Homegrown Gravel Adventure Recap: Challenging Conditions and Fierce Competition

The Homegrown Gravel Adventure (formerly Border Wars) took place over the weekend in the quiet river town of Franklin, Georgia with over 500 riders. Now in its fourth year, the event attracted riders from 17 states and multiple Canadian provinces, offering a $10,000 prize purse and a choice of 30-, 40-, 64-, and 101-mile routes winding through the gravel roads of Alabama and Georgia.

With temperatures plunging into the mid-20s and more than seven inches of rain soaking the course the previous week, Homegrown’s signature motto—"U.S. Grade A gravel that’s always fresh and never frozen"—was put to the test. Fortunately, as the day progressed, temperatures climbed into the 50s, and the course dried into what two-time champion Lauren De Crescenzo described as "Hero Dirt—fast, tacky gravel with just a few muddy spots and creek crossings. Pretty much perfect."

Men’s 100-Mile Race

After a three-mile neutral rollout, the men’s race began at a controlled pace, with riders mindful of the grueling course ahead. Early on, Ian Boswell (racing for event sponsor Wahoo Fitness) launched the first attacks, but the pack kept him within reach. Last year’s winner, Michael Garrison (MGR p/b NICH SpeedClub), felt the pressure of being marked and decided to shake things up, countering one of Boswell’s moves. Canadian XC Marathon champion Andrew L’Esperance (Forward Racing with 3T Bikes, Shimano, Easton Cycling, First Endurance, and Wahoo Fitness) gave chase, briefly pulling away before being reeled back in.

By mile 30, the lead group had begun to splinter. As the race entered its most punishing section, L’Esperance attacked again, with Nathan Surowiec (Lees-McRae College) bridging up. Sensing the danger, Garrison launched a decisive move, breaking away with the duo. By mile 70, it was down to L’Esperance and Garrison at the front, while Surowiec chased solo and a six-man group—including Boswell and Athens, Georgia, locals Ty Magner and Andy Scarano—worked to close the gap.

The two leaders, confident in their sprinting ability, stayed together until the finish. In a tight uphill sprint, Garrison edged out L’Esperance at the line, completing the brutal 101-mile course with 8,700 feet of climbing in 4:53:57. Surowiec crossed solo just three seconds back, while Boswell and Scarano managed to break away from their chase group with eight miles to go, sprinting in 11:55 behind the winner.

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Women’s 100-Mile Race

With $5,000 on the line, the women’s field of 25 riders took off 15 minutes after the men. Notably absent were Shanni Berger (One4nine), who was dealing with the aftermath of last month’s California wildfires, and Mackenzie Mayatt, out with an injury. That left the competition wide open on a course that was equal parts Georgia and Alabama—a mix of quiet backroads, rolling hills, and relentless gravel rollers.

Lauren De Crescenzo (Factor, The Feed, Castelli, Maxxis, Wahoo, and PERC Coffee), using Homegrown Gravel as a key tune-up for the upcoming Mid-South, made her move early. Twenty miles in, as the race entered the more technical Alabama gravel, she attacked. Only Liza Ray (Solutions Cycling) could match her acceleration, but soon after, Ray dropped her chain, leaving De Crescenzo to ride solo for the remainder of the race. She steadily widened her lead throughout the second half, crossing the line in 5:28:53—posting the 15th fastest time of the day overall.

Ray finished 19 minutes and 39 seconds back, while Olivia Pantano claimed her second consecutive podium, this time settling for third, another three minutes behind Ray.

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Homegrown Gravel Adventure Women’s 100

Pos	Bib	Last Name	First Name	Category	Time	Gap	mph	Lap 1
1	1001	DE CRESCENZO	Lauren	100-Mile Women/Open	05:28:54		18.24	05:28:54
2	1019	RAY	Liza	100-Mile Women/Open	05:48:33	19'39"	17.21	05:48:33
3	1023	PANTANO	Olivia	100-Mile Women/Open	05:51:01	22'07"	17.09	05:51:01
4	1009	LANG	Rebecca	100-Mile Women/Open	06:09:17	40'24"	16.25	06:09:17
5	1025	PROWELL	Katie	100-Mile Women/Open	06:09:22	40'29"	16.24	06:09:22
6	1028	LECRAW	Ali	100-Mile Women/Open	06:13:13	44'20"	16.08	06:13:13
7	1022	TAKESHITA	Kae	100-Mile Women/Open	06:30:37	1h1'43"	15.36	06:30:37
8	1020	WILSON	Grace	100-Mile Women/Open	07:17:33	1h48'39"	13.71	07:17:33
9	1021	FRIESEN	Caitlin	100-Mile Women/Open	00:00:00	"	"	07:17:33
10	1024	DORING	Maria	100-Mile Women/Open	07:17:34	1h48'40"	13.71	07:17:34

Homegrown Gravel Adventure Men’s 100

Pos

Bib

Last Name

First Name

Category

Time

Gap

mph

Lap 1

GARRISON

Michael

100-Mile Men/Open

04:53:58

20.41

04:53:58

L'ESPERANCE

Andrew

100-Mile Men/Open

00:00:00

0'01"