Day 4 – Columbia, PA to Leesburg, VA
Day Four is 211k, which offers 1000k riders the chance to ride it as a brevet and finish with friends on the 1200k route. (Transport to the finish will also be available for 1000k riders.)
Our final day begins by crossing back over the Susquehanna on the same bridge as Day Three, followed by about 13 miles of small rollers to get back to York on a quiet Sunday morning. The next 100k is on country roads with modest rollers offering less than 2,500’ of climbing.
Ninety miles from the finish we enter a path worn nearly smooth by the wheels of DC Randonneurs, beginning with the approach to charming New Oxford, PA (mile 664), where you can stop on the square for good coffee or duck into a small Seven-11. Stock up here, it’s a long way to the next services, outside Frederick.
After more miles of farm roads you cross the Mason-Dixon Line to enter Maryland (mile 679). Frederick (mile 709) is a small city, with abundant services on the way into and out of town. South of Frederick the rollers grow some in size on the way to crossing the Potomac River, at Point of Rocks (mile 723). The climb out of this water gap is the only big one of the day, about 500’ of elevation over 5 miles. At the top lies the control in Lovettsville, VA (mile 730), which offers a large Seven-11 and several restaurants.
The last 27 miles of the Mason-Dixon are through Virginia wine country, with a pass through Purcellville (mile 745). We finish with a mile on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail to avoid traffic in Leesburg, on the way to the finishing party at the Best Western. The party offers finishing medals, hugs, laughs, libations, and catering by Anita’s.
The Finisher Medal Awaits!