Weekend gravel recap: Ro3, Grinduro, Gravel Locos, Paydirt, and Wild Horse Gravel

On May 20, why not gravel race?

That’s what a few thousand people did last Saturday, and by the looks of all the photos coming from Arkansas, California, Nevada, Texas, and Colorado, it was a stunner spring day across the United States.

As gravel continues to boom across the country, organizers still manage to add unique flair to their events, whether in terrain choice, format, pay out, or post-race party.

Here’s a snippet of five of last weekend’s biggest events — if you like what you see, be sure to bookmark them for next year — sell-out is imminent.

Rule of Three, Bentonville, AR

1/3 gravel, 1/3 tarmac, 1/3 singletrack. In the self-proclaimed cycling capitol of the world.

Full list of results here.

Grinduro, Mt Shasta, CA

For those interested in the “perfect party-to-race ratio,” Grinduro was the event.

Also — California is the second of six global Grinduro events in 2023, so don’t fret if you missed it. Pennsylvania, Wales, Italy, and Japan are coming up this summer and fall.

Full list of results here.

Gravel Locos, Hico, TX

Perhaps the most ‘traditional’ course, Gravel Locos was just shy of 160 miles of fast, rolling gravel. Race organizer Fabian Serralta always attracts a deep pro field, and this year was no different.

Germany also scored top honors in the women’s race with Carolin Schiff winning the three-woman sprint with Marisa Boaz and Justine Barrow. Katie Kantzes and Laura King were fourth and fifth.

Full list of results here.

Stetina’s Paydirt, Carson City, NV

Last week, we reported on the Shimano Women’s Paydirt Challenge, in which only women were eligible for the race’s $5,000 prize purse. The competition turned out to be fierce, both on the race course and off.

Full list of results here.

Wild Horse Gravel, DeBeque, CO

Wild Horse Gravel is all about family fun, Western Slope style. Set at the High Lonesome Ranch, the event brings people to a little-known part of Colorado that happens to have incredible gravel riding.

EF Education-EasyPost rider Lachlan Morton made a surprise appearance at the event and narrowly took the win ahead of Matt Pike. Tyler Jones was third.

The women’s race could be a harbinger of things to come in the Life Time Grand Prix — LTGP athletes Deanna Mayles and Leah van der Linden went 1-2. Western Slope local Sparky Moir was third.