How soon is too soon to start planning your gravel riding calendar for 2026? If you are the organisers of a new three day gravel stage race which is being held in Prescott, Arizona then it’s never too early to start generating some interest. With stunning scenery, challenging riding and a historical tie-in with the wild west pioneers, The Rough Rider looks like it will be an amazing addition to the global gravel event scene. Read on to find out more.

Maybe we’re just easily pleased, but all it took was a quick glance at the folder of stunning images that The Rough Rider event organisers sent us and we were instantly hooked! The Rough Rider is being run by the team behind the TransRockies Race Series, who organise a wide range of gravel, road, MTB and trail running events in Canada and the USA. 

The press release for the event describes it like this “Set over three days of racing, the Rough Rider will challenge riders with rugged climbs, wild scenery, and a camaraderie-driven atmosphere that feels more like a frontier camp than a corporate start line. Riders can expect signature Transrockies support, authentic small-town hospitality, and the kind of stories that linger long after the finish line. The event draws its name from the legendary Rough Riders cavalry unit and its famed leader Buckey O’Neill, a former mayor of Prescott and a symbol of true frontier grit. His spirit lives on in the mountain roads, gravel passes and pine-lined ridges of the region – and now, through a gravel race designed to honour his legacy.”

The Rough Rider comprises three stages, each with their own distinct character and style. 

• Stage 1, Grit, is a point-to-point stage with riders shuttled to the start point at the former mining town of Jerome. The stage covers 79 km (49 miles) and includes 919m of climbing. “The day is all about exposed ridgelines, dust that sticks to your teeth, and climbs that don’t care it’s only the start of the campaign. The wind will steal your breath, the sun will steal your shadow, and the road will give you nothing for free.”
• Stage 2, Grind, is a loop ride which starts and finishes in Prescott, taking riders to the south-east of the city. There are two route options available – Full Pint (120 km/75 miles with 2600m of climbing) or Half Pint (73 km/45 miles with 1500m of climbing). “The pines close in, the mining roads twist higher, and the ridgelines keep asking if you’ve got one more climb in you. You’ll see parts of the frontier that Buckey saw. No easy passages. Each mile has to be earned. You’ll ride where the cavalry once scouted, where supply trains rattled over dirt, and where Buckey’s kind of grit meant coming home or not at all. By the time you drop back into Prescott, you’ll know you’ve been shaped by the gravel.”
• Stage 3, Glory, is another loop ride which starts and finishes in Prescott, but this time takes riders out to the west. There are two route options available – Full Pint (94 km/58 miles with 1700m of climbing) or Half Pint (77 km/48 miles with  1400m of climbing). “GLORY starts under Thumb Butte’s watch as you climb into the forest shadows before breaking out into sun-baked ridgelines. This is the high country, and you’ll push deep into the wild. The feeling of victory will start to creep in as you coast the final descent into the streets of Prescott. As the courthouse square comes into view – the same ground where Buckey once rallied his men – you roll into the finish.”

For anyone who can’t wait until 2026, the event organisers are putting on a Recon Camp this year (October 31^st – November 2^nd) which will give participants a great flavour of what the actual event will be like. The organisers describe the Recon Camp as a “3-day, non-competitive gathering built around shared miles, big views, and deeper connection to the route and the community behind it. Expect guided rides, amazing company, and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming in 2026.” The Recon Camp is limited to just 20 riders and costs US$299. You can sign up here.

Event entries cost from US$399 (early bird entry price) and the field is limited to 300 riders. Registration opens on October 22^nd. You can find out more information and sign up to participate at the event website.