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TIER 2

Huffmaster Grasshopper

Maxwell, California · 2027: February 28 (Sunday)

VERDICT A deceptively tactical ninety-miler where the easy-looking road start merely delays the real bill.

69
LAB SCORE
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RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

A tactical 54-percent paved, 46-percent dirt loop whose mostly flat first 25 miles give way to a climbing and descending contest in the remote back half.[1]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS2/5LENGTH3/5TECHNICAL3/5ELEVATION3/5CLIMATE4/5ALTITUDE2/5ADVENTURE3/5 20/35
Course Profile
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[01]

Course Overview

Ninety mixed-terrain miles where wind, mud, and the back-half climbs decide the race.

90 mi
Distance
4,866 ft
Elevation
Maxwell, California
Location
February 28 (Sunday), 2027
Date
~2026
Field Size
--
Entry Cost
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MORE IN CALIFORNIA: Belgian Waffle Ride · Sea Otter Classic Gravel · Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego
Facts & History
The 2023 edition became a mud-and-snow survival race with heavy attrition.
Brennan Wertz won the 2026 men's race in a course-record 3:50:02; Alia Shafi won the women's race.
[03]

The Course

A tactical 54-percent paved, 46-percent dirt loop whose mostly flat first 25 miles give way to a climbing and descending contest in the remote back half.

Signature challenge: The punchy gravel climb from roughly mile 40 to 43 breaks the large front group, then a fast dirt descent and later Huffmaster Ranch climb punish anyone who spent too much in the valley wind.

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MILE
Valley headwind
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MILE
County Road 303 climb
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MILE
Huffmaster Ranch and return
RACER

Racer Reviews

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[07]

Training

February 28, 2027 HUFFMASTER GRASSHOPPER
[09]

Race Logistics

Parking
Organizer-designated school and town parking; follow the current rider guide when a new edition is announced.
OFFICIAL SITE
NEWS

Latest Coverage

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Similar Races

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Frequently Asked Questions

Documented editions have combined headwinds, cold rain, mud, and even snow, making February conditions a defining variable rather than background noise.[4]

Maxwell sits directly off Interstate 5 and the race starts at the high school, making access unusually simple for a rural gravel event.[1]

Remote roads between the Sacramento Valley and Mendocino National Forest create real isolation, though the route remains a road-and-gravel race rather than an expedition.[2]

Huffmaster is an established Grasshopper fixture with repeated national cycling coverage and recognizable winners.[2]

[11]

Sources & Citations

Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.

  1. Official Huffmaster — official event pagewww.grasshopperadventureseries.com/huffmaster
  2. Media & Press Cyclingnews — 2026 results and race reportwww.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/racing/grasshopper-advent...
  3. Other Sources Alto Velo — 2025 rider reportwww.altovelo.org/race-reports/race-report-2025-grasshoppe...
  4. Other Sources Berkeley Bicycle Club — 2023 mud and snow reportberkeleybikeclub.org/race-repoorts/huffmaster-race-report...
  5. Other Sources Rene Herse — 2026 winner reportwww.renehersecycles.com/brennan-wins-huffmaster-hopper-2026/

Last updated September 2026