Gran Fondo Hincapie-Greenville was just recently named the #1 gran fondo in the United States by the Gran Fondo Guide website. According to Mark Harding, founder of the site, the fondo was named the #1 fondo because of the “overwhelming fun factor.”
“Gran Fondo Hincapie-Greenville isn’t ‘just a bike ride,’ but an entire weekend of cycling celebrations,” says Harding. “The level of ride support, safety features, catering, hospitality, celebrities, family activities, and live streaming are really world class.”
“We’re very excited about being selected as the #1 gran fondo in the U.S,” says Rich Hincapie. “We started this ride back in 2012 as a retirement celebration ride for George. At that point, I could have never envisioned the event growing to this magnitude only six years later.”
Now, Gran Fondo Hincapie-Greenville brings more than 2000 cyclists to the Greenville area. Headquartered at Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest, the event offers 15-, 50-, and 80-mile routes based on George Hincapie’s Tour de France training rides. Surrounding the ride is a Celebrity Chef Dinner, an After Party, and a family festival with free food, beer, and bouncy houses. Proceeds from the event benefit Meals on Wheels of Greenville.
Rich Hincapie credits the hard work of his staff for growing the event so quickly.
“We have a small team, but they’re all hard workers,” says Hincapie. “They really do an amazing job focusing on the customer experience and striving to create an even better event each year.”
On May 5, 2018, Hincapie will lead his team in the first Gran Fondo Hincapie in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The inaugural ride will begin and end in downtown Chattanooga and have a similar feel to the original Gran Fondo Hincapie in Greenville with celebrity cyclists, 15-, 50-, and 80-mile routes, and a free family festival.
“With the expansion of Gran Fondo to Chattanooga, we now have another #1 goal ahead of us,” says Hincapie.
