Big Sugar Gravel

Hard
Date
2026-10-17
Location
Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
Distance
161 km
Elevation
N/A
Category
Gravel
Region
North America
Terrain
Gravel, Mixed
About

Life Time Grand Prix finale. 100-mile race through the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas and Southern Missouri.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
77
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 2
~/dossier/big-sugar-gravel $ cat briefing.md

▌ Late-season Ozarks chert. Fast course, deep field, big after-party.

Lifetime’s Ozark Mountains classic and the closer of the Lifetime Grand Prix calendar. Fast, rough chert gravel through the Bentonville hills.

EFFORT41/60
EXPER.55/70
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13 SCORING DIMENSIONS

BIG SUGAR GRAVEL
LENGTH7/10CLIMBING7/10DURABILITY8/10TECHNICALITY6/10HEAT5/10RACE PRESSURE8/10ADVENTURE7/10SCENERY8/10ORGANIZATION10/10VALUE6/10COMMUNITY8/10ACCESSIBILITY7/10FIELD DEPTH9/10
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EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH07/10
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161 km Big Sugar; 80 km Lil Sugar
CLIMBING07/10
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~2,800 m of constant Ozark rollers
DURABILITY08/10
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Sharp Ozark chert is hard on tires and bodies
TECHNICALITY06/10
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Loose chunky descents, no real singletrack
HEAT05/10
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Late October Arkansas: 12-22 °C, mild
RACE PRESSURE08/10
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Lifetime Grand Prix finale — title implications
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EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE07/10
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Bentonville bike scene + Ozark backcountry
SCENERY08/10
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Ozarks in fall — peak colours
ORGANIZATION10/10
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Lifetime production — aid, timing, broadcast
VALUE06/10
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Premium entry, Bentonville lodging affordable
COMMUNITY08/10
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Bentonville is a genuine cycling town
ACCESSIBILITY07/10
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Sells out but no lottery; multiple distances help
FIELD DEPTH09/10
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Lifetime Grand Prix finale — top US gravel field
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GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]Lifetime Grand Prix finale — title implications
  • [+]Bentonville is built for cycling (Slaughter Pen, Coler)
  • [+]Late-October fall colours through the Ozarks
  • [+]Two distances: 80 / 161 km
  • [+]Strong post-race scene downtown
  • [+]Mild weather window most years
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RED FLAGS

  • [!]Sharp Ozark chert flats tires constantly
  • [!]Premium pricing for a Lifetime event
  • [!]Course is rolling — recovery is rare
  • [!]Wet years can mud out the chert sections
  • [!]Bentonville hotels fill for race week
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RIDER FIT

Endurance MulePRIME · 8/10

Constant rolling tempo, no hiding

ClimberGOOD · 7/10

Punchy climbs reward repeat efforts

Privateer ProPRIME · 9/10

Lifetime points finale — prize money on the line

SpeedsterGOOD · 7/10

Fast course rewards aero + power

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Lil Sugar pairs well with a Bentonville MTB trip

Skill RiderGOOD · 6/10

Loose descents reward bike handling

┌┐└┘
⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE
Ozark chert tax

The chert is unforgiving. Even pros run heavy-casing tires here. A puncture at mile 70 in the Ozark backcountry can end your day fast.

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TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
40-45 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Robust file-tread with strong sidewalls

Ozark chert is shredder-grade — sidewall protection is non-negotiable. Most pros run 42-45 mm with TPU inserts. Rolling speed matters, but durability matters more.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Specialized Pathfinder Pro[42mm]— Bulletproof centre tread for chert
2.Continental Terra Speed[45mm]— Fast rolling with Black Chili durability
3.Vittoria Terreno Dry[42mm]— Durable casing for Ozark gravel
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WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Late October Bentonville: highs 15-22 °C, lows 5-10 °C, occasional rain. A vest and arm warmers cover most years.

▌

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Bentonville → first ridge~25 mi

Fast urban roll-out into the hills. Hold the wheel, do not chase the early surge.

02
Ozark backcountry loop~60 mi

Constant rollers. Smooth power on climbs, cautious on chert descents.

03
Mid-course aid + return~80 mi

Refuel hard. The second half is where bridges close on tired groups.

04
Final climbs back to town~100 mi

Punchy finish into Bentonville. Race anyone you bridge to.

▌

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Sidewall cuts on Ozark chert
  • [!02]Tubeless plug failures from sharp gravel
  • [!03]Going out too hot in cool morning air
  • [!04]Fall weather flips — possible cold rain
  • [!05]Bonking late on the rolling second half
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TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTNorthwest Arkansas (XNA) — 30 min from Bentonville. Tulsa (TUL) is 2 hr.
LODGING21c Museum Hotel and downtown Bentonville for atmosphere; chain hotels nearby.
FOODThe Hive, Pressroom, Ozark Beer Company are post-race staples.
PACKET PICKUPFriday at Lifetime expo on the Bentonville square.
PARKINGDowntown Bentonville is walkable; lots within easy distance of start.
▌ BOTTOM LINE

A premium late-season classic in the best US cycling town. Bring durable tires and ride the fast Ozark gravel hard.

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IF NOT THIS, THEN

  • →Lifetime stablemate:Unbound Gravel
  • →Same scale, west:SBT GRVL
  • →Same vibe, spring:The Mid South
  • →Ozark MTB classic:Iceman Cometh

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