I haven’t seen a thread yet for 2026, so figured I would start one.
My “A” races for the year are:
Birkie/SRAM Epic Bike Fest - Cable, WI
Race Across Duluth - Duluth, MN
I will probably do one or two of the MN MTB Series races as well.
Not a race, but this year is the 40th anniversary of the Chippewa Valley Century Ride in Chippewa Falls, WI. It’s a great mix of terrain, with some solid beer and brats at the finish. (Pretty sure that’s the law in Wisconsin.) Highly recommend if anyone is in the area late May.
My soft “A” race is the Barry-Roubaix 100mi Gravel race in MI, in April– it’ll be my first gravel race and I’m just hoping for a sub-6.5h time for the coffee mug.
My actual “A” race is Chicago Grit, the 10 day crit series in July. Going to try and hit as many of the nearby crits as possible in the lead up (including TOAD in WI, in June, hopefully), and it’ll be interesting to see what difference a little experience and a few more Watts makes in my second year of racing.
Candy Stripe Classic is coming back to Bloomington, IN March 7 and 8 weekend. TTT and RR Saturday with a crit (I heard it’s in town this year instead of the football stadium parking lot) Sunday.
Black Fork Gravel Grinder is Ohio’s biggest gravel event (pretty sure it’s biggest bike race in any discipline by far in OH) on May 2. Every time a bike podcast talks about gravel racers needing to be good at sweet spot it makes me want to have them sign up for some OH gravel racing.
Big River Gravel series is nice and has grown in popularity in recent years. Races near IL/IA border that are well organized and on fun roads that have a good elevation change for Midwest.
Apparently Tour de Tonka is topping out at a 58 mile distance this year, I was hoping to use it to cover a fast century. Any other gran fondos I should consider within striking distance of the Twin Cities?
Barry Roubaix 100
Grattan (Every Wed May - Aug)
Crystal Rush XCO
Ann Arbor Velo Club Spring Series
Grand River Shootout
Likely doing Elmhurst and Cobb Park
Iceman
Hopefully LOTS as well
I pivoting from gravel racing to try randonneuring events in the Midwest this year in hopes of Paris-Brest-Paris next year. I still plan on hitting some of other great gravel races for fun:
This is going to be my first year signing up for actually timed races and not just charity rides. I’m currently planning for the following, in addition to probably a few charity events:
May 2 - Granny’s Gravel Grinder - 50 miles
June 13th - Gordon Pine Barrens - 50 miles
September 6 - Grey Duck Grit - either 50 or 69 miles
Still scared of crit racing….maybe next year I’ll work up the courage to place last in cat 4/5 every week at the local weekly race series.
Would you be willing to share some of the charity rides that you’ll be doing? I’m nowhere near confident enough for racing, but would love to explore more charity rides.
I am assuming you are also located in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota.
The Fulton Gran Fondo I mentioned above is great. Last year we got a police escort for the first few miles of the ride and there were easily at least a thousand riders. Mostly urban/suburban riding.
Bridge the Valley is also good, more rural and a couple good climbs depending on your route choice and mostly rural riding, also depending on the route choice.
I’m also looking at the KKD Gravel ride out of Farmington. All rural riding for the shorter routes, little bit of a mix for the longer ones.
Then there are the staples; Tour de Tonka out of Minnetonka, Twin Cities Bike Tour out of Minnehaha Falls Park, Tour de Luce to/from any/all of the Pizza Luce locations in the metro, and definitely some more I am missing out on.
ToAD vs Chicago Grit. Haven’t fully decided on which series I want to race. I do love Chicago as a city so there’s stuff outside the race to do like museums and sports.
Thanks for sharing! I’m actually in the Chicago area, but it’s great to hear that there’s quite a bit up in Minnesota. Gives me a reason to go out there
