2022 REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

 

 

 

 

SEE WHO'S REGISTERED!!

 

 

Saturday, May 14, 2022: Cheaha Challenge Time Trial - 7:00 AM Start

 

Join us for the 2nd Annual Cheaha Challenge Time Trial on Saturday, May 14, held in conjunction with the weekend events of the 29th Annual Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA on Sunday, May 15.  Experience the thrill of exiting a time trial podium down a ramp onto a closed 12-mile straight shot course (only three turns, all near the finish), and test what you’re made of as you barrel along the flat, fast, fun path.

 

Our TT is a qualifier for the UCI World Time Trial Championship to be held in conjunction with the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship September 2022 in Trento, Italy. Age groups are determined by racer’s age on December 31st.

 

UCI World Time Trial Championship qualifier – Finish top three of your age group or in the top 20%, and you’re going to Worlds to race in September! (Note: UCI recognizes only age groups of 19 years old and above.)

 

1. Eddy Merckx Division – Don’t have a TT bike or all the gear? No problem, this TT Division is for you.    Merckx racers must be 19 or older, and will not qualify for the UCI World TT Championship but will be counted as AL/GA State Champions. In order to race as “Merckx” you may not use any of the following (even one will switch you to “Aero”): disc wheels, wheels deeper than 50MM, aero helmets, shoe covers, aero bars. Allowed items are: Aero road helmet (no teardrop shape, ears cannot be covered) and skinsuits.  Overall winners receive awards. No age group awards for this division.

 

2. Handcycle Division – H1-H5 Male & Female scored separately.

 

Time Trial Registration: We offer only online registration until Friday, May 13 at 12:00 p.m. when online registration closes. Time Trial registration is online only. No walk-up or day-of registration.

 

 

Sunday, May 15, 2022: Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo & ULTRA, and Chief Ladiga Cruise

 

The 29th Annual Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA, with distance options of 24, 44, 62, 84, 100 and the ULTRA course – 126 miles (for experienced riders only), will take place in Jacksonville, AL on Sunday, May 16, 2021. The century ride includes 9,714 feet of climbing including the highest point in Alabama, and the ULTRA encompasses all major climbs in the area including the hardest Category 2 climb in Alabama – Lake Chinnabee to the top of Mount Cheaha, for a total of 13,500 feet of climbing. The ride takes cyclists along the scenic and rugged terrain of the Talladega Mountains, and includes nine rest stop locations for the century and 12 rest stop locations for the ULTRA.  The Century and ULTRA are for riders 16 years old or older. If a 15 year old or younger wants to register for the Century or ULTRA, registration must be cleared and approved through the Race Director, Stuary Lamp: cheahachallenge@neaba.net.

 

For the 5th year, the 2022 Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century will be a UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Qualifier, one of only two qualifiers in the USA.  Only the century riders are eligible, and your age group is determined by your age on December 31st.  What does this mean for the century riders? The first three in each age category and the top 20% of each age category will be awarded with guaranteed entry to the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in September in Trento, Italy. Only the century riders are eligible. (Note: If there are three in your age group who start the race– everybody qualifies! If there are four who start the race, the top three qualify. If there are 100 in your age group who start the race, 20 will qualify.)  Go to the following link for all of the UCI qualification

rules: http://www.cheahachallenge.com/uci-qualifying.html.

 

KOM/QOM - We will have three KOM/QOM competitions on our courses: Three Mile Climb (84, 100 and ULTRA routes), Chinnabee Lake Cat 2 Climb (ULTRA route) and Chimney Peak (ULTRA route). For course and prize money info, please go to our website.

 

Chief Ladiga Cruise - Looking for a little bit less of a Challenge, check out the Chief Ladiga Cruise, a kinder, gentler ride of 12-50 miles with the option to turn around at any point on the Ladiga Trail, a paved rails-to-trails, with rest stop locations on the route. Enjoy this rural course through north Alabama’s countryside with Dugger Mountain as the backdrop.

 

Challenge/ULTRA/Cruise Registration: We offer online registration until Friday, May 13 at 12:00 p.m. Walk-up registration will be available on site on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, at Pete Mathews Coliseum, Jacksonville, Alabama. (Time Trial registration is online only. No walk-up or day-of registration.)

Event Merchandise: Merchandise pre-orders will close at midnight on 2/14/21; however, we will have limited quantities/sizes on site at the event.

 

REGISTRATION DEADLINES AND FEES

 

Time Trial: Junior Division (1/2 of adult division fees)

Opening – May 1            $20

May 2 – May 14              $25

 

Time Trial: All other divisions

Opening - May 1             $40

May 2 – May 14              $50

 

Cheaha Challenge (24 and 44 mile routes):

Opening - Oct. 15 (Early Bird)           $45

Oct. 16 - Jan. 1                                  $50

Jan. 2 - Mar. 1                                    $55

Mar. 2 - May 14                                  $60

May 15, 16                                         $65

 

Cheaha Challenge (62, 84, 100 and ULTRA ROUTES:

Opening - Oct. 15 (Early Bird)          $75

Oct. 16 - Jan. 1                                 $90

Jan. 2 - Mar. 1                                   $105

Mar. 2 - May 14                                 $120

May 15, 16                                        $125

 

Chief Ladiga Cruise Ride

Opening - Oct. 15 (Early Bird)          $30

Oct. 16 - Jan. 1                                 $35

Jan. 1 - Mar. 1                                   $40

Mar. 2 - May 14                                 $45

May  15, 16                                       $50

 

 

POLICY INFO

 

Refunds:  No refunds.  No deferrals.  No transfers.

 

Challenge/ULTRA Distance Option Changes:  Once registered, cyclists can switch any distance option except for the ULTRA distance. Once you have signed up for the ULTRA, you can switch the distance achieved at the finish line – only. In other words, if you sign up for the ULTRA, and you decide mid-ride to do the century, you can switch your distance at the finish with the timing company, not before the ride. You will get credit for the century ride and will be listed in the final results as having completed the century. (Why? Because we want the ULTRA riders to commit to the challenge of the ULTRA when they register. It’s all in the training! So be sure you want to commit before you register.)

 

Age Policy:  Your age for our event is determined by your age on December 31st of the year that the event takes place.

For the UCI Gran Fondo Qualifier, the UCI doesn’t recognize riders 18 or younger, so these riders will not receive an official UCI Medal at the Awards Ceremony.

 

The Century and ULTRA are for riders 16 years old or older. If a 15 year old or younger wants to register for the Century or ULTRA, registration must be cleared and approved through the Race Director, Stuart Lamp, cheahachallenge@neaba.net

Have a question?  Email Stuart Lamp, Ride Director.

The Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA is a Top Ten Gran Fondo in the US, as ranked by Gran Fondo Guide!