Best Road Cycling Events in the Southeast 2024

Strambecco rates the best road cycling events in the Southeast 2024 based on factors including reputation, route quality, location, rider feedback, and the overall uniqueness of the event or race.  Spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi — Southeast terrain features of Strambecco’s best list varies but include many events navigating parts of the Appalachian Mountains along with rolling hills, rich river valleys, and high flat plateaus.  States in the lower part of the region offer significantly flatter terrain amidst beaches, swamps, and wetlands.

The most notable event on Strambecco’s list of best road cycling events in the Southeast 2024 is the Cheaha Challenge, held annually in May.  The Cheaha Challenges is which is a Gran Fondo National Series event which is the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States. The series was the first to implement timed-segment racing into US gran fondo events, and since 2012 has been crowned Gran Fondo National Champions. In 2020, the series partnered with USA Cycling to bring a one-day Gran Fondo National Championship into the portfolio of official USA Cycling National Championship events.  In addition to the Cheaha Challenge, other GFNS events in the region include the Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo, Gran Fondo Boone, Gran Fondo Asheville, and Gran Fondo Florida.

The Cheaha Challenge is also the only qualifying event in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, a series of long-distance cycling races that are held all over the world. These races are open to amateur cyclists who are looking to challenge themselves and compete against other riders from around the globe.  The Series is organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body for international cycling. The series consists of approximately 25 events, each featuring a challenging route through scenic landscapes.  Strambecco rates many of the events that you can see below, and you can see the full calendar of events here.

One of the unique features of the Series is that it allows amateur cyclists to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. This is a prestigious event held annually, and it brings together the best amateur cyclists from around the world to compete for the title of world champion.  The 2023 World Championship is held in Glasgow, Scotland, in August.

Other notable events include two events from the Hinchapie Gran Fondo Series, Hincapie Greenville, and Hincapie Chattanooga.  The Hincapie Gran Fondo Series is a collection of cycling events that take place in various locations across the United States. The series is named after George Hincapie, a retired professional cyclist who participated in 17 Tour de France races and was known for his strong support of his teammates, particularly Lance Armstrong.

Strambecco does not list every event.  We strive to identify and review events that are special and noteworthy.  If you have suggestions on other events we should consider or review, please get in touch with us here or send us a note at editors@strambecco.com.  Strambecco also rates the best MTB and best Gravel Events in the Southeast.