Registration to Open for Natchaug Epic Presented by Specialized

Sixth Edition of Gravel Spring Classic Includes Quinebaug Club Cup, Kids Ride

THOMPSON, Conn. (December 1, 2024) – Registration opens Tuesday, December 3, for the sixth edition of the Natchaug Epic Presented by Specialized. The event will be held Sunday, March 23.  

Nicknamed “The Quiet Hell” for its challenging course in tough conditions, the gravel fondo will start and finish at the Raceway Restaurant at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner. The Friendly Fondo format includes a tough course with several unpaved chip-timed segments. A rider’s aggregate time determines his or her rankings in the event. 

“We built this event to be a first test of a New England riders’ legs, skills, fitness and resolve,” said co-founder Richard Fries. “While we typically include a string of classic unpaved sectors, our course team always finds a few new elements to include.”

There are five different distances and start times. 

• The Epic will be 82 miles and start at 9 am. 

• The Endeavor will be 60 miles and start at 9:30 am. 

• The Explorer will be 48 miles and start at 10 am 

• The Express will be 32 miles and start at 11 am

• The Tri-State Kids Ride will be 10 miles and start at 11:10 am. (Grownups welcome.) 

All event entries include stocked rest stops, Domestique service, SAG support, pre-event mechanics, on-bike and on-course mechanical support, and a post-event celebration meal with awards. Top finishers will be recognized in several divisions. 

Organizers will also recognize the top teams in the Epic category with the Quinebaug Cup presented to the top men’s and women’s division. See registration page for details.  

Registration opens for the Natchaug Epic Presented by Specialized on Tuesday, December 3. For more information visit www.bikereg.com/natchaug-epic. 

The Comfort Inn and Suites in Dayville (Killingly) is our official lodging partner. They can be reached at 860-779-3200. The hotel is located at 16 Tracy Road, just off Interstate 395. This is a clean and affordable hotel. They offer a discounted rate for Natchaug Epic riders for those who book prior to Feb. 26. Please use this link to take secure the discounted rate: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/KT87C2

There will be limited on-site camping at the Thompson Speedway on a first-come, first-serve basis. Portable toilets will be in position and the Raceway Restaurant is open Saturday until 11 p.m.

These premier coaching services are offering discounted packages and select amenities for riders seeking to use Natchaug Epic as an early season test of both fitness and skills.

Each coaching service will be offering unique packages to guide a client up to and through the event. Participating riders will receive a discounted entry and enjoy special on-site amenities established for each coaching service.

Registration for the coaching promotion ends on February 15, 2023. Please contact coaches for more information.

“We get to look at a lot of fitness data from our clients but the Natchaug Epic format allows us to actually ride alongside our clients, hit those segments hard, and then offer some coaching adjustments throughout the event,” said Aidan Charles, founder of Charles Coaching and Nutritional Services. 

“There is so much more to riding an event such as this than improving your power-to-weight ratio,” said Chris Brits, founder of Velo Legitimo coaching. “It’s a long event that presents great challenges for athletes who have only 12 weeks to prepare.” 

“To have a stable of athletes all on the same calendar schedule is a fantastic coaching opportunity,” said Bart Lipinski of ProThirteen Coaching. “Moving them from a lot of indoor work to a challenging outdoor event – which includes logistics, clothing, nutrition and hydration – will be like prepping a pro team for a spring classic.”

The CT Cycling Advancement Program aims to put every child in Connecticut on a bike. Click to learn more.

The Last Green Valley is the 35-town National Heritage Corridor in eastern Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts. Click to learn more.

The Wyndham Land Trust is working hard to protect land in the Quiet Corner of Northeast Connecticut. Click to learn more.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is providing medically-supervised summer camps and programs free of charge to children with serious illnesses and their families throughout the Northeast. Click to learn more.

WINY is a heritage radio station that transmits in AM stereo on 1350 kHz. Its studios and transmitter are located in Putnam, Connecticut. Click to learn more.

Ron Manizza’s weekly podcast, Bicycle Talk. Click to give it a listen