The 2015 Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA ride upholds the tradition of excellence established 23 years ago. The 1992 ride organizers' vision, to create a challenging route over the highest point in Alabama - Mount Cheaha - and then back again, continues to fulfill the event's tagline promise to be "the toughest ride in the South."

The 2014 event enjoyed a change of venue from Piedmont, AL, which graciously hosted the ride for 21 years, to Jacksonville, AL on the sweeping campus of Jacksonville State University.

The Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA provide a variety of distance choices - 24, 44, 62, 84, 100 and the ULTRA - 124 miles (200K). The ULTRA is for experienced riders only.

The century ride includes 9,714 feet of climbing including the top of Alabama, and the ULTRA encompasses all major climbs in our area, for a total of 11,733 feet of climbing. The ride takes cyclists along the scenic and rugged terrain of the Talladega Mountains, and includes nine rest stop locations for the century ride and 11 rest stop locations for the ULTRA.