New England boasts some of the best cycling anywhere: peaceful country roads winding along rivers and quiet forests as you pass through quaint little towns and villages. The NEC route also includes panoramic mountain vistas, sweeping ocean views and even a rest stop at a lighthouse. All this will be part of your adventure!

Riders

The fun starts at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, when the New England Classic 2024 kicks off at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, Massachusetts. The riders will all leave together, but once off the starting line cyclists ride at their own pace, whether they prefer to ride alone or whether they’re riding as part of a group or team.

The route travels the back roads of the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts into southern New Hampshire and along the seacoast with a destination on Day One of Durham, New Hampshire. The group gathers after dinner for introductions and a fun celebration.

The Day Two route takes riders to coastal Maine past beaches, rocky coves and quaint villages. The second day ends in Biddeford, Maine. After dinner the NEC 150 riders will board a chartered tour bus to head back to Bedford, while their bicycles are transported safely in a separate vehicle.

As Day Three begins, the NEC 550 riders will leave coastal Maine, heading west into the White Mountains region, where the challenge rolls north through Conway and on to the Attitash Grand Summit Resort in Bartlett, New Hampshire.

Riders
Riders

The journey continues on Day Four with a climb up Crawford Notch on the way to Bethlehem and Littleton, N.H., before turning South at the Connecticut River and riding through the Upper Valley.  After a night in West Lebanon, NH, riders cross the river into Vermont and pedal on scenic Route 100 to the Killington area and the welcome comfort of a ski resort.

The trek continues through Vermont and then back into the Monadnock region of New Hampshire with an overnight in Keene, N.H. The final leg heads to Central Massachusetts, winding its way to the finish at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, Mass., on Friday, July 19.

Daily destinations

Watch this space for more details on the 2023 daily routes, but here is the preliminary outlook:

Day 1 Durham, N.H., University of New Hampshire; 83 miles, 3,238 feet of climbing. Featured rest stop: Cider Hill Farms
Day 2 Biddeford, Maine, University of New England; 71 miles, 2,753 feet of climbing
Day 3 Bartlett, N.H. – Grand Summit Hotel at Attitash; 80 miles, 3,160 feet of climbing
Day 4 West Lebanon, N.H. – Fireside Inn & Suites; 104 miles, 5,320 feet of climbing
Day 5 Killington, Vt. – The Killington Summit Lodge; 65 miles, 3,510 feet of climbing
Day 6 Keene, N.H. – Best Western Plus Sovereign Hotel; 77 miles, 3,782 feet of climbing. Featured rest stop JC’s Market & Deli
Day 7 Bedford, Mass. – Middlesex Community College; 72 miles, 3,458 feet of climbing

Challenge yourself at the New England Classic this July.