The 7th Red Granite Grinder Rolls Out Fresh Routes, Fresh Start in Athens, & More Gravel

Red Granite Grinder is hosting their 7th annual race this year in a new town, Athens, WI. While still being in the same region as the previous start/finish in Wausau, the race will have new routes and a new feel. Check our the details to learn more.

For more info, visit Red Granite Grinder.

The Red Granite Grinder has a new starting town and new routes for 2025. Known for its scenic red granite roads, the event offers 50, 100, and 150-mile route options that traverse colorful fall landscapes, farmland, and waterways. With a new start/finish line and fresh routes, 2025 promises more adventure, more gravel, and more challenge than ever before.

50 Mile Route Overview

86% gravel, 12% paved, 2% gravel trail.

Riders start depart Athens and hit gravel just two miles down the road enroute to experience gems in Marathon County. Riders then split from the 100 & 150 mile routes where there’s just a few spurts of pavement sprinkled in. After passing the exact center center of the Northwest Hemisphere, riders cross the Big Rib River twice as they meander back to downtown Athens, rejoining the longer routes, and finishing through the forest of Erbach Park.

100 Mile Route Overview

92% gravel, 6% paved, 2% doubletrack with a creek crossing.

Taste Xtreme Gravel which includes remote gravel, two track, and a creek crossing. Riders leave Athens, where your wheels will be rolling over the beautiful red granite this area is known for just minutes into the race. As riders swing north, they cross the Big River River and then are treated with an intimate ride along the shoreline on River Road.

Then the race gets serious when the route swings further north onto remote roads and county forests where it rejoins the 150 mile route. From there, riders cross county lines on private property, following the tortuous (and perhaps torturous) path of the glaciers, with the Ice Age Trail National Scenic Trail a stone’s throw away.

Just past the halfway point, riders stretch their legs as they dismount and tip-toe across Averill Creek, then follow double track east before reconnecting to gravel roads. As the riders turn south and re-enter Marathon County, they partake in a slice of gravel heaven as red gold rolls smoothly under their tires once again. Upon rejoining the 50 mile route, riders glide over the Big River River one last time, and finish through the forest of Erbach Park.

150 Mile Route Overview

~80% gravel, 14% paved, 5% trail, rest doubletrack and rugged surfaces.

Experience Xtreme Gravel which is anything we want it to be, combined with what Mother Nature decides it's going to be. Racers begin on the 100 mile course, but then are tested on a variety of surfaces.

After splitting from the 100 mile route, riders cross the Big Rib River snaking west with wind blasting in their faces (and perhaps rain or sleet to add to the challenge). Riders finally can catch their breath on the the Pine Line Trail. Despite being welcomed with crushed granite, the surface turns to coarser granite as they travel north. Riding over several tributaries & wetlands, past farm fields, skirting terminal moraines and hardwood and conifer forests, riders will enjoy the respite of the gradual climbs on the rail-to-trail. After passing the restored railroad depot, riders reenergize at the Ogema aid station, ready to tackle the gut-wrenching hills ahead as they approach the highest point in the state.

Now the adventure is in full swing as racers tackle a mix of pavement, gravel, grassy dirt two track, and just plain grit. Riders weave through county forest as the route rejoins the 100 mile route amidst towering canopies in vast wilderness.

Make It a Full Weekend

Whether you're racing or supporting, the Red Granite Grinder is more than just a race, it’s an entire weekend of gravel community and Central Wisconsin charm. Here are some of the activities going on to make it a full weekend experience.

Friday Activities:

• Women’s Skills Clinic (Free): Led by Laura Hrubes and sponsored by Embark Maple Energy.

• Pre-race Group Ride: Led by Race Director Shane Hitz, preview the course on a mellow 90% gravel ride.

• Live Concert + Beer Release: Celebrate the start of the weekend with local brews and music at The Milk Haus.

Saturday Race Day:

• Kocourek Kids Ride: A fun, safe, and free ride for kids of all ages in Erbach Park.

• Ruby Coffee + Urban Street Bistro: Fuel up before and after the ride with award-winning coffee and a hot post-race meal.

• Post-Race Party: Music, craft beer, and camaraderie at the finish line to celebrate every rider’s journey.