Gravel Worlds 2026: The GVR at America's Fastest Gravel Race
This year, I traveled with the Obed team to Gravel Worlds in Lincoln, Nebraska. I was excited because the terrain here likely suits my physiology better than any other gravel race. Why? Well, despite what you might think, Nebraska is far from flat. Yes, it's located in the "Great Plains," but over the 150-mile course, Gravel Worlds delivers a gut-punching 10,000 feet of elevation gain! There is hardly a single section of flat road, just endless rolling hills.
For a "puncheur" like me, who loves short, steep climbs, this was my best chance to score a solid result at a major gravel race. It wouldn't be easy, though, because the competition here was fierce and the speeds were high. Fortunately, I brought along my new Obed GVR to give myself every advantage possible:
A Gem of the Midwest
The Midwest is the heart of the American gravel scene, and while UNBOUND gets the most attention, there are hundreds of races across the Midwest ranging from small grassroots events to world-class epics. Gravel Worlds has made a name for itself with its bold naming (it's been around longer than the UCI Gravel World Championship!) and its massive $150,000 prize pool, which attracts some of the best talent in the sport.
This year, over 2,000 riders descended on Nebraska's capital city to take part in the festivities, and it isn't just limited to the gravel race. Gravel Worlds is a full-on gravel celebration with short-track MTB, triathlon, swim, and running events all occurring during race week. In fact, the Gravel Worlds triathlon event is the USA Triathlon Gravel National Championship.
Obed's Justin Gagnon got the full Gravel Worlds experience by completing “The Triple" — swim Friday, bike Saturday, run Sunday!
There's plenty of competition to engage with here. So much so that it could be easy to forget that Lincoln itself is a lovely town with its own vibrant character. Did you know that Lincoln is an officially designated federal refugee resettlement city? Personally, I was hugely impressed with the diversity and incredible food options I found in town. I honestly had some of the best Indian and Thai food I've had anywhere in the US!
The people of Lincoln were also just incredibly welcoming. As a cyclist, I had some of the friendliest interactions I've ever had with cars. Many pulled over and waved as riders came by. I talked to countless people during the expo who expressed love and pride for their home and wanted nothing more than to be able to share that with the world.
The gravel terrain here, other than being surprisingly hilly, is also extremely pleasant to ride. Most roads are what gravel geeks will call "champagne gravel." It's smooth, bubbly, and refreshing. There is the occasional section of deep sand or chunky rock, but they're just short bits of spice that add some flavor. This is the type of place where you can truly have a great time on nearly any bike.
I don't know exactly what my expectations were of Lincoln, Nebraska, but it definitely surpassed them. I had such a great experience that I'm already excited to go back next year!
The Fastest Gravel Race in America (and Maybe the World)
Mud has been a huge topic in gravel racing this year. Gravel Worlds had its own muddy disaster last year when a soaked MMR (minimum maintenance road) caused carnage early in the race. This year, organizers were ready and had a full "wet course" in their back pocket in case things turned sloppy. With heavy rains in the preceding days, they made the call Friday night to go with the wet course, which removed many of the MMRs.
With a smoother course, speeds were likely to be higher on race day, but I don't know if anyone expected them to be quite this high! The men's elite winner, Torbjørn Røed, averaged 24.42mph on his way to victory on the 150-mile course. In fact, over 20 of the elite men averaged over 24mph! The winner of the amateur race was no slouch either, with an average speed of 23.17mph! I've literally never seen a race this fast, and after digging around, I think this is a solid contender for the fastest long-distance gravel race in America, potentially the world!
Left: Obed's Justin Gagnon and Robbie Houston at the 75-mile race start. Right: Robbie catching my post-race nap.
As for myself, I averaged 19.85mph, which is the fastest I have ever gone in any gravel race. My original goal was to finish under 9 hours, and I blitzed that by finishing just under 7.5 hours! A lot of that is because I was able to stay with the front of the race longer than I ever have. I drafted off the leaders of the amateur race for nearly four hours. The other key component was the new Obed GVR. With aero shaping and aero wheels, surely I was cutting a smaller hole through the air on race day!
Be sure to watch my race recap above to get the full story. And the Obed team will be at Gravel Worlds again next year, so if you're in Lincoln, come say hi!