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TIER 3

La Épica Gravel Grinder

Ponce, Puerto Rico · 2027: March 26-28

VERDICT A 175-mile Caribbean stage race where Sunday's 112 km starts after Saturday's 170 km bill comes due.

59
LAB SCORE
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RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

Back-to-back gravel stage racing from a Ponce resort base through coastal flats, riverside and canal paths, farms, mixed backroads, and short rougher sectors.[2]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS3/5LENGTH5/5TECHNICAL3/5ELEVATION2/5CLIMATE3/5ALTITUDE1/5ADVENTURE4/5 21/35
Course Profile
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[01]

Course Overview

Two scored gravel stages and an optional criterium on Puerto Rico's hot southern coast.

175.2 mi
Distance
--
Elevation
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Location
March 26-28, 2027
Date
~1,500
Field Size
$165
Entry Cost
+ Google Calendar Download .ics
Facts & History

La Épica was built as a multi-day gravel event centered on Ponce and the agricultural and coastal roads of southern Puerto Rico. Founded in 2024. By Caribbean Sports Organization.

Reputation: A young destination stage race with a serious competitive format and a strong Puerto Rico identity.

The November 2024 edition established the Friday criterium plus weekend stage format
Ted King raced the 2026 edition and finished third overall
The 2027 edition expands the required competitive weekend to 170 km Saturday and 112 km Sunday
[03]

The Course

Back-to-back gravel stage racing from a Ponce resort base through coastal flats, riverside and canal paths, farms, mixed backroads, and short rougher sectors. The 2027 route geometry is not yet public.

Signature challenge: Recovering from a 170 km queen stage well enough to race 112 km of repeated circuits the next morning.

MILE
Optional Crit Tax
Friday time bonuses tempt general-classification riders into high-intensity work before the required endurance stages begin.
70
MILE
Queen Stage Exposure
The 170 km Saturday stage turns ordinary heat, hydration mistakes, and inconsistent surfaces into Sunday's problem.
140
MILE
Eight-Lap Reckoning
Sunday repeats a 14 km circuit eight times with 170 km already in the legs; pacing and recovery matter more than one fresh-lap speed.
RACER

Racer Reviews

Raced La Épica Gravel Grinder? Be the first to rate it.
[07]

Training

March 26, 2027 LA ÉPICA GRAVEL GRINDER
[09]

Race Logistics

Airport
San Juan (SJU) has the broadest service and is roughly a two-hour drive; Ponce (PSE) is closer but has limited schedules
Lodging
Base at or near the Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort, the organizer-listed start venue, and book early enough to avoid daily transfers
Food
Ponce has full dining and grocery options; the organizer has not published 2027 on-course nutrition or exact rest-stop spacing
Packet Pickup
Not published for 2027
Parking
Not published for 2027; verify Hilton venue instructions in the final rider guide
OFFICIAL SITE
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Frequently Asked Questions

NOAA gives Ponce a March daily maximum normal of 87.6°F, while prior race reports add humidity and rain-driven mud; challenging, but not automatically extreme.[8]

Ponce is a destination for most riders, but a single Hilton start venue and abundant city lodging keep the weekend simpler than a moving stage race.[2]

Two days across the farms, rivers, coast, and mixed roads of southern Puerto Rico make La Épica destination-worthy without pretending the young event is already iconic.[5]

Ted King's 2026 start and the event's international ambition matter, but La Épica is still a young regional race rather than a nationally established fixture.[5]

Yes if you want a destination gravel stage race and are willing to train for heat, recovery, and back-to-back volume. Wait if exact climbing and final GPX determine your equipment choice.

[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 Organizer-confirmed March 26-28, 2027 dates and Ponce hostlaepica.org/
  2. Official Organizer-linked 2027 registration, competitive categories, stage distances, price, deadline, prizes, and field limitswww.bikereg.com/74768
  3. Official Competitive two-day general classification, optional criterium, terrain, and noncompetitive distinctionlaepica.org/about-the-race
  4. Official Prior-edition route character retained only as historical contextlaepica.org/route-map
  5. Media & Press Ted King 2026 terrain, heat, humidity, and podium contextkavhelmets.com/blogs/kav-journal/la-epica-gravel-puerto-rico
  6. Other Sources First-person logistics, 7:00 AM starts, mud, riverside dirt, and event experiencewww.ohiogravelgrinders.com/blog/2024/11/24/recap-la-epica...
  7. Video 2024 three-day format and on-course event footagewww.youtube.com/watch?v=O12w3g8hp8M
  8. Other Sources NOAA 1991-2020 Ponce 4 E March climate normalswww.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals...

Last updated September 2026