Cycling competition with international flair could bring crowds, cash to Bangor - Mainebiz

It may not be the Tour de France, but a cycling event that debuts in Bangor next summer should bring in thousands of visitors, hundreds of athletes and at least one world-class pedal-pusher.

The Gran Fondo Hincapie Series will include a mix of long-distance races and recreation in and around Bangor on Aug. 6, 2022. The event models European ones — “gran fondo” is Italian for “big ride” — and the Maine Sports Commission expects a turnout of 800 cyclists for the first event. Bangor is also contracted for ones in 2023 and 2024.

The Bangor Gran Fondo is open to riders of all abilities and offers three routes, each of which will start at Waterfront Park and have a different level of difficulty. The most grueling ride, 83 miles long, will head south as far as Castine and then return.

Each rider will be timed and can compete for prizes — including a $5,000 purse for the top junior cyclists. There will also be free jerseys and swag, music, food and a family-friendly Riders Festival. Hincapie Sportswear, a South Carolina-based cycling goods company that’s coordinating the event along with the city and other local sponsors, calls the day a “celebration of all things cycling.” 

Maine Sports Commission Director Sheila Brennan Nee said in a news release, “An event of this caliber will naturally help elevate Maine as a premier cycling destination, in addition to bringing a significant economic impact to the host and surrounding communities.

“Eight hundred to 2,000 cyclists are projected over the three-year period. The majority of riders will be joined by family members and friends, extending their stay to experience all that Maine has to offer in the summertime.”

Joe Coddington, technical director at Gran Fondo Hincapie, said, "We at Hincapie events are so excited to expand our series of events to Bangor, Maine in 2022. Bangor has everything we look for in an event town. The way the community welcomed us on our visit and the quality of the riding, food, and beer, we knew that it was the next home for Gran Fondo Hincapie."

Courtesy / Gran Fondo Hincapie Organization

The Bangor Gran Fondo route loops between Bangor and Castine, covering 83 miles. Cyclists will face a total elevation of 5,200 feet, including two steep hills over 400 feet high.

Bike business

One cyclist who’s already visited Bangor and who will be leading the pack there next August is the sportswear company’s founder, George Hincapie, a former professional racer who competed in the Tour de France 17 times. He also raced as a teammate of Lance Armstrong, won three U.S. National Road Race championships and participated in five Olympic Games.

Hincapie retired from racing in 2012 after admitting that he had used performance-enhancing substances during his career. A native of New York City, he now lives near Greenville, S.C., where his company launched its first Gran Fondo nine years ago.

Hincapie has since added a Gran Fondo in Chattanooga, Tenn. In addition to the Bangor ride, the company is planning to launch one in Pennsylvania next year.

George Hincapie chose the Bangor routes himself after visiting Maine, and he plans to ride in Bangor next summer, the release said. Participants can even take a warm-up ride with him, once they pay VIP registration fees that range up to $2,500.

Cycling has become increasingly popular during the pandemic, and long-distance cycling events can be money-makers for local economies.

The Trek Across Maine, an annual fundraising ride for the American Lung Association, drew 1,700 participants in 2019 before going virtual last year. The 180-mile tour through central Maine included a “Trek Takeover” block party in downtown Lewiston.

“The response to the event was extremely positive and boosted sales and awareness of local businesses ranging from shops to restaurants that saw a spike in customers,” said Mike Dostie, board chairman of the Downtown Lewiston Association and event chairman of the block party.

A 2017 study by the University of Minnesota found that attendees at such rides and other cycling events spent, on average, $121 per day.

Courtesy / Gran Fondo Hincapie Organization

George Hincapie

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