The 2024 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo is a Gran Fondo National Series Partner Event. Three event routes will award GFNS points to 10-year age groups, in addition to serving as qualifying events for the 2025 USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship. Visit the GFNS pages to learn more about series points and National Championship qualification.
The event also hosts the Cancer Journeys Foundation sprint and climbing competitions. The Cancer Journeys Foundation awards winners jerseys in 5-year age groups for some routes. See chart below for details.
An additional competition unique to the event is the Cancer Journeys Foundation “Couples Conquer the Mountains” contest. Teams include one man and one woman who can ride in any combination of the Alpine Loop, Shenandoah Mountain Century and Shenandoah Mountain Adventure routes. The couple with the lowest combined times in the two timed climbing segments shared by those routes will win. To enter, each teammate simply indicates their shared Couples Contest team name in the registration process.
Wahoo is sponsoring a Mid-Pack Attack prize. The participant who has the median time on the final timed segment: Mole Hill will take home a Wahoo ROAM bike computer.
| 2024 Event Route | Distance (Miles) | Gran Fondo National Series Points National Championship Qualifier 10-Year Age Group | Cancer Journeys Foundation Climbing Competition** 5-Year Age Group | Cancer Journeys Foundation Sprint Competition 5-Year Age Group |
| Alpine Loop | 110 | GFNS Gran Route 4 Timed Segments | 3 Segments | 1 Segment |
| Shenandoah Mountain Century | 103 | No points, not a qualifier | 2 Segments | 1 Segment |
| Shenandoah Mountain Adventure | 78 | GFNS Medio Route 3 Timed Segments | 2 Segments | 1 Segment |
| Mt Solon Metric Century | 62 | No points, not a qualifier | 1 Segment | 1 Segment |
| Valley View Challenge | 38 | GFNS Piccolo Route 2 Timed Segments | 1 Segment | 1 Segment |
** Cancer Journeys Foundation KOM/QOM Jerseys are awarded to 5-year-age group winners in the Alpine Loop, Shenandoah Mountain Century, and Shenandoah Mountain Adventure routes. Five-year age group winners in the Mt Solon Metric Century and Valley View Challenge timing segment on the infamous Mole Hill climb are considered the “King/Queen of the Hill,” and recognized on the podium. No jersey is awarded for those routes. Winners in all routes 5-year age groups are awarded Sprint jerseys.
The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo categorizes entrants by self-identified gender and age as of December 31st of the event year, aligned with USA Cycling policies. 5-year age groups: U18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-45, etc. All athletes, have a right to participate in the activities without being subjected to harassment or discrimination. The event organizer aims to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all participants in regard to sexual orientation, gender expression, race, religion, ability, dietary preferences, etc.; and welcomes guidance and suggestions for ways to strive to better achieve that intention.