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TIER 1

The Mid South

Stillwater, Oklahoma · 2027: March 13 main cycling events (festival March 11-13; pro cycling Friday March 12)

VERDICT The early-season gravel race with the biggest heart and the most unpredictable conditions.

83
LAB SCORE
—
RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

The current main route covers 106.9 miles and 6,506 feet of climbing.[2]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS3/5LENGTH4/5TECHNICAL2/5ELEVATION2/5CLIMATE5/5ALTITUDE1/5ADVENTURE4/5 21/35
Course Profile
How the scoring works →
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[01]

Course Overview

Oklahoma's weather lottery with a $100K purse and a guaranteed Bobby hug.

106.9 mi
Distance
6,506 ft
Elevation
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Location
March 13 main cycling events (festival March 11-13; pro cycling Friday March 12), 2027
Date
~2027
Field Size
--
Entry Cost
+ Google Calendar Download .ics
Facts & History

Started in 2006 as 'Land Run 100' with 121 riders, 107 miles, 6,000+ ft elevation. Bobby discovered 'every direction two miles out of Stillwater we've got some of the best dirt roads on planet Earth.' Opened District Bicycles in Sept 2008. Renamed to 'The Mid South' in 2013. The finish-line hug tradition started year one—Bobby hugs every single finisher. 'I still need my Bobby Hug!' is a common refrain from returning riders who travel 1,000+ miles just for this race. The event grew explosively to 2,500+ today. Founded in 2006. By Bobby and Crystal Wintle (owners of District Bicycles, 712 South Main).

Reputation: The unofficial U.S. gravel season opener. Known for Bobby's finish-line hugs, unpredictable weather, iconic red clay, and one of gravel's strongest community vibes. The DFL (Dead F*cking Last) rider gets a giant steer skull trophy and massive celebration.

2019: Fast, dry conditions encouraged tactical pack racing
2024: Record-fast edition with average speeds over 20mph for front groups
2025: Race cancelled due to catastrophic wildfires and hurricane-force winds
2025: Ted King and Chase Wark rode unsupported FKT attempts, raising $8K+ for wildfire relief
2026: New format splits pro race (Friday) from amateur race (Saturday) for safety
[03]

The Course

Empty gravel road stretching through dormant winter landscape with bare trees and dry grasslands under clear blue sky - The Mid South - Stillwater, OklahomaPhoto: YouTube / Back of the Gravel Pack
Cyclist riding on concrete path through bare winter trees with bright sun creating dramatic backlighting - The Mid South - Stillwater, OklahomaPhoto: YouTube / Back of the Gravel Pack

The current main route covers 106.9 miles and 6,506 feet of climbing. It is fast and tactical when dry and can become a mud slog when Oklahoma red clay is wet.

Signature challenge: The weather lottery. You train for months but Oklahoma decides what race you're riding.

28
MILE
Mulhall Aid
The current route reaches its first aid station in Mulhall before a rolling sector toward Guthrie.
61
MILE
Guthrie Aid
The current route reaches its principal mid-course aid station in downtown Guthrie.
82
MILE
Cimarron Crossing and Bovine Bypass
The current route crosses the Cimarron River, then reaches the private Bovine Bypass doubletrack before returning to Stillwater.
RIDERS REPORT
County Road 70
Choice double track with old bridges, described as challenging terrain that riders have never hit before on the west side of I-35.
Triple XXX section
Fully covered by trees, creating very dark conditions where riders mention needing lights.
Back 50 miles
More hilly than previous years with continuous climbing - riders warn there's going to be one climb coming after every descent.
East-West roads
Don't get sunlight this time of year, expect to see much mud and ice conditions.
Red dirt roads that can be chunky in sections. If the mud gets wet, it becomes very problematic for traction and bike handling.
Surprisingly not sketchy on descents despite being DIY roads, though riders report being puckered up on the descents due to conditions.
Beautiful destruction and despair - terrain that requires big tires for clearance issues, with winding roads through varied conditions.
[04]

From the Field

Choice old bridges double track that we've absolutely never hit before we've never seen by bike rather be on no other bike super sick... 106.8 miles with definitely over 7,000 ft of climbing.

The Mid South · 12.6K views

You're never more than 50 miles from Still Water, but it doesn't feel like that. It feels like a genuine adventure... it could be a really really challenging individual continuous effort with maybe a nap or two or you could make it a 5 to 7 day journey.

The Mid South · 6.1K views

Nothing like a little hike bike in the morning... this freaking wind is killing me. It's in the 20s or so maybe they pushed start back to 9am so that was nice for the cold but depending on the day goes i may be finishing in the dark.

Back of the Gravel Pack · 5.3K views

There's no point in carrying the tube you're not changing. I haven't even washed my bike since we did Mega mid south in September - it's perfect it needs nothing.

The Mid South · 12.6K views
Mid South 100 Pre Ride - Full Film
The Mid South · 12.6K views · 36:27
MEGA MID SOUTH 2024 Grand Depart - Full Film
The Mid South · 6.1K views · 50:05
The 2022 Mid South 100 Gravel Bike Race - you, me, and suffering makes 3.
Back of the Gravel Pack · 5.3K views · 25:30
RACER

Racer Reviews

Raced The Mid South? Be the first to rate it.
[07]

Training

March 13, 2027 THE MID SOUTH
RIDERS REPORT
Big tires are essential - riders with big tires report clearance problems but better handling on the chunky and muddy sections.
Single speed riders warn it's extremely challenging - one rider said it was killing him and felt 90 years old after 15 miles.
[08]

Train for The Mid South

RACE DEMAND PROFILE

Durability
6
Climbing
4
VO2 Power
10
Threshold
7
Technical
4
Heat
10
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
10
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12-week training timeline, race-day checklists, packing list, and personalized fueling calculator — unlocked instantly.

