Saturday’s Challenge Ride
“What inspired you to participate this year?
Challenge Ride, open to ALL cyclists!
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Washington, DC and Arlington, VA
Starts: 7 am, Closes: 10 am
The Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride is an amateur ride, open to cyclists of all abilities. The ride will take place on Saturday, May 31st, on a 21KM (13 mile) course, closed to traffic, starts and finishes in front of the Capitol, then heads into Arlington, traveling past the Pentagon, up to Roslyn, and back. The official start is at 7:00 am and all riders must be off the course by 10:00 am.
With the extended length, 5 laps will be required to obtain a gold medal, 3 for a silver, and two for a bronze.
Riders can participate as a General Registrants or as a member of a Corporate Challenge Team. Also, consider fundraising for TAPS, our official beneficiary! 100% of the proceeds raised from TEAM TAPS will benefit this wonderful organization!
We will also be adding a new category: The Pride Ride, in honor of being an official partner of World Pride! more to come. . .
Packet distribution: (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Take advantage of our packet mailing. All registrants prior to May 1 will have timing chips and bib numbers mailed, and please ensure your mailing address is correct when you register. If you have a BikeReg account, and have made changes, please double check it is updated.
Those that registered after May 1st will need to pick up their numbers in person.
Our Official 2025 Armed Forces Cycling Classic Ride Jerseys, Bib Shorts and additional apparel products are currently in design.
The Corporate Challenge
Companies and organizations form teams to participate in the Amazon Corporate Challenge Ride.
The Armed Forces Challenge
Active Duty, retired, veterans, and reserve members of the armed forces compete to earn bragging rights as the most competitive service.
Military Discount Code: MIL2025
Event Information Center: DETAILS COMING SOON!
PLEASE NOTE:
For insurance reasons, all riders must be a minimum age of 10 on or before ride day. Each rider must be present to pick up their own packet, must have a photo ID and will be required to sign a USA Cycling Waiver prior to receiving their packet - No EXCEPTIONS!!
NO E-BIKES. Sorry, but this is a human powered challenge ONLY.
BIB NUMBERS AND BIKE FRAME TIMING CHIPS. All participants must wear an official bib number, and their timing chip must be attached to their frame. We reserve the right to remove anyone from the ride course if they do not abide by this requirement.
If you are registered in the DISCOUNTED ENTRY category, you must bring a valid Military ID indicating that you are active duty, reserve or retired military. There are no other Discounted Entry Categories that will be accepted. If you do not have an ID, then you will need to pay a $10 step-up fee to the general category when you pick up your packet. If you mistakenly registered in this category and are not Active Duty Military, it will be handled at pick-up.
Ride Start:
Corporate Challenge riders will line up in a designated lane, with General Registrants lining up in a separate lane.
Remember, you will be able to begin your ride starting anytime between 7 am and 9:30 am. The course will close promptly 3 hours after the final White staging area participants begin after passing the start/finish line (approximately 10:00 am).
Upon completion of your laps, please follow the course exit signs to receive your finishers medal.
Age:
Participants must have reached the age of 10 on or before May 31, 2025.
Awards:
All finishers receive a medal! Riders that complete 5 or more laps receive Gold, riders that complete 3 to 4 laps will receive Silver, and riders that complete 2 laps will receive Bronze.
NOTE: Where to Pick Up Your Medals: EXIT JUST PAST TURN ONE, FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE MEDAL PICK-UP TABLES NEXT TO THE EXPO.
Standard Challenge Ride Registration Fees:
$120 General Entry (We will continue to honor our $10 Military discount for Active Duty, Reserve, Retired, Guard and Veterans, use Discount Code: MIL2025)
Online registration closes when we sell out.
Registrations prior to April 30th will be mailed directly.
Standard and Discounted Registration Fee Include Closed course to traffic, Event T-shirt (provided the event on May 31), Timing chip, and finishers medal.
Refund Policy:
No refunds. All sales are final. Please see transfer policy below.
Transfer Policy:
There will be a $10 transfer fee applied to transfer your registration to another individual.