Approximately 2,300 race participants expected at St. Luke’s Plaza

TRYON – Gran Fondo Hincapie bicyclists will be making a pit stop at St. Luke’s Plaza in downtown Tryon during the fifth annual race on October 22. The race, created by Rich Hincapie, brother of Tour de France competitor George Hincapie, will stretch from Travelers Rest into Tryon, and beyond.

Participants can compete in one of three versions of the Hincapie event. The Gran stretches 80 miles and loops from Travelers Rest up into Tryon, Columbus and Saluda before returning to Greenville and Hotel Domestique. The full circle includes rides through the Green River Cove, Howard’s Gap and Skyuka Mountain. Participants can also register for sections of the course in the 50-mile Medio or 15-mile Piccolo races.

Approximately 2,300 participants will be riding through town between 9:40 and 11:30 a.m. up from Greenville, S.C. and refueling at St. Luke’s Plaza thanks to the Tryon Tourism Development Authority and Nature’s Storehouse owner John Cash.

Proceeds from the race will benefit Greenville County’s Meals on Wheels.

“We used to have the pit stop here at Nature’s Storehouse because the logistics are great coming through town,” Cash explained. “But, I thought moving it to St. Luke’s Plaza this year would bring greater exposure to the town of Tryon. My involvement is that I know Rich and I’m a bicyclist myself, riding 300 miles every week. I also participate in the race, and there are some big names that participate like Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson. Lance Armstrong was here last year, but he didn’t compete.”

According to Cash, the route travels through Polk, Henderson, Spartanburg and Greenville counties. Participation has seen a 56 percent growth this year, with more than 48 percent riding in the race for the first time this year.

A jumbo television screen will be set up downtown on Trade Street for spectators to watch the entire race. Free pickles, “flat” Coke, purported to reduce cramping, and more than 200 cowbells will be given out to cheer on participants in the race.

Zach Ollis, Tryon town manager, said the Gran Fondo Hincapie has a great influence on the town and tourism overall. He added that law officers will be enforcing traffic during the event on the weekend of Oct. 22.

“We have a large cycling community with a deep history that is intertwined with the roads of Tryon. This internationally covered and sponsored event allows our area to be considered the pinnacle of endurance, consistency and experience within the cycling world,” Ollis said. “As a town, we must capitalize on every beneficial tool that can help and grow and improve our beautiful home. The Town of Tryon believes that this race can allow us to secure name recognition, tourism activity and brand loyalty.”

Mayor Alan Peoples commented on the exposure of Tryon thanks to the Gran Fondo Hincapie and called it a “win, win, win” situation for everyone involved.

“About 20 of us from the town stood outside for over an hour and waved at people and walked with them, and out of 100 people, about six or eight of them came back the next morning and said this was one of the friendliest towns they had ever been in and bought coffee and breakfast at the coffee shop,” Peoples said. “We were thinking, ‘Oh, this is going to be a good idea.’ We can’t go wrong, and with over 2,000 people coming in we can get them to stop here and, suddenly, we’ve become a destination.”

Full race details are online at GranFondoHincapie.com.