The Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo 2025, now in its 31st year, takes off annually from Jacksonville, Alabama, and is one of America's top cycling events, if not Alabama’s. Picked by Strambecco as one of the Best Road Cycling Events in the Southeast, this ride is exceptional for every level of rider, and no rider ability from amateur to world tour pro is left out.  Adding to the equation, the Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo is a partner event in the prestigious Gran Fondo National Series and a qualifier event for the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship.  The Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo 2025 is also a UCI Gran Fondo World Series event and a qualifier for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship.  Route options start at a 12-mile cruise and go all the way up to the “big ones,” the popular GFNS and UCI qualifying century with nearly 10,000 ft. of climbing, and the Ultra, an astonishing 126.3-mile route with just under 13,000 feet of climbing! Some of the distances offer the chance to ride up Mount Cheaha, the highest point in the state of Alabama.

The event has a unique history. The Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo was started in 1993 by Mike Vickers, the past president of the Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club. Vickers envisioned a challenging bike ride from Piedmont down Highway 9 up the scenic drive over Cheaha Mountain to Adam's Gap and back. Despite initial doubts, Vickers convinced others that people would come and ride the route. The event is now the largest century ride in Alabama and attracts cyclists from around the world.

Cheaha Challenge Routes

The Cheaha Challenge features six routes, each with its own difficulty level and elevation profile.

• ULTRA: The ultimate challenge, this route covers 126 miles and 13,385 feet of climbing. It follows the same course as the 100-mile route but adds a loop around the Talladega National Forest and the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area. This route is for experienced riders who are ready to push their limits and conquer the toughest terrain in Alabama.
• 100 Mile Challenge: The event's flagship route covers 100 miles and 9,714 feet of climbing. It starts and finishes on the campus of Jacksonville State University and passes through the towns of Piedmont, Heflin, and Delta. Along the way, riders will face challenging climbs, such as White’s Gap, Heflin Mountain, Horseblock, Not Again, OH SHIFT!, Adam’s Gap, and the iconic ascent of Mount Cheaha. This route is a UCI qualifying distance, meaning that the top 25% of finishers in each age group will earn a spot for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
• 84 Mile Challenge: This route covers 84 miles and 7,958 feet of climbing. It follows the same course as the 100-mile route but skips the loop around the Talladega National Forest and the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area. This route is also a UCI qualifying distance but for riders aged 55 and above.
• 62 Mile Challenge: This route covers 62 miles and 5,187 feet of climbing. It follows the same course as the 84-mile route but turns around at the base of Mount Cheaha. This route is ideal for riders who want to experience the beauty and challenge of the Cheaha Challenge but without the extreme distance and elevation.
• 44 Mile Challenge: This route covers 44 miles and 3,280 feet of climbing. It follows the same course as the 62-mile route but turns around at the town of Delta. This route is suitable for riders who are looking for a moderate challenge and a shorter ride.
• 24 Mile Challenge: This route covers 24 miles and 1,476 feet of climbing. It follows the same course as the 44-mile route but turns around at the town of Heflin. This route is perfect for beginners and casual riders who want to enjoy a fun and scenic ride.

All the routes are fully supported, with rest stops, sag vehicles, medical assistance, and mechanical support. Riders will also receive a finisher medal, a t-shirt, a goodie bag, and a post-ride meal.

The Time Trial

In addition to the Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo, the event also features a time trial on Saturday, May 18, 2024. The time trial is a 12-mile race against the clock on a closed course with only three turns, all near the finish. The time trial starts in Piedmont and finishes in Jacksonville, on the same spot as the Gran Fondo. The time trial is open to all riders, regardless of their participation in the Gran Fondo. The time trial is also a UCI qualifying event, meaning that the top three finishers in each age group will earn a spot for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

The Chief Ladiga Cruise

For those who prefer a more leisurely ride, the event also offers the Chief Ladiga Cruise, a family-friendly ride on the Chief Ladiga Trail, a paved rail trail that runs from Anniston, Alabama, to the Georgia state line. The Chief Ladiga Cruise takes place on Sunday, May 19, 2024, and offers three distance options: 50 miles, 25 miles, and 12 miles. The ride starts and finishes at the Pete Mathews Coliseum on Jacksonville State University’s campus and passes through the towns of Weaver, Jacksonville, Piedmont, and Cedartown. The ride is open to riders of all ages and abilities and features rest stops, sag vehicles, and a post-ride meal.

