Billed as “Vermont’s Toughest Gravel Road Race,” the Dirty 40 Race does not disappoint. No, it’s not a 40-mile course, as the name would suggest, but a grueling 70-mile trek through the Northeast Kingdom. Literally taking riders off the beaten path, most of the route is on winding gravel back roads, where pristine rural scenery eases the pain of 13 percent grades and 5,600 feet of elevation gain. While the event is timed and winners are recognized, athletes are free to pedal at their own paces — a special award is even set aside for the final finisher.
