Figuring Out How to Succeed at Big Sugar Gravel
Last weekend, I went to Bentonville, Arkansas, to race Big Sugar Gravel for the first time. The course has a reputation for being rough, loose, and twisty, with endless punchy climbs, and it definitely lived up to its reputation. But with a full season of training under my belt, I showed up fit and ready. With my GVR, I also had the perfect bike setup to take on the challenge.
The race was fast and chaotic, but I rode better than ever and came away with the best result I've ever had in a major gravel event. In this post, I'll break down the course, the race plan, and the bike setup that led to my best performance of the year:
The Big Sugar Gravel Course
The premier Big Sugar Gravel course is a little over 100 miles long, with just over 6,000 feet of climbing achieved through an endless series of short and punchy hills. There are very few flat sections where you can sit in and relax, and it was also probably the twistiest course I've ever raced. The route has so many corners that I decided to keep the map up on my Garmin almost the whole race, just to see them coming.
If you're racing Big Sugar, here's what you need to prepare yourself for:
- The loose and chunky surface. The surface is covered in sharp, embedded rock, with a layer of loose gravel on top that feels like someone poured marbles or kitty litter all over the road. You skid and slide a lot, and you have to be comfortable doing it at 20 mph. I found the safest and fastest line was often on the inside of corners, because many of the corners are off-camber, making it very easy to run wide.
- Endless punchy climbs. There are no long climbs to contend with, just steep and punchy two-to-five-minute efforts, again and again. If you want to stay attached to a group, you'll need to hit these hard. I prepared for these in training in the simplest way possible: I did A LOT of 2-5 minute efforts, mostly in my VO2 range.
- The "wall." This year, the steepest climb on the course came after the second aid station, right around mile 80 when your legs were tired. It literally looks like a wall as you approach it, and the grade reaches over 20%. According to my Garmin, it even briefly reached 30%. Plenty of riders walk it. If you're going to ride it, be ready for a low cadence grind and try not to blow up!
- A paved crit-style finish. The last few miles were super fast and flat. You rip through the pavement in town, navigating a series of 90-degree corners. It felt more like a criterium than a gravel race. Positioning is important if you're with a group. I didn't pre-ride the finish before the race, and had no idea which one was the last corner, so that's one thing I'll try to do next year.
Also, the race supposedly starts with a six-mile neutral start. In reality, this turned out to be the least neutral "neutral start" I've ever experienced. The group went out so fast that I was on the gas immediately, and splits were forming before the motos pulled off. I wasn't prepared this year, but I'll be ready to fire on all cylinders right out of the gate next year.
The Race Plan
My coach, Ricky Arnopol, had me do a lot of VO2 max work in the build-up to Big Sugar: 30/30s, 40/20s, and workouts that stack multiple two-to-five-minute efforts. These are the types of efforts that racing this course demands, and it made constructing a pacing plan super simple: I just decided to ride every single climb in my VO2 zone, about 313-357 watts. Everywhere else, I tried to keep it easy and steady, ideally in my endurance zone (180-220 watts).
About two weeks before the race, I did a gravel race simulation with a ton of two-minute VO2 efforts over a long training ride, which I wrote about here. That ride gave me the confidence that I could maintain this type of effort all day.
To pull it off, I needed good fueling and a few clever tricks. Here are the basics:
- A lot of carbs. 80-100g/hr. I ate a 40-gram gel every 30 minutes, so at least 80 grams an hour, and I had an additional 250 grams of carbs in my hydration pack. Besides training, consistent fueling is the secret to making power all day. I stuck to my 30-minute eating schedule religiously, but I sometimes took gels early if I found myself on a smooth section or when the pace dipped, since I wasn't sure I'd be able to later.
- No stops. I carried all of my hydration and nutrition and skipped every aid station, which saved precious time and helped me avoid the extra effort of chasing a group out of the aid station.
- Sag Climbing. I moved to the front of the group before climbs and then eased off and drifted back on them, a.k.a. "sag climbing." This is a great way to conserve energy. You put out less power while those behind you charge uphill. Then you latch back on over the top.
- Good positioning. I still had to make sure I didn't sag climb too hard. It's best to stay near the front half of the group going over the top. Whenever I drifted too far back, I got stuck behind a slower descender and had to burn a match to close a gap. Avoiding this as much as possible is key to conserving energy.
