The New England Classic is a multi-day Tour de Cure fundraising event for the American Diabetes Association that offers two-day and seven-day options starting the same day in Bedford, Mass. The NEC 150 and NEC 550 travel the same route for the first two days. All New England Classic riders receive a NEC T-shirt and customized NEC Tour de Cure cycling jersey.  Will Haines, RBC member, rode the 7-day in 2018, and rated the entire experience five stars. Says Will, “the NEC was well worth the trip for me as it was a cycling journey of a lifetime, that also helped ADA in it's important crusade to fight diabetes. It was a rewarding challenge, one that was so much fun. I’m hoping to go back and ride it again soon.”

NEC 150 riders travel the back roads of the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts into southern New Hampshire and along the seacoast with a destination of Durham, N.H.  The Day 2 route takes riders to coastal Maine past beaches, rocky coves and quaint villages. Day 2 ends with dinner and a celebration, then riders take chartered buses  back to Bedford while their bicycles are transported there safely.

After sharing the first two days of their route with the NEC 150, NEC 550 riders leave coastal Maine, heading west into the White Mountain region, where the challenge rolls north through Conway and on the Attitash ski area in Bartlett, N.H.  The journey continues on Day 4 with a climb up Crawford Notch on the way to Bethlehem and Littleton, N.H., before crossing the Connecticut River into Vermont. After a night in Montpelier, riders pedal the river valleys of the Green Mountains 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 17.

For more information, and to register:  www.diabetes.org/newenglandclassic 

DESTINATIONS:
Day 1 – Durham, N.H., University of New Hampshire; 83 miles, 3,238 feet of climbing

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 – Montpelier, Vt. – Capitol Plaza; 104 miles, 5,320 feet of climbing