Slate Valley Epic Race & Relay

About the Event

Experience the Slate Valley Epic Mountain Bike Race on July 18, 2026. Organized by Slate Valley Trails (SVT), this is their sixth annual event and one of the highlights for runners seeking some of Vermont's finest singletrack riding. Spanning approximately 40 miles with about 5,000 feet of climbing, it promises to challenge even seasoned riders while offering a memorable weekend adventure in the Vermont woods.
This year’s race introduces both individual and relay options. Team up with another rider for the relay event, sharing the thrill and challenge on the same course as solo competitors. The event kicks off at 7:20 AM with wave starts every five minutes to ensure smooth transitions throughout the day.
After racing, join in the post-race festivities held at the Slate Valley Trails' Fairgrounds trailhead located at 131 Town Farm Rd, Poultney, VT. Enjoy a hearty meal from The Rollin Rooster and partake in live music and refreshments while celebrating with fellow racers and supporters.
For those looking to camp, primitive camping is available on-site for free if you are an SVT member or can be purchased during registration. Don’t forget your water bottle; there will be aid stations along the course where you can refill, but bring enough snacks as well since small provisions will be limited.
This cupless race encourages racers to manage their hydration and nutrition independently while respecting private land by avoiding littering and trail cutting—disqualification awaits those who violate these rules.
Participants in both individual and relay races are treated equally under the same start waves, ensuring a fair competition. Relay teams must pass off their "baton" at Aid Station #2 with no parking available; however, shuttles will be provided to and from the start/finish area.
Competitive awards will be handed out at 2:00 PM along with raffle tickets courtesy of Frost Beer Works for a celebratory drink after your race. The exact course details are released before the event day, but previous routes can be viewed online for an idea of what to expect (https://www.trailforks.com/route/svt-epic-2025).
Register early; spots open on February 16th with a limited number available until March 31st specifically reserved for women and non-binary participants. After that, any remaining slots will be filled from the waitlist.
Volunteers are needed to support race day operations, including course setup and clean-up, route marshaling, check-point station attendance, and parking/traffic management. Volunteers receive a meal on Saturday courtesy of The Rollin Rooster!
For more details or to sign up as a volunteer, visit the official registration page now!

Races Offered

Camping for SVT Members (Free!) Join Today!

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Camping for SVT Members (Free!) Join Today!

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$0.00

Camping site for 1 Vehicle

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Camping site for 1 Vehicle

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$30.00

Individual- Slate Valley Epic 2026 :Open

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Individual- Slate Valley Epic 2026 :Open

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$125.00

Individual- Slate Valley Epic 2026: Early Registration

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Individual- Slate Valley Epic 2026: Early Registration

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$125.00

Individual- Slate Valley Epic 2026: Waitlist

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Individual- Slate Valley Epic 2026: Waitlist

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$0.00

Individual-Slate Valley Epic 2026: Women and Gender Expansive

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Individual-Slate Valley Epic 2026: Women and Gender Expansive

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$125.00

Special Racer Registration

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Special Racer Registration

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$0.00

Team- Slate Valley Epic 2026 Relay!

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — 64.4K

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$185.00

Team- Slate Valley Epic 2026 Relay! Waitlist

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — 64.4K

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$0.00

Volunteer

Jul 18, 2026

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Distance — Volunteer

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Type — Cycling

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15 days remaining

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$0.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for July in Poultney.

thermostat Temperature

17.7° / 27.5°

wb_sunny Feels like

18.3° / 28.2°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

11h 34m

water_drop Avg rainfall

4.9 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

8.9 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

Very High (8.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

77.0%

wb_twilight Sunrise

05:27

nightlight Sunset

20:29

About Poultney

Learn more about the host city, Poultney.

Poultney is a town in Rutland County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. New York is on its western border. Castleton, Vermont, is on its northern border. Poultney was home to Green Mountain College, a private liberal arts college that closed in 2019. The Village of Poultney is entirely within the town. The town population was 3,020 at the 2020 census.