Tour of the Battenkill Gran Fondo

Dirt roads. A covered bridge. 5,000 feet of elevation change.

Get ready to challenge yourself like never before at one of America’s largest single-day road races – The Tour of the Battenkill. 

The 14th Annual “Queen of the Classics” is returning to upstate New York on April 28th, 2018 with new ownership offering a premier rider experience, including an all-inclusive post-race party with food and beer. 

The Tour of the Battenkill Gran Fondo is a 75-mile mass-start event for riders wanting a challenging, scenic, and competitive race. Riders are grouped by ability at the starting line and begin simultaneously at 9:00 a.m. with a neutral roll out. The first 7 miles will feature a full police escort and rolling road closure. After that, the roads will be open to the public, but traffic is very sparse. Course marshals will be stationed at all critical intersections. Neutral service is dedicated with cars and/or motorcycles. Sag wagons are also provided for riders not able to complete the course.

he loop course that starts and finishes at the Washington County Fairgrounds is unlike any other in the US. It’s a back-road journey through open farmland, narrow canopies of trees, and a covered bridge — the kind of naturally car-free, rural roads you wish you could ride everyday.

Battenkill’s numerous dirt sections are its trademark, and therein lies one of the special ingredients that have led to its popularity. Whether it’s actually the toughest one-day race in America is a matter of opinion, but to many of the riders — especially those new to racing — it certainly feels like it. The list of DNFs isn’t overly long, but the dirt sections can often result in punctured tires, so be sure to bring plenty of spares, pumps, and CO2 cartridges, or perhaps tubeless tires, sealant, or extra-big rubber.

Rather than being a discouragement, the flat-tire factor actually contributes to the day’s drama. It means uncertainty and luck that could work for or against you. Moreover, the punctures come because you’re out there flying down gravel roads in a cloud of dust, with a number pinned to your back, and a tunnel-vision goal of getting to the front and not being gapped.

The Tour of the Battenkill Gran Fondo is truly a one-of-a-kind race for those seeking a serious challenge shrouded in pastoral beauty. The result is that everyone who finishes, even everyone who starts, goes home with rich stories to tell.

New for 2018, all riders now get a host of collectibles and a rocking after-party at the Washington County Fairgrounds along with a commemorative Tee, perfromance socks, water bottle and a free beer!

Read Dan McCausland's 2015 ride report here.