The Lauf Gravel Worlds has announced a record US$150,000 professional prize pool for its 2026 event, which is being billed as the largest single-day purse in gravel cycling history.
Sponsored by Lincoln-based GOODLIFE Nutrition, the prize fund will be split equally between the men’s and women’s professional fields and paid to the top 10 finishers.
The 17th edition of the Gravel Worlds event, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, will take place on August 19-23, 2026. The gravel event’s organisers also confirmed that the race will be broadcast via free live coverage on the Gravel Worlds YouTube channel and Outside TV.
The sponsorship from GOODLIFE Nutrition – a brand established by the team behind Certified Piedmontese Beef – has also enabled investments in rider safety and the race experience for the entire field. New measures include course marshals at all stop signs and an increased presence of law enforcement on the route.
Jason Strohbehn, Lead Promoter of Gravel Worlds, said “We’re proud to be leaders in moving our sport forward. But this isn’t just about the pro race.
“We’re using the pro field to make Gravel Worlds better for the everyday rider – by increasing safety, expanding our expo, adding more on-course resources, and elevating the entire experience for everyone who shows up to ride.”
In a move for bolstering youth participation, the event is introducing free junior’s entry for all U18 categories in the 75-mile and 35-mile distances. Additionally, entry fees for U23 riders in the premier 150-mile race will be capped at US$50.
Lelan Dains, a Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductee and former director of Unbound Gravel, has joined the team as the ‘Maestro of Gravel’. Dains will oversee the logistics of the professional race as the event transitions into its next phase of growth.
Lelan Dains said “I’m excited to be back in the sport and to help a truly legendary event take its next step. Gravel Worlds has always pushed boundaries while respecting the more traditional aspects of the sport, and this next chapter is something special.”
The event week will include a Short Track MTB race, a two-day expo, and the USAT Gravel Triathlon National Championships. The celebrations conclude with the ‘First2Last Party’, which honours riders finishing the course after dark.
In 2026, the event will continue its 1,000 Women of Gravel initiative. For every woman who participates or volunteers, US$10 will be donated to NICA GRiT Nebraska, supporting programs that empower young women through cycling.
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