteen years,” he said. “Our friends in North Carolina have supported this event for over a decade. Now, it is our turn to give back to them and help them rebuild their community.
“We selected Polk County as this is the home of Saluda, Tryon, and Columbus, all of which have gladly hosted rest stops, partnered with our event, and cheered us on during our Gran Fondo Hincapie Greenville rides.”
Held since 2012, Gran Fondo Hincapie originated as a retirement ride and celebration for retired professional and Olympic cyclist George Hincapie. Today, Gran Fondo Hincapie hosts events in Arkansas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and California, in addition to the Greenville event.
Online registration is still open for Gran Fondo Hincapie Greenville through October 13 and will be available on-site Friday and Saturday at the event. Donate to the Polk County Community Foundation here.