The Surrounding Region

The Cheaha Challenge is more than just a cycling event; it is also an opportunity to explore the region's rich and diverse natural and cultural attractions. The event is located in the midst of four mountain areas: Coldwater, Blue, Choccolocco, and Dugger, and includes the Talladega National Forest, the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area, and the Alabama Scenic River Trail. These areas offer a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife watching. Some of the highlights include:

• Cheaha State Park: The oldest continuously operating state park in Alabama, Cheaha State Park is home to Mount Cheaha, the highest point in the state. The park offers stunning views, hiking trails, waterfalls, a lake, a lodge, cabins, a restaurant, a museum, and a boardwalk.
• Talladega National Forest: A vast and diverse forest that covers 392,567 acres of land, the Talladega National Forest offers scenic drives, hiking trails, camping sites, picnic areas, hunting opportunities, and historical landmarks. The forest is divided into three districts: Oakmulgee, Shoal Creek, and Talladega.
• Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area: A designated wilderness area within the Talladega National Forest, the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area encompasses 9,200 acres of rugged and remote terrain. The area is home to Dugger Mountain, the second highest point in Alabama, and features hiking trails, streams, waterfalls, and wildlife.
• Alabama Scenic River Trail: The longest river trail in a single state, the Alabama Scenic River Trail spans 631 miles of waterways, from the Coosa River to the Alabama River to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The trail offers paddling, boating, fishing, camping, sightseeing opportunities, and access to historical and cultural sites along the way.

About the Gran Fondo National Series

The Gran Fondo National Series was established in 2012 and comprised 10+ European-style rides/races staged in the United States. Every GFNS event offers courses covering 30, 60, and 100-mile journeys through some of the most beautiful and challenging terrains in endurance sports. Timed sections allow riders to compete in specific course segments, while casual cyclists can ride at their own pace. Participants can ride as individuals or on teams. GFNS awards special prizes to the top riders in every age and gender category. 

For the most competitive cyclists, the series partnered with USA Cycling to bring the one-day Gran Fondo National Championship into the portfolio of official USA Cycling National Championship events. The event is held annually, and a national championship jersey and medal are awarded to the overall winner in each Gran Route age group category. The 2023 National Championship event will be held at Gran Fondo, Maryland, in Frederick, Maryland, on September 17.  To compete in the National Championship category, riders must qualify by meeting specific criteria, including results and rankings in Qualification Events. However, all riders are welcome to participate in Gran Fondo Maryland and ride any of the normal Maryland Gran Fondo routes (Gran, Medio, and Piccolo), regardless of qualification status.

GFNS-owned events include Gran Fondo Florida (Dade City FL - March 17), Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo (Helen GA, April 21), Highlands Gran Fondo (Butler NJ - June 2), Gran Fondo Asheville (Asheville NC - July 14), Boone Gran Fondo (Boone NC - Aug 4), and Gran Fondo Maryland (Frederick MD, Sept 15).  Gran Fondo Maryland doubles as the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship.  Partner events include Cheaha Challenge (Jacksonville AL - May 18-19), Vermont Gran Fondo (Bristol VT - June 29), Cache Gran Fondo (Logan UT - July 13), Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill Climb - Gran Fondo (Idaho Springs, CO - July 20), 719 Ride (Colorado Springs - July 20), and Virginia’s Blue Ridge Gran Fondo (Fincastle, VA - Oct 13).  All GFNS races consistently rate among the Best Road Cycling Events in the Southeast, New England, Rockies / Colorado, and Southwest / California. 

About the UCI Gran Fondo World Series

The UCI Gran Fondo World Series (former UCI World Cycling Tour) is a series of UCI-sanctioned races. Some 25-30 qualifier events qualify the top 20% in each age group to the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, the former UCI Masters Road World Championships, where the champions are awarded the coveted rainbow jersey.  While promoting high-level competition for Masters and Amateurs, one of the aims of this series is the globalization of "Cycling for All." With that in mind, the geographical spread of the events is very important, alongside strict organizational and sporting criteria and certain tourism interests. The UCI Gran Fondo World Series concept is focused on both very competitive riders who either miss the skills and talent to become a Pro Elite rider or who still want to compete at a high level at a later age but are also open to enthusiast sport riders who like to keep fit and simple take part in competitive events.  You can see all events listed here:  http://www.ucigranfondoworldseries.com/.