Big prize gravel fondo bike racing is coming to Utah in 2021 at the inaugural Wasatch All-Road Bicycle Race on 28 August.

The new American gravel race starts in Heber City deep in the Uinta Mountains east of Salt lake City and features a 100-mile course with a combined $10,000 prize list for the top men and women finishers.

With 80 percent of the course gravel riders will encounter chunky forest service roads, rutted-out 4WD roads, red sandstone dust bowls and of course some world famous smooth Utah asphalt.

If the gravel does beat you to death, the big climbs will.  With a total of 12,000 feet of climbing at an elevation between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, oxygen will be in short supply, especially after starting on the ‘Wasatch Wall’, an opening 11-mile climb that snakes up 3,500 feet.

They even have a single-speed category for true masochists.

Utah native and former Tour of Utah winner Jeff Louder is organizing the event in partnership with Heber City and local bike company Ventum, which just announced production of their new GS1 gravel bike.

Worldwide Gran Fondo and Gravel Fondo Calendar