The Overland is a 52-mile dirt road bicycle race featuring 6,600 feet of climbing, seven sectors of “Vermont pavé” (unmaintained ancient public roads), two well-fortified sag stops, a magnificently scenic route and an awesome party afterwards. It’s the ultimate overland adventure ride. Open dirt roads, amazing scenery and an epic course unlike any you’ve ever ridden before, all within a beautiful Vermont pastoral setting. This is one of the most popular gravel events in the country, let alone New England with over 1,500 participants.
The purpose of this race is to promote the wonderful world of overland adventure riding and to benefit the Reading/West Windsor Food Shelf, an integral organization in the event’s host town of Reading.
Registration opens every year at 10am on New Years Day (Jan 1st, 2022). It fills rapidly.
Regarded by Outside Magazine as “One of the best 25 events in the world to do right now,” the Vermont Gran Fondo is one of Americas premiere cycling events. With 4 variations of the fondo, there is a level for every cyclist. Starting with the Piccolo at 40 miles with 2,700 ft. of climbing, and the Medio Facile Fondo with 85 miles and 6.5k feet of climbing. Then there are the “big boys” starting with the Medio Difficile Fondo remaining at 85 miles but 8.5 thousand feet of climbing and finally the main Gran Fondo course of 130 miles and nearly 12 thousand feet of climbing! According to the Vermont Grand Fondo, “Each year the course’s four gaps are drawn from a selection of seven gaps; Appalachian Gap, Lincoln Gap, Roxbury Gap, Moretown Gap, Rochester Gap, Middlebury Gap, and Brandon Gap. The popular 6-gap ride includes all but Moretown Gap. Depending on road construction projects, which have been many, the course will vary from year to year creating a unique ride each time.” One gap on Fondo is known as the Lincoln Gap with averages 15% and tops out at 24% giving it the infamous title as the steepest paved mile in America and 9th steepest climb in the world according to the Global Cycling Network. The Vermont Gran Fondo takes place in beautiful Northern Vermont and makes the perfect event as a weekend vacation and a destination biking event. It is part of the Gran Fondo World Tour which makes it an event for any level of rider to make the voyage to.
