Reputation: Regional Georgia event.
[01]
Course Overview
A late-winter Georgia-Alabama century with 8,500 feet of climbing.
100 mi
Distance
8,500 ft
Elevation
Franklin, Georgia
Location
February 27 (Saturday, derived from the organizer's February 26-28 weekend announcement and Saturday race schedule), 2027
Date
~300
Field Size
$85-$150
Entry Cost
Facts & History
[03]
The Course
Photo: YouTube / Michael Lambert
Photo: YouTube / Michael LambertA 100-mile border-country course with 8,500 feet of climbing and roughly 40 gravel segments spanning pavé, gravel, dirt, sand, and streams. The organizer has not yet published the final 2027 route, so exact segment locations and mile markers remain unclaimed.
Signature challenge: Absorbing 85 feet of climbing per mile on mixed surfaces in late-February conditions without over-racing the opening hour.
RIDERS REPORT
Early breakaway formation MI 15-20
The race broke up super early with a breakaway forming at mile 15-20, making it crucial to be positioned well from the start.
Bottleneck section
There's a bottleneck area that can cause riders to dangle off the peloton if not positioned properly.
The course is mostly gravel roads with some chunky, gnarly stuff on descents where you need both hands on the bars. Riders describe typical Alabama and Georgia gravel roads.
Mixed surface riding with paved sections interspersed throughout the gravel sections.
[04]
From the Field
The race broke up super early it was at Mile like 15 or 20 that the Breakaway formed and it was something like 27° fahrenheit when we started and so a lot of guys still wearing you know like leg warmers or full-length tights got a lot of different layers on.
Michael Lambert · 727 views
I like races without a lot of climbing and this was the one for me so pretty much spent the whole middle of the race riding with three guys and then started to pick it up towards the end cuz I got kind of tired of toodling around.
Ali Whittier · 550 views
This event is hosted by longstanding cycling promoter Mr Wayne Whitesides and takes riders from Georgia crossing the border into Alabama and back again.
Gravel Cyclist · 4.7K views
RACER
Racer Reviews
Raced Homegrown Gravel Adventure? Be the first to rate it.
[07]
Training
February 27, 2027 HOMEGROWN GRAVEL ADVENTURE
[08]
Train for Homegrown Gravel Adventure
RACE DEMAND PROFILE
Durability
6
Climbing
8
VO2 Power
4
Threshold
8
Technical
6
Heat
0
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
6
FREE
GET THE HOMEGROWN GRAVEL ADVENTURE PREP KIT
12-week training timeline, race-day checklists, packing list, and personalized fueling calculator — unlocked instantly.
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[09]
Race Logistics
Airport
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), approximately one hour north according to the organizer
Lodging
Franklin is within 15 miles of major hotel chains; the organizer also lists tent and RV camping for the event weekend.
Food
Four stocked course aid stations plus post-race food and beverage are listed; carry enough nutrition to bridge each segment and any route changes.
Packet Pickup
The organizer schedules race-week packet pickup before Saturday and allows day-of pickup; confirm the final 2027 venues and hours when registration opens.
Parking
The organizer directs riders to Heard County High School, 0.4 miles from the start, with parking for more than 800 vehicles.
RIDERS REPORT
Be prepared for cold starts - it was 27 degrees Fahrenheit at race start, so layering with leg warmers or full-length tights is important.
Position yourself well early as the race breaks up around mile 15-20 and you don't want to get caught behind the bottleneck.
[10]
Tire Picks
38mmMIXED
1
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
Fast center, grippy edges. The modern all-rounder benchmark.
2
Panaracer GravelKing SK
Affordable all-rounder. Light knobs add grip without killing speed.
3
Vittoria Terreno Mix
Graphene versatility. Mixed-terrain grip with reasonable rolling speed.
FRONT/REAR SPLIT Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass 44mm / Specialized Pathfinder Pro 38mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
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Similar Races
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the climate like at Homegrown Gravel Adventure?
A 41°F average low, 61°F average high, and a 31% chance that rain may fall, with past editions ranging from wet fog to sunny gusts. That is a moderate late-winter equipment and pacing challenge, fitting 3/5 rather than the old 2/5.[4]
How are the logistics for Homegrown Gravel Adventure?
Michael Garrison drove to Atlanta and back on race morning after forgetting his nutrition pack, highlighting Franklin's limited last-minute options. The course isn't marked, requiring GPS navigation as Molly Hurford warns: "make sure you have the route loaded to your cycling computer or phone." A week before 2024, bridge washouts forced major route changes.[7]
How adventurous is Homegrown Gravel Adventure?
A two-state route through secluded border-country roads with roughly 40 gravel segments, sand, and stream crossings is memorable beyond a standard local loop. It remains a supported race near Atlanta rather than a remote expedition, which keeps the score at 3/5.[5]
How prestigious is Homegrown Gravel Adventure?
Lauren De Crescenzo, Michael Garrison, Ian Boswell, and Andrew L'Esperance headlined recent editions with a $10,000 prize purse drawing elite talent. "the best event that I will do all year" for its racing style and atmosphere. The pro field presence elevates a small-town event into something noteworthy.[7]
Should I race Homegrown Gravel Adventure?
Race it if you want a demanding early-season century with real climbing, mixed surfaces, and a grassroots finish-line culture. Skip it if you need a finalized route months in advance or want big-city logistics at the start line.
[11]
Sources & Citations
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.
- Official Homegrown Gravel Adventure: 2027 weekend, race distances, location, and pursehomegrowngravel.com/
- Official Homegrown Gravel Adventure: Saturday schedule and rider logisticshomegrowngravel.com/ride-info/
- Official Homegrown Gravel Adventure: 100-mile course profilehomegrowngravel.com/pro-gravel-100/
- Official Homegrown Gravel Adventure: historical weather profilehomegrowngravel.com/the-weather/
- Route Maps RideWithGPS: Homegrown Gravel Adventure 100 2025ridewithgps.com/routes/49434983
- Other Sources Consummateathleteconsummateathlete.com/homegrown-gravel-intel/
- Other Sources Cyclingnewswww.cyclingnews.com/news/michael-garrison-lauren-de-cresc...
- Other Sources Granfondoguidewww.granfondoguide.com/Contents/IndexFull/8123/homegrown-...
- Other Sources Granfondoguidewww.granfondoguide.com/Contents/IndexFull/8309/top-privat...
- Other Sources Granfondoguidewww.granfondoguide.com/Contents/IndexFull/8396/homegrown-...
- Other Sources Gravel-Resultswww.gravel-results.com/race/20191
- Other Sources Gravel-Resultswww.gravel-results.com/racer/194415
- Other Sources Gravelstokewww.gravelstoke.com/gravel-cycling-gear-blog/foco-fondo-f...
- Other Sources Ohiogravelgrinderswww.ohiogravelgrinders.com/event-listings/2026/2/28/homeg...
- Community TrainerRoadwww.trainerroad.com/forum/t/2025-best-east-coast-ish-even...
- Community granfondoguide.com: 8396www.granfondoguide.com/Contents/IndexFull/8396/
- Community jaylocycling.com: 2024 Border Wars Gravel Race Reportjaylocycling.com/2024-border-wars-gravel-race-report/
- Community linktr.ee: Hggravellinktr.ee/HGgravel
- Community granfondoguide.com: 8309www.granfondoguide.com/Contents/IndexFull/8309/