Ride Rock Creek and North Carolina Cyclo-Cross are excited to announce the Rock Creek Rumble has expanded to include UCI and amateur racing categories for 2026. First held in 2025, the successful inaugural event focused on providing high quality cross country racing for juniors. The 2026 edition, scheduled March 13-15, now includes UCI and open amateur categories in addition to youth racing, and is the first stop of the 2026 USA Cycling Cross-Country Mountain Bike National Series. The 2026 race will also include short track cross country racing and serves as a qualifier for the USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships held in Roanoke, VA.
The courses feature professionally designed and built trails by Pisgah Trail Company, bringing in the expert experience of Callie Horwath to design courses that evoke the roots of east coast cross country riding, with the principles of modern and sustainable trail design. Racers can expect a thrilling mix of technical features, flowy sections, tight singletrack, and doubletrack areas perfect for strategic passing. It’s dynamic, demanding, and guaranteed to keep even the most experienced racers sharp and focused.
“We’re excited to grow the Rock Creek Rumble into a UCI-level weekend,” said Callie Horwath of Ride Rock Creek. “We’re proud to host an event that not only challenges athletes at every level, but also helps move them forward on the path to Nationals and beyond.”
Event Details
Event information can be found on the Ride Rock Creek site. Racers must pre-register by Thursday, March 12 on BikeReg. No onsite registration will be available.
Racing kicks off on Friday, March 13 with open short track cross country racing (XCC), followed on Saturday by open cross country (XCO) and junior/elite XCC races. Sunday will feature the UCI XCO events.
A pre-race clinic will be held by pro racers and coaches Walker Shaw and Jack Brown on Thursday, March 12. The clinic will have an emphasis on line choice, features, and racecraft with an opportunity to gain early access to both short track and cross country race courses prior to the event.
“Western NC has a heritage of great races. We know the Rock Creek Rumble will become another regional classic,” shares Tim Hopkin, North Carolina Cyclo-Cross founder. “The collaboration between NCCX and Ride Rock Creek is sure to make for a memorable experience.”
Ride Rock Creek, located in Zirconia, North Carolina, is a premier downhill mountain biking destination founded by world-champion downhill racer, Neko Mulally. With business partner and lifelong rider, investor, and entrepreneur Dave LaMond, the park was built on a 300-acre plot of privately-owned land that backs up to DuPont State Forest, and has expanded to include cross country trails, hosting national and international level events in downhill and endurance mountain bike.
North Carolina Cyclo-Cross has over 30 years of race promoting experience, including being integral in course design and execution of the legendary 2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships held on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Founder Tim Hopkin’s experience includes 20 years of UCI race promotion experience and years of cycling experience ranging across disciplines and destinations.
