VERDICT The inaugural collegiate nationals that trades established prestige for first-year chaos in the Texas panhandle.
A training plan for Collegiate Gravel Nationals—shaped to your fitness and the hours you have.
USA Cycling National Championship—100km of Texas Panhandle gravel, collegiate field, wind, red dirt.
Collegiate Gravel Nationals founded ~2019. USA Cycling National Championship. 100 km, 200-400 collegiate riders. Turkey, TX. Texas Panhandle. Founded in ~2019. By USA Cycling.
Reputation: USA Cycling National Championship. Collegiate only. Competitive field. Remote Texas Panhandle.
Photo: YouTube / Skyler Mackey100 km, 1,500 m. 80% gravel, 20% dirt. Texas Panhandle—rolling plains, red dirt. Technical rating: 2/5.
Signature challenge: 100 km + Texas Panhandle wind + rolling plains. National Championship competitive field.
It wasn't as hot as last year which is nice and you know the course was pretty dry there were a few wet sections in the trees but for the most part it was pretty fast and I let it roll.
USA Cycling · 1.5K views
The 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championship welcomed more than 350 cyclists to the Duke City, the first time the city of Albuquerque has ever hosted this event.
KOAT · 735 views
Race-specific preparation details are included in the demand profile below.
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Historical weather data shows average highs of 78°F and lows of 51°F, with a 20% chance of rain on any given day, and gusts reaching 30 mph. March 7th in Turkey, Texas presents typical spring weather uncertainty - could range from 40 degrees with wind to 70 and perfect conditions. The Texas Panhandle's notorious wind can make or break races, adding tactical complexity without being consistently miserable. Similar climate challenges to SBT GRVL.[1]
Valley of Tears is hosting with established gravel event infrastructure, but USA Cycling still lists 'more information coming' on basic championship logistics. Turkey, Texas remains a small town suddenly handling a national championship - expect growing pains despite the host organization's experience.[1]
Racing through Caprock Canyon State Park delivers varied terrain most collegiate riders have never experienced. Pete Gossett calls his gravel setup "absolutely the right bike for 80% of my riding" when discussing diverse terrain challenges - this course provides that variety in spades.[1]
This inaugural USA Cycling Collegiate Gravel National Championships represents a "significant expansion" of USA Cycling's championship offerings, highlighted as an "exciting addition" to 2026's calendar alongside established nationals. First names in the history books of a new national title.[1]
If you're college-aged with decent fitness and want to claim bragging rights as the first-ever winner, this is your shot. The 62-mile mix of gravel roads, rail trail, and singletrack won't destroy you, but March in Texas means unpredictable weather and zero race history to guide your prep. Show up ready for anything because nobody knows what they're doing yet.
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.