Gravel Worlds

Gravel Worlds takes place in Lincoln, Nebraska, usually in late August. The race routes wind through the remote, rolling agricultural roads of the surrounding Lancaster County area. It originated in 2010 as an unofficial grassroots event organized by the Pirate Cycling League.

The event offers several distance options, with the flagship Pirate course typically covering around 150 miles (roughly 250 kilometers). There are also shorter, highly competitive options, such as the Dutch course at roughly 75 miles, to accommodate different levels of cyclists. The actual mileage and terrain vary slightly each year.

No, Gravel Worlds operates outside the traditional professional cycling structure and does not require a USA Cycling license. The event embraces a grassroots, punk-rock ethos, though it is officially sanctioned and offers prizes for top finishers. Riders of all abilities, from elite pros to enthusiastic amateurs, can register to ride.

While Unbound Gravel in Kansas is the largest and most famous gravel race in the US, Gravel Worlds has cultivated a reputation for being tougher, more rugged, and more intimate. Gravel Worlds often features steeper, punchier climbs and looser, more challenging terrain than the flint hills of Emporia. Both are considered premier events on the American gravel calendar.