Raphael plans to play the National Anthem and ride the 50-mile route for the second annual cycling experience on March 28, 2020.
Harmonica player and music producer Mickey Raphael will help kick off the second annual Gran Fondo Hincapie-Fort Worth ride by playing the National Anthem at the start line. Raphael, who is best known for playing the harmonica alongside Willie Nelson, has also played or recorded with U2, Johnny Cash, Motley Crue, Wynton Marsalis, and Chris Stapleton. In addition to playing, Raphael also writes and records music, including the theme for WEDU and Lance Armstrong’s “THEMOVE” podcast.
At Gran Fondo Hincapie-Fort Worth, Raphael will play the National Anthem before embarking on the 50-mile route. An avid cyclist himself, Raphael began riding 10 years ago while on tour as a way to stay fit and see the world.
The ride begins at 8 a.m. on March 28 and brings more than a thousand cyclists to Fort Worth to ride 15-mile, 50-mile, or 80-mile routes. This year’s start/finish will be located at Sundance Square in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. Proceeds for the event will benefit FitWorth, a family-focused initiative tasked with promoting healthy and active lifestyles through an individualized and sustainable approach to community wellness.
The original Gran Fondo Hincapie, located in Greenville, SC, and now in its eighth year, has topped charts and received stellar reviews, acclaimed for the cycling celebrities in attendance, as well as the careful attention to safety, on-site viewing screens, course and segment timing, live tracking and streaming, live bands at the rest stops, and free family festival. For more information about the series, visit hincapie.com/granfondo.
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Hincapie Events offers races and rides for cyclists of all ages and skill levels. From the season-opening Hincapie Spring Series to the ultimate cycling experience of the Gran Fondo Hincapie, the events create a community of cyclists and celebrate the sport of cycling. For more information about Hincapie Events, visit hincapie.com.
Hincapie Events is among the many companies within the Hincapie brands, which also include Hincapie Sportswear, Hincapie Custom, Hotel Domestique, Experience Domestique, Restaurant 17, and Hincapie|Leomo p/b BMC.
