Climb Shenandoah Mountain
For the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, there are two ways to experience the challenge of Shenandoah Mountain without having to take on the dirt road climbs of the Alpine Loop: the Shenandoah Mountain Adventure and the Shenandoah Mountain Century.
The Shenandoah Mountain Adventure offers an amazing challenge of 77 miles with over 6,500 feet of climbing on some of the most ideal mountain roads around! Following the same mountain climbs with additional miles, the Shenandoah Mountain Century serves up 100+ miles with 7,800 feet of climbing. If you’re looking for big mountain miles and smooth serpentine roads, these courses serve up a pair of challenging adventures to choose from.
Both routes include three (optional) timed KOM sections: one on Virginia Route 33 up the eastern side of Shenandoah Mountain, the next on Reddish Knob Road climbing Shenandoah Mountain from Sugar Grove, and the last on the feisty .5-mile Mole Hill climb about 5 miles before the finish line.
Setting out from Harrisonburg, Virginia, the courses travel west toward the base of Shenandoah Mountain where the route goes up, up , up. From the summit, riders love the wide-open winding road descending into West Virginia. Once there, you’ll enjoy a few miles meandering alongside the headwaters of the Potomac River. The routes’ hidden gem: a serpentine climb up the western side of Shenandoah Mountain on the newly-paved Reddish Knob Road. Once you rise to the challenge of the final climb, hang on tight for your return to the Valley! Adventure riders will take the direct return to the Finish Line, while Century riders will continue on a scenic “century loop” with added rolling riverside miles and a scenic pass through the historic towns of Mt Solon and Stokesville. The final miles of both routes roll through the countryside and farming communities of Ottobine and Dayton, where horse-pulled carriages are frequent sights along the country lanes.
Experience the Valley
Returning as classic routes for the 2020 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, there are two ways to experience the renowned riding of the central Shenandoah Valley: The Valley View Challenge and Mt Solon Metric Century. These routes offer an experience for cyclists of varied abilities.
The Valley View Challenge is a 36-mile route that showcases the idyllic scenery and country roads that make Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia famed riding destinations. The route is paved with a few brief connectors on little dirt roads, over low-water bridges and up country lanes – and they make the experience one to remember! Don’t let the “Valley” fool you; this route offers a great challenge with over 2,600 feet of rolling climbs and a steep jaunt up the timed segment up Mole Hill.
The Mt Solon Metric Century offers 100 kilometers (62.4 miles) of Shenandoah Valley riding. The Mt Solon Metric Century overlaps the Valley View Challenge with the addition of what we commonly refer to as “the century loop” – a special 20-mile segment only ridden by Mt Solon Metric Century and Shenandoah Mountain Century participants featuring country lanes and nearly-secret riverside roads beyond Mt Solon and Stokesville, Virginia. This route rolls through 3,743 feet of climbing over its 100 kilometers and features the brief but brutal timed segment up Mole Hill.
The final miles of the Valley View Challenge and the Mt Solon Metric Century wind through the farming communities of Ottobine and Dayton, Virginia where horse-pulled carriages are frequent sights along the country lanes.
2020 Hotel Offers
The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo will take place Sunday, September 27, 2020. Reserve your Harrisonburg-area lodging for the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo as soon as possible.
All lodging rates listed below are offered to Alpine Loop Gran Fondo participants first come, first served until hotels are booked. Many of these special rates expire 30 days in advance of the event. Book early!
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
The Fairfield is offering discounts for Gran Fondo participants September 25-28, 2020.
To take advantage of special pricing, reservations must be made by September 4, 2020, at 5 p.m.
One King or Two Queens: $109/night
King Suites: $119/night
Reservations are available by calling 1-540-433-9333 ext. 4, or booking directly online.
Hotel Madison and Shenandoah Valley Conference Center
Now open in the heart of Harrisonburg, the Hotel Madison will offer special rates for the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.
Details coming soon.
Thank You, 2019 Fundraisers!
Fundraising participants exceeded the 2019 fundraising goal in advance of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo and continued to rally support for the event’s charitable mission, with an impressive push in the final week of fundraising.
Following are the names of participants who actively gathered contributions in support of the Cancer Journeys Foundation Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, listed in order of most funds raised:
Sarah Hynes
GMike Rodgers
Jessica MacDonald
John Filicicchia
W. Paul Meehan
Michal Gnatek
Andrew Cummings
John Phifer
Evelyn Cooper
Gregory Rockett
Jacob Pretko
Jordan Spoon
Joseph Cozart
Dick Koch
Stephen Garrett
Vincent Kelly
Michael Bell
Glen Chalkley
Katie Jo Prince
Douglas Schutte
Justin Mauch
Kevin Dean
David Pence
Clay Perfall
Cal Perfall
Brendan Stackpole
Marc Quintyn
Ronald Maxseiner
Consuelo Bachelet
James Keller
Richard Pence
Byron Lynch
Neal Westgerdes
Randal Diggs
Brook Ballard
Alpine Loop Gran Fondo participants also showed their support for the charitable mission of the event, by making additional contributions along with their registrations into the event. For these contributions, thanks to the following:
Champions of the Gran Fondo:
Barry Sherry in honor of Glenn
GMike Rodgers
Jorg Decressin
Robert Hess
Gran Fondo Supporters:
Chris Hardee
Eddie Bumbaugh
Jeff Marco
John Ballard
Joseph Dugan
Friends of the Gran Fondo:
Andrew Cummings
Craig Beaumont
David Duvall
Frank Combs
George Weightman
Glen Chalkley
Jane Gray in honor of life-long best friend Carol Schimmer
Jon Katchmar
Ken West
Kevin Drawbaugh
Luis Prudencio
Matthew Freund
Michael Howard in honor of Ray Peirce
Paul Lengermann
Outstanding Participants:
Anne Mitchell
Bill Murray
Brian Howell
Chioma Ohalete
Cooper Fowler
Cooper Fowler (Jr)
dan behrend
Dave Hallam
Dave Johnson
David Safford
David Wang
Dennis Houmard
Dianne Wood
Jim Duncan
LC Yarnelle
Lee Bock
Michael Howard
Michael Pacilio
Nicholas Satriano
Palo Mojto
Phil Falconer in honor of Lucian K. Falconer Jr. and Neeta D. Falconer
Richard Crom
Samantha Dancy
Scott Hallworth
Tanja Landstrom
Theodore Jones
Timothy Hall
Todd Erickson
William Donahoe
Zachary Sease
Those who gave to the Gran Fondo Scholarship Fund, supporting free and reduced entries for 26 college, high school, and youth cyclists in 2019:
LC Yarnelle
Leah Haworth
Robin Truitt
Special thanks to those who joined in the 2019 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo as fundraising participants! These participants were so inspired to support the charitable mission,
their participation was purely fundraising based:
John Phifer
Ronald Maxseiner
With thanks to all who participated in or volunteered with the 2019 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.
Learn more about the charitable mission of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.
2019 Post-Event Jersey Order
The 2019 edition event jersey – in two unique colorways – is the most popular Alpine Loop Gran Fondo collaboration with Cutaway USA yet!
Was your size sold out in advance of the event? Did you want to complete one of the challenging routes of the Gran Fondo before you ordered your jersey? Either way, you’re in luck!
Post-event orders for the 2019 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo jersey are being accepted now through October 20, at www.BikeReg.com/Jersey.
