Highlands Gravel Classic
Date
Saturday 27.04.2024Distances
86 - 109 kmCity
Fayetteville
Country
United States of AmericaThe Highlands Gravel Classic in Fayetteville, Arkansas features the beautiful Boston Mountain range of the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas – known as the Highlands! The event is organized by All Sports Productions – who promotes such events as the UCI 2.2 Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race along with many other road, mountain bike, cyclocross and gravel races and fondos.
Course
The Highlands Gravel Classic will have two courses, both of which are contested on 95% gravel! The long course is the qualifier for younger riders and the shorter course is the qualifier for the older age categories.
The Highlands course is 67 miles / 109km with the start and finish at a beautiful private farm just outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Featuring miles of canopy covered gravel roads, riders can expect continuously changing terrain through the rural backcountry of the Ozarks – with over a dozen climbs – the longest stretching 2.9 miles / 4.7km. The highest point of the day is reached along a sprawling ridgeline after 33 miles at an elevation of 2,200 ft. – with views of the Ozarks Mountains rolling across the skyline.
The Farmlands course is 53 miles / 86km and utilizes much of the same course as the longer Highlands course, but with a cut through after 24 miles to join it back for the finish section.
53 miles / 86km
official qualifier distance for men 60+ and women 50+
67 miles / 109 km
official qualifier distance for men 19-59 and women 19-49
Profile
The course varies from an elevation of 1,200 ft. (365m) and progresses to an elevation of 2,200 ft. (670m). The long course has a total elevation of 4,850 ft. (1,480m) and will challenge riders with rolling hills combined with scenic vistas and streams to keep the competitors on their toes. The shorter distance has just over 3,700 ft. (1,130m). Both courses can be considered challenging with moderate to steep elevation on undulating gravel roads.
53 miles
67 miles
Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas offers guests a multitude of experiences. Here, culture and nature meet, and free spirits thrive. It’s rich in arts, history, and entertainment. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is a nature-lover’s dream. The vibrant local culture gives this community its flavor, and there’s always something exciting happening.
The city’s mountain biking trails are handmade by local experts. Fayetteville is one of only 41 certified IMBA Ride Centers in the world. Kessler Mountain and Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain, both located minutes from downtown, feature miles of technical, rocky singletrack in old-growth forest. Additionally, Fayetteville is the first city in the United States to be awarded the designation of ‘Bike City’ by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
For cyclists looking for a challenge, the steep and winding roads in the Ozark Mountains make this area some of the best terrain in the country for gravel cycling and getting here is easy. Centrally located, Fayetteville is just a days drive from several major metropolitan areas including Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and St. Louis. If flying, the XNA National Airport offers 19 direct flights from cities around the country and from coast to coast.
Ultimately, your stay will be comfortable and memorable thanks to our dedicated hospitality industry, which continues to welcome the world to Fayetteville for a truly unique experience. More information visit: www.experiencefayetteville.com