- Confident cornering. If you struggle with loose corners on your gravel bike, you'll struggle at Big Sugar. Get some practice! If you know you aren't fast on descents, try to get ahead of faster riders so they have to come around you (it's like the opposite of sag climbing). Hot tip: I tried to stay on the inside of corners whenever I could, where the road is less off-camber and I could take advantage of the group slowing down to close gaps or move up.
How My First Big Sugar Unfolded
The first 40 miles, up to the first aid station in Pineville, were a blur. I tried not to get sucked into the pace early on. Instead, I stuck to my power window, gained a few positions on the descents, and tried to stay controlled while people around me went insanely hard. After the aid station, the pace dropped, and I realized I was one of the freshest riders in the group. That gave me a huge confidence boost.
Around mile 65, two stronger riders went off the front on a climb, and I joined them. To my surprise, I was dropping everyone without leaving my power window. Everyone else had gone too hard at the start and couldn't follow! I was able to stay away for the next hour until the wall, where I was caught by the strongest remnants of the group I had dropped earlier.
The final 20 miles were about survival. I tried to conserve energy and then make the good sprinters suffer by leading up the last climb, but my legs had nothing left for the crit-style finish. I rolled across the line exhausted and thrilled, in 52nd overall. It might be the highest I've ever placed in a major event, and it came with the highest average (218 W) and normalized power (255 W) I've ever recorded in a race.
The Big Sugar Bike Setup
My race rig for Big Sugar was my trusty Obed GVR. I set it up for Bentonville's rough and loose terrain with the following components:
- 2.2" mountain bike tires. On a course this chunky, I wanted extra cushion, flat protection, and traction. This is why I decided to run 2.2" Continental Dubnital mountain bike tires. After a shakeout ride, I dropped my pressures by 1 or 2 PSI into the 16-17 PSI range because the surface was so loose.
- SRAM RED XPLR 13-speed drivetrain. I needed enough gearing range to handle steep, punchy climbs, but also quick shifting and tight jumps to help me stay attached to fast groups on the undulating terrain. SRAM's latest XPLR groups have been my go-to for exactly this type of racing.
- HED carbon wheels. Stiff, wide, and aero. These wheels were ready for the rough stuff. I rimmed out a few times, and they never skip a beat!
- Wove saddle. Comfort matters on a long and rough day. The absurdly lightweight carbon Wove Mags is the most comfortable saddle I've ever used for my low and aggressive riding position. I do find it hard to recommend to regular riders because it is absurdly expensive. If you can afford it, though, there isn't another saddle I'd choose over it.
- Pump with plenty of tire plugs. I carried a One-Up EDC pump with eight tire plugs inside, just in case. With the sharp rocks, I wanted to be ready. Thankfully, I didn't need them. Either way, make sure you have good plugs and a solid inflation option. I saw A LOT of flat tires on race day.
What I Learned
Flats were super common. Run big tires!
I did a lot of things right, and I made a few mistakes too. If you're planning to race Big Sugar year, here's what I'd consider:
- Ride key parts of the course before the race. A short shakeout ride the day before taught me how loose the surface was and gave me a chance to adjust my tire pressure. I'm glad I did it! I do wish I'd scoped out the finish and "the wall" beforehand, so I'll try to do that next year.
- Run the biggest tires you can. Extra volume gives you traction and puncture protection, and it saves your hands and body. The course is rough enough that I don't think you lose anything by simply running the largest tires your frame can fit. If you can fit MTB tires (like the GVR and MMR), I say do it! The traction alone is worth it for the extra confidence you get on loose and steep descents.
- Keep the map handy. The corners come fast, especially in the first hour. I'd suggest having the route pulled up on your bike computer so you don't get caught off-guard. This helped me position myself before corners, and decide if I was in a good spot on course to pull out a gel and eat.
- Don't dangle off the back. Try to stay in the top half of your group as much as possible, especially when entering a descent. This course is technical enough that if you're hangin out in the back, it's easy to get caught on the wrong side of a split, which will force you to burn matches chasing.
- Take every opportunity to fuel. Of course, try to stick to your fueling plan, but take advantage and eat when it's smooth. You can't count on the road staying that way, and you'll be glad you took that gel early if you have to death grip the bars for the next hour.
This was my last race of my 2026 gravel season. I'm taking two weeks completely off the bike before I return to training. Then it's time to start building toward UNBOUND Gravel. Obed is still growing, and our products have only gotten better over time. Look forward to more gravel racing content next season!