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TIER 2

Rule of Three

Bentonville, Arkansas · 2027: May 15 (Saturday; festival May 12-16); the organizer releases the new route closer to race day

VERDICT A technically serious three-surface race hiding inside Bentonville's friendliest strange bike party.

76
LAB SCORE
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RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

A long, irregular sequence of tarmac, gravel, technical B-roads, and climby singletrack.[3]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS3/5LENGTH3/5TECHNICAL5/5ELEVATION3/5CLIMATE2/5ALTITUDE1/5ADVENTURE5/5 22/35
Course Profile
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[01]

Course Overview

Bentonville's three-surface problem: tarmac speed, sharp Ozark gravel, and climby singletrack on one bike.

115 mi
Distance
--
Elevation
Bentonville, Arkansas
Location
May 15 (Saturday; festival May 12-16); the organizer releases the new route closer to race day, 2027
Date
~650
Field Size
--
Entry Cost
+ Google Calendar Download .ics
MORE IN ARKANSAS: Big Sugar Gravel · Little Sugar MTB · Highlands Gravel Classic
Facts & History

The concept grew from riding Allied ABLE prototypes across Bentonville pavement, gravel, and singletrack. The first event sold out and drew roughly 650-700 riders despite a wet race week. Founded in 2021.

Reputation: A hard but intentionally playful Bentonville fixture built around mixed surfaces, equipment choice, and community rather than a conventional gravel-racing template.

2021: inaugural edition after a rain-soaked week, with roughly 650-700 riders
2026: flagship expanded to 115 miles with 60- and 35-mile options
[03]

The Course

A long, irregular sequence of tarmac, gravel, technical B-roads, and climby singletrack. Speed on one surface creates fatigue and handling consequences on the next. The 2027 route is not yet published.

Signature challenge: Choosing one setup—and preserving enough concentration—to be fast on pavement, durable on sharp gravel, and capable on steep singletrack.

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[07]

Training

May 15, 2027 RULE OF THREE
[08]

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RACE DEMAND PROFILE

Durability
6
Climbing
4
VO2 Power
6
Threshold
8
Technical
10
Heat
1
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
9
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[09]

Race Logistics

Packet Pickup
Final 2027 schedule pending
Parking
Historically at the Price Coffee Road venue; final 2027 instructions pending
OFFICIAL SITE
NEWS

Latest Coverage

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Similar Races

T2 Le Grand du Nord Grand Marais, Minnesota · 110 mi · 74/100 T2 Heck of the North Two Harbors, Minnesota · 100 mi · 71/100 T2 USA Cycling Gravel Nationals La Crescent, Minnesota (2025-26); previously Gering, Nebraska (2023-24). 2027 host not yet announced. · 110 mi · 63/100 T2 Dirty French Chillicothe, Ohio · 100 mi · 64/100 T2 Dirty 30 Saranac, Michigan · 100 mi · 63/100 T2 Highlands Gravel Classic Goshen, Arkansas · 67 mi · 69/100
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Frequently Asked Questions

Northwest Arkansas spring weather can bring humidity, thunderstorms, mud, and wet roots; the 2021 first edition followed a week of rain.[1]

Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) is roughly 14 miles from Bentonville, but final 2027 packet, parking, camping, and start instructions are pending.[1]

Andy Chasteen's one-day design deliberately links tarmac, remote gravel and B-roads, and Bentonville singletrack into an unusually varied challenge.[3]

It is a well-known sold-out regional fixture with national reach, but not a championship or top global professional target.[1]

Yes if mixed-surface handling, equipment compromise, and a community-first event appeal to you. The date and stable 115/60/35-mile format are confirmed; treat the annual route, climbing, sector order, aid, cutoff, and start schedule as pending until the 2027 rider bible lands.

[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 — 2027 event window and registration datewww.ruleofthree.bike/
  2. Official Organizer — three-surface course identity and annual route changeswww.ruleofthree.bike/thecourse
  3. Official Organizer — established distances, singletrack share, equipment, formats, and late route releasewww.ruleofthree.bike/faq
  4. Official Organizer — most recent course, safety, navigation, and venue detailswww.ruleofthree.bike/rider-bible-2026
  5. Other Sources Visit Bentonville — Saturday, May 15, 2027 race date and venuewww.visitbentonville.com/event/rule-of-three/10467/
  6. Other Sources Visit Bentonville — inaugural race conditions and attendancewww.visitbentonville.com/blog/stories/post/bentonville-ru...
  7. Other Sources Visit Bentonville — founder interview and event historywww.visitbentonville.com/podcast/post/the-rule-of-three-b...

Last updated September 2026