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[09]

Race Logistics

Airport
Oklahoma City (OKC) or Tulsa (TUL) - both ~1.5 hours to Stillwater
Lodging
Book early (October when registration opens). Stillwater has limited lodging but more than you'd expect for a college town. Hampton Inn partnership. Camping options available downtown (including courthouse lawn). Expect $150-250/night for basic rooms. Volunteers get guaranteed 2027 registration as a perk.
Food
College town pricing = cheap. Lots of options downtown. Post-race celebration has food trucks and local beer. Stock your own race nutrition—aid stations are sparse.
Packet Pickup
Friday before race. Downtown Stillwater. Expect lines but not Unbound chaos.
Parking
Free parking available downtown. Easier than Unbound logistics.
RIDERS REPORT
Drink a lot of water the whole day, especially when it gets hot. Temperature management is crucial for the full distance.
Use momentum from descents to carry into the next climb because there's going to be one coming every time.
First 28 miles to Mulhall aid station are shared between 50 and 100 mile courses, expect it to be super fast with 1500 riders together.
OFFICIAL SITE
[10]

Tire Picks

40mmMUDDY
1
Schwalbe G-One Ultrabite
40mm · $70 · 42W
high puncture protection for sharp surfaces. excellent wet grip. strong mud clearance
2
Tufo Gravel Swampero
40mm · $70
excellent wet grip. strong mud clearance
3
Vittoria Terreno Wet
40mm · $80 · 39W
excellent wet grip. strong mud clearance
FULL TIRE GUIDE & PRESSURE TABLE
NEWS

Latest Coverage

[—]

Similar Races

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Frequently Asked Questions

Historical weather data shows average highs of 65°F and lows of 45°F, with a 37% chance of rain on any given day. Weather defines survival and tactics. The 2025 edition saw 60 mph winds and wildfires with Air Quality Index hitting 500+, while historical conditions create 'horror stories. Red mud deep enough for every letter of murder. Chains chewed. Derailleurs gargled and spat.' Rescue jeeps are prepositioned for mass extractions when Oklahoma's red clay becomes impassable. Among the most weather-friendly events, easier than Badlands.[3]

When 2025's wildfires forced evacuation, Trix8806 had 'police knock on our camper door' with 'campers already burnt to the ground and fire on both sides of the road.' Bobby Wintle's personal touch shows in how he manages logistics—as Nic Morales observed: 'There was no worse place to talk to Bobby Wintle. Sitting in the middle of Stonecloud Brewery... He knew everyone. Everyone had something to say, and he had an impossibly equal, in-depth response to anyone who approached.'[3]

The route crosses tribal lands of 'the Quapaw, Kiowa, Osage, Kickapoo, Pawnee, Iowa and Wichita Nations' through private access and unopened infrastructure. The Gnarnia section provides adventure through unmaintained roads, while the Mega Mid South delivers 300 miles traversing 'the outer perimeter of every MID-SOUTH course over the past 13 years' with significant route variety through Oklahoma's diverse terrain.[1]

Joe Laverick calls this 'the best bike race experience of my life' and 'the true spirit of gravel.' 'the pros have looked at Mid South as the season opener' with elite riders treating it as their litmus test. When a brass band marches through 1,200 riders and Bobby hugs every finisher past midnight, you've built gravel culture beyond racing.[9]

If you value community, celebration, and authentic hospitality over predictable racing conditions—yes, absolutely. If you need to know what you're getting into before you commit—maybe reconsider. The Mid South is chaos wrapped in a Bobby hug. Some years it's fast and perfect. Some years it's a mud disaster. Some years it gets cancelled by wildfires. But the people who come back year after year aren't coming for the course—they're coming for the experience. Show up ready for anything. Leave with stories.

[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. Route Maps RideWithGPS: 2026 Mid South 100ridewithgps.com/routes/53941085
  2. Official The Mid South: current main routewww.midsouthgravel.com/routes/project-one-f4fe3
  3. Official The Mid South 2027 registrationwww.movemint.cc/events/the_mid_south_2027
  4. Other Sources Bikepackingbikepacking.com/plog/mega-mid-south-2024/
  5. Other Sources Chrismehlmanchrismehlman.substack.com/p/race-report-mid-south-gravel-...
  6. Other Sources Source-Esource-e.net/rider-resources/pre-race-meeting-the-mid-sou...
  7. Other Sources Theradavisttheradavist.com/tag/mid-south
  8. Other Sources Velo-Orangevelo-orange.com/blogs/theveloorangeblog/nics-mega-mid-sou...
  9. Media & Press Velovelo.outsideonline.com/gravel/gravel-racing/hugs-matter-4...
  10. Other Sources Allbodiesonbikeswww.allbodiesonbikes.com/about-the-program-midsouth
  11. Media & Press Cycling Weeklywww.cyclingweekly.com/gravel/mid-south-splits-pro-and-ama...
  12. Other Sources Mettlecyclingwww.mettlecycling.com/post/the-mid-south-mettle-race-report
  13. Community Redditwww.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/1bhprki/mid_south...
  14. Community TrainerRoadwww.trainerroad.com/forum/t/mid-south-gravel-2025-thread/...

Last updated September 2026