Gravel Nationals 2025 Preview: Everything You Need to Know About the Race, Routes, Watching, & Festivities

The USA Cycling Gravel National Championship is coming to La Crescent, Minnesota, bringing a national spotlight to the gravel roads and bluff country of the Driftless on September 20th, 2025. This is the third year of the championship, and the first time being in Minnesota after two years in Nebraska. For riders and fans, it’s a chance to see some of the country’s best gravel racers compete on terrain that is both brutally challenging and stunningly beautiful.

To learn more, visit the Gravel National Championships.

The Gravel National Championship is an official USA Cycling event where winners earn the right to wear the stars-and-stripes jersey for the next year. That jersey isn’t just symbolic, it’s recognized at other gravel races across the country and carries the same weight as national champion jerseys in road, mountain, and cyclocross. Unlike many grassroots gravel events, this one is fully sanctioned, with categories, officials, and the formalities of a national title on the line.

Where It Happens: Minnesota's Driftless Region!

The race starts and finishes in downtown La Crescent, Minnesota, a small town on the Mississippi River just across from La Crosse, Wisconsin. La Crescent is known for its apple orchards and rolling bluffs, and it’s right in the heart of the Driftless region. Riders will wind their way through hardwood forests, farm fields, trout stream valleys, and ridge-top gravel roads. It’s a uniquely Midwestern setting that still delivers mountain-like difficulty.

The Courses: 3 Distances

Racing is divided into three distances depending on age and category. The marquee event is a 110-mile course with nearly 7,800 feet of climbing. Juniors 15–18 and Masters 50+ will take on a 74-mile course with 5,000 feet of climbing. Younger juniors, ages 11–14, race a 31-mile loop with 2,000 feet of climbing.

What defines all these routes is their relentlessness. There is almost no flat ground; riders are either grinding up sustained 400–500 foot climbs or barreling down fast, winding descents. Local riders call it “champagne gravel” because of the smooth surfaces in the fall, but the speed and pitch make it anything but easy. Simply finishing the 110-mile race will be an achievement.

Who Can Race?

Unlike many mass-start gravel events, this one requires an annual USA Cycling race license; one-day licenses aren’t allowed. That makes it less accessible to casual participants but ensures a field of committed racers who already compete in gravel, road, MTB, or cyclocross. Entry fees, plus the license cost, put this event in the same price range as other national-caliber races, but the reward is a true championship experience.

Who to Watch

A stacked field is expected, helped by the timing just a week after the Chequamegon MTB Festival, part of the Life Time Grand Prix. That means many of the top gravel pros will already be in the region. Notable names include John Borstelmann, Payson McElveen, and Brennan Wurtz (reigning national champion) on the men’s side, and Lauren De Crescenzo, Laura King, Paige Onweller, and Cecily Decker on the women’s side. Past champions like Keegan Swenson, one of the top gravel racers in the world, may also line up to defend titles.

What’s at Stake?

There isn’t a large prize purse driving participation here. The real reward is the stars-and-stripes jersey and the prestige that comes with winning the national championship. National titles matter in cycling, especially for riders with road or mountain racing backgrounds. Wearing that jersey at other gravel events throughout the year is a mark of accomplishment and visibility. This race may also serve as a pathway to the UCI Gravel World Championships, adding another layer of importance.

Spectating the Race

For those who want to watch, the race is spectator-friendly. The start and finish are in downtown La Crescent, but some of the best action will be on the climbs scattered through the bluffs. By using paved roads, fans can reach multiple vantage points without interfering with racers. At this time, there isn’t a confirmed livestream, so catching it in person may be the only way to see it unfold.

The Weekend Atmosphere & Festivities

The championship coincides with La Crescent’s Apple Fest, a long-standing local celebration that includes a parade, carnival rides, and a 5K. While it may make the town busier, it also means extra activities for families who come along to spectate. Friday shakeout rides and an expo area also add to the weekend vibe.

Why Does This Matter?

Hosting the Gravel National Championship is more than just another race on the calendar. It puts the Driftless region and its gravel roads on a national stage. Riders, fans, and media will see what locals already know: this area offers some of the most beautiful and demanding gravel riding in the country.

It’s also a reflection of community. Events like this depend on volunteers, local bike shops, and towns working together. The fact that La Crescent and the surrounding area can support a race of this caliber is a testament to the strength of the cycling culture here. And with a two-year cycle, the event will return in 2026, building momentum and recognition for the region.

In short, the Gravel National Championship is a big deal. It’s a chance to watch world-class racers battle on our roads, to celebrate the scenery and terrain that make this place unique, and to showcase a community that rallies behind cycling at every level.