Den's story: Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo

BaseCamp athlete Den Scanlon shared his experience at the 2026 Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo in Alabama.

Cheaha Challenge made for a great BaseCamp meetup with Cat and Clovis, two of the nicest people you could imagine. And really, everyone we met and rode with were engaged and had interesting journeys to the start line. Shannon and I arrived in Jacksonville, Alabama, on Thursday afternoon with plans for recon on Friday and Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event, the UCI Worlds qualifier. Since this is one of only two such opportunities in the U.S. this year, the field was full of folks hoping to go to Worlds.

There were a bunch of distances featured, including an Ultra for Unbound-destined Clovis and a 100 for the "youngsters" (I'm looking at you, Shannon and Cat). All distances were out and back, and they shared the same basic route with varying amounts of hills: lots of them for all. Immediately after the start of the 100 and its extra climbs, my event lined up for the 84-mile qualifier. I had no goals for this race except to have a steady, consistent ride. The start was brisk but not supersonic, likely because the heat was high. Basecamp training paid off, and I was able to stay in the lead group until near the top of the first long climb to the Cheaha Parkway, at about twenty miles. After that I was able to "surf" the groups to the top of the biggest climb, Cheaha Mountain, which was my turnaround.

Now on the way back, I overtook two of my age group on the parkway and met up with a 100 rider who was completing for a long slog along a windy, ten-mile, flattish section before the final small climb and the finish. Then -- cramps -- they alternated legs and locations for that whole part of the ride and really slowed me down, but thankfully they eased a bit on the last hill. The relief allowed me to pass another age grouper and put some distance (#BaseCampDurabilityPaysOff) between us. From there it was mostly downhill to the finish, and I could push to stay ahead of my competitor, despite more cramps. The finish was anticlimatic, as I crossed alone.

A quick Fluid recovery drink, and I was headed to watch Shannon and Cat wrap up their races. Then I got a text from a friend in MD who was checking results; it said, "Congratulations! Are you going to go to Worlds!" My response was, "Huh?" Anyway, it seems I took third in my age group. I'll admit, after so many years since, a podium still feels great. The dedication, enthusiasm, and inspiration derived from the BaseCamp community truly lifts all boats.