Riders will have three route options both Saturday and Sunday. The longest option each day is the official race route and will be timed. (The other two routes will not be timed.) The race routes also include an additional timed segment within each route - a loop on Saturday and a climb on Sunday.
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Awards will be presented for each day's race stage, and for the timed loop and timed climb. We will also have awards for the lowest overall cumulative time for both days on Sunday. Please see the Awards section below for details.
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Deep woods gravel riding should not be attempted without knowing where you're going before you start. Self-navigation is an essential part of the gravel riding ethos. While we will have aid stations on the course with hydration and nutrition, the routes will NOT be marked. It is therefore imperative that you download the routes before you arrive at the event by clicking on the maps below. Cue sheets can also be printed from these maps.
SATURDAY
25 Miles | 2,900 Feet of Climbing | 70% Gravel
Although the distance is relatively short, this route packs a punch, with plenty of climbing & descending. It also provides the perfect introduction to the beauty of the Cherokee National Forest! An aid station with nutrition & hydration will be available at mile 9.5. There is no timing on this route. Click below for a downloadable map.
SUNDAY
25 Miles | 2,900 Feet of Climbing | 50% Gravel
Like Saturday's short route, this 25-miler is much tougher than it sounds, with a hard 3-mile climb early in the ride followed by a series of short steep climbs & descents. An aid station with nutrition & hydration will be available at mile 13. There is no timing on this route. Click below for a downloadable map.
TIMED SEGMENTS
19 Miles | 2,500 Feet of Climbing
For SATURDAY, the timed segment within the 65-mile route is a 19-mile loop that starts off with a 7-mile climb up Smith Mountain. After conquering Smith Mountain, you'll run across the top of Kimsey Mountain Hwy before dropping down a long descent that eventually takes you to the Piney Flats roller coaster. These short climbs don't look like much on the elevation profile, but be prepared for some pain, especially if you're pushing the pace! The timing table at the start/finish of the loop will also double as an aid station with hydration and nutrition. Click below for a closer look.
AWARDS
TOP
3
65-MILE STAGE
Male / Female / Single-Speed
TOP
3
19-MILE LOOP
Male / Female /
Single-Speed
Please note that all racers must STOP and check in at the timing table at the beginning and end of the timed loop to ensure that their time is properly noted. Racers must also STOP at the timing table at the finish line to ensure that their stage time is properly noted.
