April 7, 2015 (Stratton Mountain, VT) – In addition to bringing premier European style tour riding to Vermont, the Vermont Challenge’s goal is to give back to the communities that welcome us as we ride through their towns. With that goal in mind, the Vermont Challenge announces its newest partners: Grace Cottage Hospital & Stratton Mountain Urgent Care/Carlos Otis Clinic.
This year $25 of each rider’s entry fee will be divided among the following non-profits:
- Grace Cottage Hospital- Townshend, VT
- Stratton Mountain Urgent Care – Carlos Otis Clinic, Stratton Mountain, VT
- VT Community Food Pantry – Jamaica & Wardsboro, VT
- BROC Community Action & Rutland Methodist Church “Feed the Freezer” – Rutland, VT
- Meals on Wheels – Bennington, VT
- Black River Good Neighbors – Ludlow & Windsor, VT
Roger Allbee, CEO of Grace Cottage Hospital, stated, “We are very excited to have been selected by the Vermont Challenge to become its newest beneficiary”. Grace Cottage Hospital will support the Vermont Challenge on Saturday 8/15 with a rest stop for the Fondo riders at Grace Cottage Hospital with food, snacks and drinks.
Carolyn Blitz, President of Stratton Mountain Urgent Care noted, “We are thrilled be associated with the Vermont Challenge and thankful to the donations from their riders. Those donations will help the Clinic continue to serve the local Mountain community and guests of Stratton Mountain throughout the ski season”.
“Both Grace Cottage Hospital & Stratton Mountain Urgent Care are tremendous multi-care facilities with caring doctors and nurses that serve the health care needs of our southern Vermont rural communities”, stated John Sohikian, President of the Vermont Challenge.
About the Vermont Challenge
Now in its fourth year, the Vermont Challenge returns August 12-16, 2015 with a series of multi-day tour options including a route on Saturday (8/15) that winds up with a four-mile climb to Stratton Mountain Resort in the only mountain-top Gran Fondo finish east of the Continental Divide. In addition to the 100 mile Gran Fondo, the Vermont Challenge will offer both the Medio (68 miles) and Piccolo (26 miles) Fondos so the entire family can enjoy the ride and weekend festivities.
Saturday and Sunday events (8/15 and 8/16) at Stratton will include live music, craft brews, Vermont fare and farmer’s market, contests and entertainment for the kids and, of course, bicycle test rides, clinics, training and nutrition.
In addition to the one-day Gran Fondo presented by Stratton Mountain, the Vermont Challenge will continue to offer its signature multi-day tours that are extremely popular with riders. This year those tours will be center around Manchester VT offering a variety of terrain – everything from farm country, picturesque towns, cooling rivers and mountain passes.
Each day the Vermont Challenge will offer long routes to challenge the elite level recreational rider, medium and shorter routes that are designed for lower to upper intermediate riders. The Challenge provides full sag support and rest stops every 20-25 miles that are fully stocked.
