USA Cycling has announced the 2026 Junior Gravel National Series, expanding to a 10-event series calendar that gives junior riders ages 15-18 more opportunities to compete across the country and earn points toward overall series standings. All four of the events from the inaugural 2025 season, Valley of Tears, Sea Otter Classic, Unbound Gravel, and SBT GRVL, return in 2026. They will be joined by five additional events, culminating with the 2026 USA Cycling Gravel National Championship on September 12 in La Crescent, Minn.
The series includes four competition categories: Junior Men 15-16, Junior Women 15-16, Junior Men 17-18, and Junior Women 17-18. Riders must compete in a minimum of three races to be included in the official overall series standings. To be eligible for inclusion in the overall series standings, riders must hold a valid annual USA Cycling license for the 2026 season. A USA Cycling license is not required to compete in individual Junior Gravel National Series events, excluding the USA Cycling Gravel National Championship, which follows standard licensing requirements.
The overall series champion will be determined by total accumulated points across the season once the three race minimum is met. Each event will utilize a points system that combines points from the riders finishing place with a starter bonus based on field size, rewarding both results and participation.
2026 Junior Gravel National Series schedule
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February 28, 2026 | Rouge Roubaix XXII | Saint Francisville, La. |
| March 7, 2026 | Valley of Tears | Turkey, Texas |
| April 17, 2026 | Sea Otter Classic | Monterey, Calif. |
| May 30, 2026 | Unbound Gravel | Emporia, Kan. |
| June 6, 2026 | Rothrock Grit Gravel Race | State College, Penn. |
| June 13, 2026 | Dirty Dino Gravel Race | Vernal, Utah |
| June 28,2026 | SBT GRL | Steamboat Springs, Colo. |
| July 25, 2026 | Dust Bowl 100 | Eminence, Ind. |
| August 15, 2026 | Core4 | Iowa City, Iowa |
| September 12, 2026 | USA Cycling Gravel National Championships | La Crescent, Minn. |
“Junior riders asked for more chances to race gravel and be part of a clear series, and this expanded calendar delivers that,” said Justin Evans, USA Cycling National Events Manager. “With a three-race minimum and a points system that accounts for both placing and field size, riders can build their season around events that fit their schedule while still chasing overall standings.”
Any junior rider who wins an individual series race will receive a free entry into the 2026 USA Cycling Gravel National Championship. The Junior17-18 Men and Women overall series champions will receive an automatic invite to a Talent ID Camp in Colorado Springs in October 2026, and riders in the 15-16 category will be evaluated for selection based on performance throughout the season.
Details including event locations, registration information, and additional event specifics are available on the USA Cycling website at https://usacycling.org/national-series/usa-cycling-junior-gravel-national-series.
