New course records set at Allen Clark Hill Climb

October 7, 2026  |  By Lindsay Foxwell  |  Community News Service

Cyclists line up at the start line on Vermont Route 17 to begin the climb to the summit. Racers leave every 30 seconds on Peter Oliver’s cue. Photo by Lindsay Foxwell

WAITSFIELD—Morning fog was lifting off the trees in Waitsfield on Sunday as 50 cyclists began to warm up and pin bibs to their backs for the Allen Clark Hill Climb.

An annual tradition in the Mad River Valley, the Allen Clark Hill Climb is a time-trial bike race that rises 1,600 vertical feet in 6.2 miles.

Starting near the intersection of Vermont Routes 100 and 17, the race finishes at the summit of the Appalachian Gap. The race raises money to increase accessibility for Vermonters with disabilities, but for the cyclists who came to compete, the main goal was conquering the steep climb to the summit on their bikes.

“They’re just trying to get to the top,” race director Peter Oliver said.

Cowbells and cheers

At 10 a.m., cyclists started to leave the starting line one at a time, each 30 seconds apart. Along the race course, the sounds of cowbells and cheering filled the air.

Forty-four-year-old Kevin Tilton traveled from Moultonborough, New Hampshire, to compete in the climb for the first time. “Just a good hard climb and the foliage will be nice,” Tilton said.

Sara Reed traveled from Ascutney to support her husband, Larry, who was competing. He was easily recognizable on the climb to the summit in a black-and-white striped shirt.

“When he wears that, I call him zebra man,” Reed said.

Local riders

Seventy-year-old Barbara Tardiff was one of the few racers from Waitsfield and the only woman in the 70+ category.

“When I was living here full time, App Gap was one of my training routes,” Tardiff said. “Now I am getting older and slower; it’s a lot harder, but it’s something fun to revisit.”

Other local riders included Bruce Hyde, of Waitsfield, who won the 40-49 men’s category with a time of 26:19. Bill Robinson, of Warren, finished with a time of 59:42 in the 60-69 men’s category. It was his first race, after having started biking this spring. He said he rode in the event as a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk, which was held in Montpelier on Oct. 4.

Leonard Lucas came in with a time of 37:26 in the men’s 70+ category; his wife, Susan Lucas, finished with a time of 36:17 in the women’s 60-69 category. Leonard and Susan live in Waitsfield.

Vermont foliage on Oct. 4 from the top of the Appalachian Gap. Photo by Lindsay Foxwell

New course records

Twenty-two minutes and 12 seconds after starting, the fastest racer crossed the finish line at the top of the Appalachian Gap. Sixteen-year-old Bennett Rose from Scarsdale, New York, set the new course record for men.

As for the women, 45-year-old Kristen Kulchinsky from Dix Hills, New York, set the new course record in 25:09.

Beneficiaries

The finish line of the Allen Clark Hill Climb on the side of Route 17. Photo by Lindsay Foxwell

The race is named for longtime Mad River Valley resident Allen Clark, who was an avid cyclist. He loved the challenge of the Appalachian Gap climb and was a strong supporter of Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. The organization was the main beneficiary of the event for many years, according to Oliver.

Now, the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce receives most of the funds. The Chamber of Commerce distributes the money as micro-grants to improve accessibility to businesses and other institutions, said Eric Friedman, executive director at the Chamber of Commerce.

“If someone's going to build a ramp, or someone's going to widen the doorway in a bathroom, or make a room accessible by widening the doorway, or little things like that, we can help,” Friedman said.

Oliver said the event raised about $3,000. Riders who participated were celebrated at an award ceremony at Mad River Glen Ski Resort.

In addition to their medals, Rose and Kulchinsky each received a jug of maple syrup.