2020 Supporters List

Active Fundraisers

To see who is actively working to raise funds in support of Cancer Journeys Foundation Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, visit the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo fundraising portal, where you can also support an individual fundraiser or contribute to the event-wide fundraising goal.

At the conclusion of active fundraising (Oct. 1, 2020) this page will be updated to reflect the names of participants who actively gathered contributions in support of The Prostate Cancer Awareness Project and will be listed in order of most funds raised.

Additional Contributions

Alpine Loop Gran Fondo participants are also showing their support for the charitable mission of the event by making additional contributions along with their registrations into the event. This list will be updated periodically through September 2020. This list was updated September 11, 2020. For these contributions, thanks to the following:

Champions of the Gran Fondo:
John Filicicchia
Jane Gray
Vincent Kelly – In honor of Frank Kelly
Dick Koch
GMike Rodgers – In honor of Richard Rodgers
Barry Sherry
Michael L. Smith

Gran Fondo Supporters:
Curtis Berkey
Kevin Drawbaugh
Ed Edmundson
Steve Nagy – In honor of David Carey
Thomas Peddy

Friends of the Gran Fondo:
Craig Beaumont
Michael Howard
Paul Lengermann

Outstanding Participants:
Dan Behrend
W Chris Davis – In honor of Graham Davis
Matthew Freund
Seth Garber
Kathleen Hughes
Richard McAfee
Chioma Ohalete
Mark Pasierb
LC Yarnelle

Those who are giving to the Gran Fondo Scholarship Fund, supporting the Richmond Cycling Corps ongoing mission:
Dan Behrend
Seth Garber
Michael Howard
Thomas Peddy

With thanks to all who will participate in or otherwise support the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

Learn more about the charitable mission of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

2020 Fundraising Incentives Updated

The optional opportunity to support the charitable mission of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo couldn’t be simpler: Just sign up for the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo and give what you can! If you want the option to go above and beyond as a fundraiser, you can use your customized PledgeReg.com fundraising page (automatically created with event registration) to recruit additional contributions toward the charitable mission.

For 2020 the following additional incentives are available to those who meet the following fundraising goals:

Fundraising for Prostate Cancer Awareness Project
$25: 1 Pair PCAP Cycling Socks, available to first 25 individuals to reach goal
$50: Cancer Journeys Foundation “CJ” Mascot, available to first 40 individuals to reach goal
$100: Special media feature on Alpine Loop Gran Fondo and PCAP social channels, and $10 Road ID gift card
$250: $50 Road ID gift card
$350: Cancer Journeys Foundation Michael Valenti cycling jersey
$500: Choice of 1-year Strava Premium membership OR 1-year Zwift membership
$750: Relive Club membership OR TrainingPeaks Premium account upgrade (either incentive for 12-month period)
$1,000: Free Entry 2021 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo
Top Fundraiser: Personalized Loopie print

There will be additional fundraising prizes announced throughout the season to recognize early-season efforts, some mid-season fundraising “sprint” competitions, and some late-season incentives.

Updates:
September Week 1: Top-3 Fundraisers win CJF USA Flag face mask
September Week 2: Top-3 Fundraisers win ALGF Farmhouse Mug
September Week 3: Top-2 Fundraisers win 12oz Box Chestnut Ridge Coffee Roasters El Salvador Cacahuatique
September Week 4: Top Individual Fundraising leap from September 21 – 27 wins Friendly City Fortune Ticket

One hundred percent of contributions received via PledgeReg.com in support participant fundraising will go directly to Cancer Journeys Foundation Prostate Cancer Awareness Project. All additional contributions made with registration will go directly to the event beneficiaries – you can even chose to designate these contributions through the registration process. As added incentive, contributors who give above and beyond, raising $100 or more, will be recognized leading up to the event and on the start line.

When we roll up to the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo start line, each participant will have had the chance to contribute to the charitable mission of the event – and we’ll see how much we can give when we all give together!

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Thank you for joining us in support of these incredible and effective initiatives and organizations!

Free Virtual Backgrounds

Now you can share the inspiring scenery of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo in your virtual gathering spaces.

We’ve formatted some of our favorite Alpine Loop Gran Fondo photos so you can download them here and apply them wherever you meet virtually. These iconic settings can serve as reminders of great adventure and inspiration for all those to come.

To download, click on the photo(s) to open the full file and then save to your device.

As a reminder, thousands of inspiring photos of individuals on course at previous editions of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo are available from our dedicated event photography teams. To find images from previous event years, search event year and “photos” in the search bar above, or hover on the Coverage tab and select Photos from the drop-down menu.

Virtual Training Rides

Missing your Saturday morning group ride? Now you can join Jeremiah Bishop and other members of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo cycling community each Saturday as part of the 10-week Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Virtual Training Ride series.

Each Virtual Training Ride will be hosted on Zwift, and will have a specific workout or training goal communicated in advance. Participation is free and open to anyone registered for the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo and those who have participated in previous editions of the event.

The 10th and final virtual training ride of the spring is USAC Chase Race, Saturday, June 13, at 9:45AM (Eastern). Ride details:

To join the Chase Race and select your route here.

Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Joins BikeReg Saddle Up Challenge

The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo registration partner, BikeReg.com, has announced the BikeReg Saddle Up Challenge as a virtual multi-week challenge to connect cyclists, create friendships, motivate, and inspire one another. The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo has donated two free entries into the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo to the virtual event to add to their growing list of impressive prizes. Saddle up and join the challenge!

The Saddle Up Challenge benefits Direct Relief in their work of coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations and businesses in the U.S. and globally to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to coronavirus.

COVID-19 and 2020 Event Insight

Update in regard to COVID-19 pandemic: The State of Virginia is currently operating in a State of Emergency and has implemented stay-at-home measures and other restrictions limiting gatherings. Non-essential businesses are closed. USA Cycling has suspended all event permits through May 31, at the earliest.

We are monitoring these restrictions and their projected timelines of relaxation which will be dependent upon state-wide health measures, and learning more about future requirements for events to operate. Limits on participant numbers, the feasibility and affordability of implementing new safety measures, constraints on health systems, local regulations, lodging options, travel restrictions, projected participant numbers, and most importantly the health and safety of everyone involved will factor into the decision about how and if the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo will take place as planned.

No matter the in-person constraints that could face us this September, the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo community will come together. Virtual or decentralized real-world challenges could be offered for 2020 registrants, and the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project is dedicated to  awarding winners jerseys in those circumstances.

To answer the question “should I register for the event right now?” following is some insight: As always, the event operates with a no-refunds policy in place for event entry fees. (There will be dates before which merchandise items can be refunded, that information will be communicated in advance, as applicable.) The most responsible advice that we can give to anyone considering registering for the 2020 during this time when non-essential businesses are closed and events are prohibited is to simply wait. We anticipate that by early summer, it will be made clear if and how we can reasonably proceed. At that time we will reach out to 2020 registrants and the greater community.

We continue to be inspired by the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo community. We enjoy the new ways we are sharing our adventures; exercising and training together virtually, sharing recounts of our solo outdoor cycling experiences, and talking through the challenges to find new training strategies, goals, and mental health resources.

The ongoing fundraising support for the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project has been remarkable.

We continue to plan for 2020. Our goals are unchanged: to bring together an inspiring group of cyclists and supporting your fitness along the way – no matter how twisting and uncharted the road ahead appears to be this year.

In the meantime, as always, we invite you to join Jeremiah Bishop, Cancer Journeys Foundation and The Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, and other members of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo community in ongoing engagements, challenges, virtual group rides, and conversations on our social channels.

2020 Event Jersey Unveiled

We are proud to unveil the 2020 Celebration Edition Alpine Loop Gran Fondo cycling jersey, custom designed in collaboration with Cutaway USA for the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

The 2020 design evokes a celebratory confetti burst over a cubic interpretation of the event’s Allegheny Mountains.

Available in Men’s and Women’s cuts. Jerseys feature three elastic rear pockets, mesh side panels, full zip. Club Cut. See sizing guides prior to purchase. 

2020 event jerseys are available for purchase with event registration or as a unique transaction, both at BikeReg.com/GranFondo. Order by July 22 to guarantee your jersey.

UPDATE: Jerseys will be mailed with 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo #MyGranFondo packets.

Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Video as Experienced by The Vegan Cyclist

For a first-person perspective of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo as experienced by The Vegan Cyclist, check out Chasing Young Bucks Around at Jeremiah Bishop’s Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. You’ll  have a peak at the mountain climbs, hear a lot of “vegan excuses,” get the VC breakdown of the best bike for the course, see the big reveal of a special summit, and watch as the experience comes full circle. It’s likely to leave you inspired to take on your own Alpine Loop Gran Fondo adventure.

The Vegan Cyclist is a self-described cat 2 road cyclist living in California. His videos consist of well-produced cycling tips, amateur race breakdowns with power overlays, and vlogs of his days at the races. His content and opinions are his own.

2020 Registration is LIVE

The 10th edition of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo will take place September 27, 2020.

Registration for the 2020 event is now LIVE at www.BikeReg.com/GranFondo.

The event is capped, and will fill in advance. Hopeful participants are encouraged to register early.

The Alpine Loop route will feature unpaved dirt and gravel roads, and the event offers many of the classic paved routes as well.

2020 fundraising will support the Cancer Journeys Foundation Prostate Cancer Awareness Project.

The Challenge of the Alpine Loop

Mountains Worthy of a Grand Tour, the Grit and Character of a Classic

Jeremiah Bishop’s favorite training route earned its nickname with glorious mountain top meadows, winding climbs and hillside farms reminiscent of the Austrian, German and Swiss settings where he has competed.

Now this magnificent scenery is the backdrop for the most challenging and adventurous Gran Fondo in the United States. The route begins in Harrisonburg, Virginia and covers 110 miles featuring over 11,000 feet of climbing dirt road mountain climbs.

If you want to take on the Alpine Loop, you must be aware of the unique challenges presented by the road surfaces and terrain, and follow equipment requirements.

We welcome you to join in the adventure.

Route maps and profiles are available on the Route Page.