ANNISTON — Organizers of the 33rd annual Cheaha Challenge confirmed Tuesday that this year's UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier will follow its traditional 100-mile route through Calhoun, Cleburne, and Clay counties, where hospital access continues to evolve and where, according to several pre-registered cyclists, the road surface has emerged as a "real consideration" for the May 16 event.
The Challenge, which rolls out of Pete Mathews Coliseum on the campus of Jacksonville State University, is one of the largest annual cycling events in the Southeast. The 100-mile flagship route threads through Heflin, Delta, and Piedmont before climbing 9,714 feet across named ascents including White's Gap, Horseblock, and OH SHIFT! to the summit of Mount Cheaha at 2,407 feet — the highest point in Alabama.
Registration for the event begins at $145 for the 24-mile cruise and ranges to $325 for the UCI-qualifying century. The event has drawn approximately 600 riders annually in recent years, the majority from outside Alabama.
"This is a world-class course," a representative for the Northeast Alabama Bicycle Association said in a statement. "Riders come from across the country and increasingly from across the world to challenge themselves on these climbs. The Cheaha Challenge puts Calhoun County on the map in a way few other events can."
Mayor Lyle Henley, who attended Tuesday's pre-event press availability, agreed.
"This is exactly the kind of attention our region deserves," Henley said. "When riders from Atlanta, Charlotte, and even Florida come to Calhoun County to test themselves on our roads, they leave with an impression of what this community has to offer. We are proud to host them."
A representative for the Calhoun County Highway Department, reached separately, declined to comment on the condition of specific stretches of the route. The department's most recent paving prioritization document, available through public records request, lists the rural sections of County Road 24 (a portion of the cycling route through Cleburne County) under "future consideration."
Pre-registered cyclist Trevor Halvorsen, who drove in from Asheville, North Carolina to scout the course earlier this month, described the riding as "challenging in multiple ways."
"The climbs are real," Halvorsen said in an emailed statement. "The descents are also real. There were sections where I'd describe the surface as more of a guideline than a road. But the views were beautiful, and the people were friendly. We're looking forward to coming back for race weekend."
The course passes through the towns of Heflin (Cleburne County) and Lineville (Clay County), both of which have experienced changes in healthcare access in recent years. Cleburne County's hospital, the Cleburne County Health Care Center, transitioned to a critical access designation following the closure of its labor and delivery unit. Clay County's hospital closed entirely in 2009 and has not reopened. Calhoun County's Regional Medical Center, which serves as the primary trauma referral facility for the region, is currently being acquired by Orlando Health, a Florida-based hospital system, in a transaction expected to close this fall.
Organizers confirmed that medical support for the event would be provided by a private contractor, supplemented by volunteer Boy Scouts and members of two local churches at designated aid stations along the route. They said the nearest emergency facilities had been identified at multiple points along the course "out of an abundance of caution."
The 100-mile route's elevation profile is similar to several legendary European climbs at one-third the altitude. Mount Cheaha's summit, at 2,407 feet, is described in event materials as "Alabama's highest point" and "iconic." A finisher's patch produced by event organizers depicts the summit at a slightly steeper angle than satellite imagery would suggest.
When asked whether the route's pavement issues would be addressed before May 16, Calhoun County Commissioner Dale Morrow described the question as "outside the commission's immediate jurisdiction" but added that he was "personally a fan of cycling" and looked forward to attending the start.
"This is what economic development looks like," Morrow said.
Sheriff Earl Tubb's office confirmed deputies would be assigned to traffic control along Calhoun County's stretch of the route. A spokesperson said the department was "aware of the event."
The Cheaha Challenge will roll out at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, weather permitting. Volunteers can sign up at the event website. Aid station locations have been published, along with a note encouraging riders to bring identification.
The Calhoun Dispatch — sorry, The Green Tomato — will continue to monitor this developing story. Anyone seeking healthcare in Cleburne or Clay County before, during, or after the event is encouraged to plan accordingly.