Sweeny and Mcintire win Green Mountain Gap Challenge Trophies at the 2024 Vermont Gran Fondo
The 10th edition of the Vermont Gran Fondo challenged riders to take on the infamous 4-gap known by locals as the LAMB ride, or the even more brutal new 6-gap ride!
Set against the breath-taking backdrop of Vermont's Green Mountains, the Vermont Gran Fondo (VTGF) has been a fixture in the cycling community for a decade, celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year.
Vermont is hailed as the best road biking in New England, and earned the status of the state with the most climbing on Strava.
The 4-gap 109 mile Gran Fondo with 10,000 feet of climbing and new 6-gap 145 mile Gran-X route with over 13,500 feet of climbing are arguably some of the toughest Gran Fondos in North America.
The gaps, sequence and direction depend on summer road construction works after a harsh winter, so the courses are unique every year. This year the gaps comprised of the Appalachian, Lincoln, Middlebury and Brandon gaps on the 109 mile Gran Fondo, with the addition of the Roxbury and Rochester Gaps included in the 145 mile Gran-X route.
This year over 500 cyclists across North America and Internationally took part, with the number of cyclists participating growing steadily over the years. The weather was warm with some rain showers at times, not that dis-heartened any of the riders who came to Vermont for climbing chaos!
Photo: VTGF’s Green Mountain Gap Challenge Trophies were awarded on the notoriously steep Lincoln Gap. Credit: Josh Hummel
VTGF’s Green Mountain Gap Challenge Trophies were awarded to the top three men's and women's fastest times up the notoriously steep Lincoln Gap, as has been done in all past 9 editions.
The Lincoln Gap has an average gradient of 17% with a maximum gradient of 24%; named the steepest paved mile in the US! Featured by Global Cycling Network as one of the steepest climbs on the planet!
Lincoln Gap KOM Podium
1st Derek Mcintire, Dorchester Center MA 12:59.22
2nd Jay Gump Conway MA 13:03.82
3rd Rick van der Vegte 14:17.37
Lincoln Gap QOM Podium
1st Shannon Sweeney Wayne PA 17:46.79
2nd Marguerite Gump Conway MA 19:27.87
3rd Grace Jensen East Haddam CT 20:59.04
Photo: Derek Mcintire, Dorchester Center, MA won the Green Mountain Gap Challenge KOM Trophy on the Lincoln Gap. Credit: Josh Hummel
There were huge smiles from all the riders after completing one of the hardest one-day Granfondos in North America!
Participants, their friends and families enjoyed the much-loved Après Ride After-Party with local food and brews, while swapping stories, all at the Bristol Recreation Club in Bristol, VT and celebrating 10-years of this much loved and cherished event.
The VTGF is the "Bucket-List Ride" that every descerning cyclist, who especially loves climbing, must try at least once in their lifetime!
33 riders also qualified for the 2024 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, to be held during the Gran Fondo Maryland in Frederick, MD on September 15, 2024, by finishing on the podium or in the top 25% of their age category.
The 109 mile Gran Fondo is part of the Gran Fondo World Tour® ROAD Series. A ranking with races spread across 5 continents throughout the year, with Pro Cycling Stats ranking amateur gravel riders in partnership with Gran Fondo World Tour ® Series, providing an amateur ranking for gravel riding lovers. This ranking will be linked to the Gran Fondo World Tour ROAD series ranking, which covers a full calendar of events around the world where riders can pick up points.
Link to 2024 Vermont Gran Fondo results: https://my.raceresult.com/294385/results
2024 Vermont Gran Fondo Photo Gallery
Credit: Josh Hummel
