Garmin Gravel Worlds Announces Winter Event “The Winter Endurance”
Lincoln, Neb. (Dec 21, 2022) – The Pirate Cycling League, hosts of Garmin Gravel Worlds in Lincoln, Nebraska, have announced their newest biking and run event, The Winter Endurance. To be held roughly 6 months apart from Garmin Gravel Worlds, the Winter Endurance is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2023.
According to Director of Operations and Marketing, Jason Strohbehn, the timing of the new event will likely highlight the extreme weather conditions faced by those in the Midwest in the depths of winter.
“We wanted to host an event that showcases the opposing seasonal extremes of our weather, including brutal summer heat and the depths of cold in the winter,” Strohbehn said. “We also wanted to bring back some of the original quirks of old school gravel events that made them so fun. Things like check points at small town stores, lottery tickets, clip board timing, small participation numbers, and riding no matter the conditions were all what made gravel so special in the beginning, and this event will return to those quirky roots.”
Similar to the first five versions of Gravel Worlds, the only cycling checkpoint will be a small-town general store where participants must purchase a lottery ticket to prove they stopped at the checkpoint. Lottery tickets will be turned in to race directors at the finish line, and any winning tickets will be split among all the participants.
Cycling participation will be capped at 150 people, with an entry fee of $50. Cyclists can choose between 100k/62-mile and 50k/31-mile routes. Entry fee for the 10k/6.2-mile run $40.
Strohbehn said the event will happen regardless of conditions.
“February is Nebraska is often brutally cold,” Strohbehn said. “With record low temperatures of well below 0°F and average highs barely above freezing, this will likely be a hardy test of physical endurance, despite the shorter distances than traditional gravel events.
“We want to bring some warmth to our gravel community in the depths of winter.”
Registration for the Bike and Run events is now open at www.winterendurance.com
Garmin Gravel Worlds 2023 will be held August 25-26, 2023. Registration is currently open at www.gravel-worlds.com.