Gravel Worlds

Extreme
Date
2026-08-16
Location
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Distance
240 km
Elevation
1,600 m
Category
Ultra
Region
North America
Organizer
Gravel Worlds
Terrain
Prairie Gravel, Ranch Roads, Rolling Hills
About

The original gravel world championship. 150 miles through Nebraska's scenic Sandhills on fast, rolling gravel roads.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
75
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 2
~/dossier/gravel-worlds $ cat briefing.md

▌ The grassroots "championship" — self-supported, hot, and stubbornly itself.

A self-supported Nebraska classic with no aid stations, no closures, and a defiantly DIY ethos. The Pirate Cycling League keeps it real.

EFFORT50/70
EXPER.55/70
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14 SCORING DIMENSIONS

GRAVEL WORLDS
LENGTH9/10CLIMBING6/10DURABILITY9/10TECHNICALITY4/10HEAT9/10WIND7/10RACE PRESSURE6/10ADVENTURE8/10SCENERY6/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE9/10COMMUNITY10/10ACCESSIBILITY8/10FIELD DEPTH7/10
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EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH09/10
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240 km / 150 mi flagship; shorter Long Voyage option
CLIMBING06/10
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~1,600 m of constant Nebraska rollers
DURABILITY09/10
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Self-supported in August Nebraska heat — body management is everything
TECHNICALITY04/10
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Smooth limestone gravel, occasional sandy minimum-maintenance road
HEAT09/10
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Mid-August Nebraska: 30-38 °C with no shade
WIND07/10
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Open prairie crosswinds shape group dynamics
RACE PRESSURE06/10
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Self-styled "championship" with strong national field
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EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE08/10
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Self-supported feel, oasis aid stations, MMR sectors
SCENERY06/10
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Rolling Nebraska farmland — pretty in its way
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Pirate Cycling League runs it lean by design
VALUE09/10
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Reasonable entry, friendly Lincoln pricing
COMMUNITY10/10
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The most genuine community vibe in US gravel
ACCESSIBILITY08/10
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No lottery, multiple distances
FIELD DEPTH07/10
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Strong national field; pros do come
▌

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]Self-supported "championship" — pure gravel ethos
  • [+]Friendly Pirate Cycling League production
  • [+]No lottery; multiple distances available
  • [+]Famous "oasis" volunteer aid stations
  • [+]Reasonable entry vs. Lifetime majors
  • [+]Lincoln is an easy-access US gravel town
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RED FLAGS

  • [!]August Nebraska heat is the silent killer
  • [!]No formal aid — water management is on you
  • [!]Long flat sectors mean group dynamics dominate
  • [!]Minimum-maintenance roads can be sandy/rough
  • [!]Limited bailout options on the long course
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RIDER FIT

Endurance MulePRIME · 9/10

Long, flat-ish, hot — diesel engines win

Heat SpecialistPRIME · 10/10

August Nebraska is unforgiving without heat tolerance

Wind WarriorPRIME · 8/10

Echelons matter, solo is brutal

Adventure TouristGOOD · 7/10

Self-supported feel rewards the right mindset

ClimberOK · 4/10

Rolling but no real climbs to leverage

Privateer ProGOOD · 6/10

Visibility is real but not Lifetime points

┌┐└┘
⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE
August heat with no aid

Self-supported in Nebraska in August means you carry your own salvation. The oases help, but body management is on you for the full 10-15 hours.

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TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
40-44 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Fast file-tread with light side knobs

Smooth limestone gravel with occasional sandy MMR sectors. Fast rolling tires win; durability matters less than at Unbound or Big Sugar.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Schwalbe G-One RS[40mm]— Race-day rolling speed for the long course
2.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[40mm]— Hard-pack speed for Nebraska gravel
3.Continental Terra Speed[40mm]— Fast and reasonably durable
▌

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Mid-August Nebraska: highs 30-38 °C, humid, occasional thunderstorms. Sun protection essential; carry more water than you think.

▌

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Lincoln → first oasis~40 mi

Fast suburban roll-out into the gravel. Find a working group, conserve.

02
Middle 50 miles~100 mi

Heat builds. Eat and drink ahead of the next oasis. Echelon when wind allows.

03
Final 50 miles~140 mi

Heat peaks late afternoon. Survive the wind, manage the body, ride your watts.

04
Run-in to Lincoln~150 mi

Final oasis to finish. Race anyone you bridge to.

▌

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Heat exhaustion — dehydration in 35 °C+ heat
  • [!02]Bonking between oases
  • [!03]Going out too hard with the lead pack
  • [!04]Sandy MMR sectors causing flats or crashes
  • [!05]Mental cracks during hot middle hours
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TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTLincoln (LNK) — direct. Omaha (OMA) ~1 hr.
LODGINGLincoln hotels and Airbnbs reasonably priced.
FOODLincoln has a solid downtown food scene; good post-race recovery options.
PACKET PICKUPFriday at the Pirate Cycling League / event venue.
PARKINGFree parking around start area in Lincoln.
▌ BOTTOM LINE

The grassroots gravel championship. No frills, no aid, no excuses — and one of the best communities in the sport.

▌

IF NOT THIS, THEN

  • →Same vibe, premium:Unbound Gravel
  • →Same vibe, fall:Big Sugar Gravel
  • →Same vibe, spring:The Mid South
  • →Adventure alternative:Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder

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