Event Info

INFORMATION REGARDING FEES HERE

Event Date – June 24th, 2023

The Vermont Gran Fondo is a non-competitive ride through Vermont’s Green Mountains. This ride will test your fitness with its challenging climbs. There are amazing views at the top of each gap—savor them for a moment before you speed downhill.

Venue location for 2023: Bristol Rec Park at 110 Airport Drive. Bristol, Vermont.

SCHEDULE:

Friday 6/23 –

Frog Hollow Bikes, 74 Main Street, Middlebury – MAP

3:00 pm to 6:00 pm: Packet pick-up and registration.

Saturday 6/24 -(provisional)

All activities at Bristol Rec Field, 110 Airport Dr, Bristol, VT.

The local Recreation Park has ample space for our venue tent, after-party food vendors, and no shortage of parking at the adjoining High School. We are very excited about the move and the possibilities it brings. Below is a cool video shot by one of our local video artists.

We will be on-site from 5 am. Main venue: 110 Airport Drive, Bristol, VT. Map.

6:00 am – 9:30 am: Packet and timing chip pick up at the main venue. (NOTE: Piccolo route is not timed)

7:00 am – Gran group #1 depart – riders with estimated finish times 8 hrs and over

9:30 am – Medio group depart

10:30 am – Piccolo group depart

1:30 pm – Food serving begins

3:00 pm – Lincoln Gap KOM Awards

7:00 pm – The end.

COURSES & REST STOPS: There are no rest stops at the summits.(provisional)

For segment information, please see the maps on the website.

All course information is up-to-date: http://vermontgranfondo.com/explore-the-course/

Gran Rest Stops:

Fayston (23 miles)
Lincoln (36 miles)
Ripton (45 miles)
Rochester (60 miles)
East Middlebury (89 miles)

Medio Rest Stops:

Lincoln (7 miles)
Ripton (16 miles)
Rochester (33 miles)
East Middlebury (61 miles)

Piccolo Rest Stops:

East Middlebury (20 miles)

Gran Cut-Off time 12:00 pm: At the intersection of Ripton Rd and Rt 125 in Ripton, riders arriving after this time must turn right.

Three ride options for 2022:(provisional)

Difficile, Medio & Piccolo routes will cover small stretches of iconic Vermont dirt roads (approximately 10-20% per course). Dirt surfaces are hard-packed and easily navigable.

Gran Fondo: ~109 miles, ~10,000′ of climbing over Appalachian Gap (west to east), Lincoln Gap (east to west), Middlebury Gap (west to east), and Brandon Gap (east to west).
Medio Fondo ~80 miles, ~6,000′ of climbing -Middlebury Gap (east to west), Brandon Gap (west to east)
Piccolo Fondo: ~40 miles, ~2,800′ of climbing. (no gaps but still some climbing)

Perks:

Three amazingly scenic, challenging, and well-marked routes
Route signage marking every turn, cue sheets, route maps at each rest stop, and course marshals to guide you
Rest stops with the foods you expect at endurance cycling events (PBJ, Hammer Fuels and Fluids, an assortment of fresh fruits), plus a variety of specialty treats
SAG support and mechanical support along the course.
Insurance coverage included in the registration

Mountain Gap Hill Climb Challenge: King and Queen of the Mountain

This year a timed Gap Hill Climb Challenge with KOM & QOM trophies will be awarded to the top three men and women. The most challenging gap of the course will be designated as the challenge. As part of the Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS), we will be timing each gap KOM for the GFNS points but only awarding Lincoln Gap for VTGF awards at this time.

Riders seeking a bit of additional motivation can empty the tank by attempting to set personal bests and compare themselves to others on each gap. Upload your climb times (for any or all of the four gaps) via Garmin or iPhone to Strava and compare your times on our event KOM and QOM segments for each gap.

Driving Directions:

All of the weekend’s activities are centered at the Bristol Rec. Club on 110 Airport Drive, Bristol, Click here for directions.

Parking:

There is one main parking lot, within easy walking or riding distance to the registration area and start.

At the venue at 110 Airport Drive.

*If road closure or construction affects access to a designated ‘Gap Challenge’, the most challenging gap will become the ‘Gap Challenge.’