Registration for Seventh Natchaug Epic Opened November 3rd
Deep Alumni Discounts for Early Birds for March 29 Season Opener
The seventh edition of the Natchaug Epic will be Sunday, March 29, at the Thompson Speedway in Thompson, CT. Featuring chip-timed segments, this gravel fondo offers riders a choice of four distances with courses of varying degrees of difficulty.
Registration opened this week, Monday, November 3rd at www.bikereg.com/natchaug-epic. Organizers have set an early-bird discount rate of just $79 through the month of November. Alumni of both the Natchaug Epic and the Lime Rock Park may use the discount code “Alumni2026” for an additional $10 off for the first 100 users. Those discounts all expire on December 1.
“We don’t just organize rides, we ride rides,” said co-founder Richard Fries. “We recognize the rising entry fees can be a challenge. We also respect the expectations any rider should have for an event. We try to sweat those details to ensure riders have a smooth registration process, they ride on a well-marked course, we have great rest stops, we offer solid rider support, and feature a great post-ride gathering.”
Known as “The Quiet Hell,” this event has become the de-facto season opener for the New England gravel season. There are four categories:
The Epic, 84 miles, $79
The Endeavor, 68 miles, $79
The Explorer, 55 miles, $79
The Express, 35 miles, $55
Also returning for 2026 will be the Apex Technology Tri-State Kids Ride, a safe and welcoming 12-mile ride for kids and grownups alike. Organizers will also have a dedicated kid zone with a strider course, bike rodeo, and access to the “Little T” oval nearby.
For more information, see www.bikereg.com/natchaug-epic.
About the Natchaug Epic: First held in 2019, the seventh edition of the Natchaug Epic will be held Sunday, March 29., 2026, at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Dubbed “The Quiet Hell”, this challenging event is the de-facto season opener of New England’s unpaved cycling season. Riders can select one of five different categories of varying distances and degrees of difficulty. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Other non-profit partners include The Wyndham Land Trust, the Last Green Valley, Quinebaug Valley Multi-sport, and the Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program. The event is produced by Domestique Events LLC.