Steady 200-300 riders. State championship brings competitive racers but mostly recreational field. Founded in DATA NOT FOUND. By Missouri Gravel Events.
2024: Hot (85-95°F), humid. 15% DNF from heat.
2023: Extreme heat (90-98°F). 20% DNF.
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Course Overview
Missouri State Gravel Championship through wine country — now raced in November cold.
62 mi
Distance
3,786 ft
Elevation
Marthasville, Missouri
Location
November 7, 2026
Date
~200
Field Size
$85-$110
Entry Cost
MORE IN MISSOURI: Berryman Epic
Facts & History
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The Course
Photo: YouTube / Rising Stock Media
Photo: YouTube / Rising Stock MediaRolling Missouri River Valley terrain. Roughly 3,800 ft over 62 miles = constant ups and downs, no sustained climbs. Mix of smooth gravel county roads (85%) and paved connectors (15%). Terrain is rolling but not extreme. Cold November mornings and late-season fitness are the defining challenge.
Signature challenge: The constant rollers, not one single climb. 3,800 feet arrives in dozens of short punches with no flat mile to recover on, and by November most of the field is riding on fading late-season fitness.
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MILE
RIDERS REPORT
Thunder Ridge
A levy section with grass and some gravel, mostly grass surface. Riders face about five miles going directly into a headwind. The winds were coming out of the South during this race.
Route decision point MI 21
Fork in the road where the 81 mile route normally turns right and 44 mile route goes left. This is where riders were informed of route changes due to weather.
Thunder Ridge is described as a levy section that's mostly grass with a little bit of gravel mixed in.
The countryside features beautiful gravel roads that feel like you're in another country, resembling the countryside of France with beautiful old houses and farms.
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From the Field
I think they call this little Ridge here Thunder Ridge pretty cool it's like a levy and uh it's grass a little bit of grass gravel but mostly grass this year the winds were coming out of the South so last year it was super windy at this race this year the wind was kind of flipped we're on this like Levy for probably a good five miles going directly into a headwind.
Ty's Rides · 1.2K views
Shout out trailet for painting the road like that's clutch right now uh the signs are great but sometimes those get moved or turned around uh but the arrows on the road really really really help.
Ty's Rides · 1.2K views
From Farmington to St geneveve it's only like a 30 minute drive so we got up about 5:30 and then made our way to the race
Ty's Rides · 1.2K views
They've got lots of porta-potties there do your morning business they've got the check-in process was really really smooth
Ty's Rides · 1.2K views
RACER
Racer Reviews
Raced THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship? Be the first to rate it.
[07]
Training
November 7, 2026 THE EQUALIZER - MISSOURI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
[08]
Train for THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship
RACE DEMAND PROFILE
Durability
6
Climbing
6
VO2 Power
6
Threshold
8
Technical
4
Heat
1
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
9
FREE
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Race Logistics
Packet Pickup
Day-before and day-of
Parking
Marthasville Community Center
RIDERS REPORT
The race organizers paint arrows on the road which really help with navigation, more reliable than signs that sometimes get moved or turned around.
Having a headwind at the beginning of the race when you're fresh is preferable to having tailwind to finish the race.
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Tire Picks
38mmMIXED
1
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
Fast center, grippy edges. The modern all-rounder benchmark.
2
Vittoria Terreno Mix
Graphene versatility. Mixed-terrain grip with reasonable rolling speed.
3
Continental Terra Trail
excellent wet grip
FRONT/REAR SPLIT Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass 44mm / Specialized Pathfinder Pro 38mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
NEWS
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the climate like at THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship?
In its July-era editions (through ~2024), Missouri heat delivered 90-98°F and a 20% DNF year; the race now runs in early November, where cold replaces heat as the weather story but still producing 15% heat casualties. The oppressive humidity pushes heat index over 100°F, turning the second half into a survival march through wine country that looks better than it feels. More weather exposure than Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego.[1]
How are the logistics for THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship?
Marthasville Community Center provides solid race HQ with parking and packet pickup both day-before and race morning. Free onsite camping at Wessel Park with showers across the street, plus STL airport just an hour drive. The course is well marked with orange arrows and roadside directional stakes, backed by corner marshals and roaming sag support.[3]
How adventurous is THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship?
The course takes you through roads that look untouched by time into Warren County highland farm country. Three creek crossings provide cooling relief during summer heat, while rolling through Missouri wine country offers scenic beauty. Pretty countryside that won't change your life but delivers solid Midwest gravel character.[1]
How prestigious is THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship?
Official Missouri State Championship status draws competitive gravel racers and provides USAC sanctioning credibility. Top 5 overall finishers get their names printed on next year's t-shirt, while state champions receive Roy Doskal Realty jerseys. Part of Show Me Mo Gravel Series but still regional scope.[1]
Should I race THE EQUALIZER - Missouri State Championship?
If you can handle 95°F with 80% humidity while grinding constant rollers for six hours, this is solid Midwest racing. The course won't break you—smooth gravel, manageable elevation—but November cold will punish anyone who shows up dressed for September. Perfect for riders wanting state championship bragging rights without the technical demands of mountain races.
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Sources & Citations
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.
- Other Sources Iraceirace.ai/events/the-equalizer-gravel-race
- Registration BikeRegwww.bikereg.com/the-equalizer
- Community bikesignup.com: Equalizerwww.bikesignup.com/Race/MO/Marthasville/Equalizer