Emily Newsom and Ethan Shirey fastest at inaugural 2026 Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic
Montana brought the heat in the racing and literally with temperatures hitting 105F. Riders were treated to free beverages of all kinds, plus a lineup of food trucks serving everything from post-race comfort food to cold treats afterwards.
Emily Newsom and Ethan Shirey were the fastest riders at the inaugural 2026 Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic, a debut event that delivered both ferocious racing and brutal conditions as temperatures surged to 105°F across Montana’s exposed gravel roads.
The women’s 116-mile race ignited early when five riders forced the decisive breakaway: Flavia Oliveira Parks, Stella Hobbs, Emily Newsom, Belgian rider Laurien Vandewalle and 19-year-old Lacie Munns. Oliveira Parks suffered a mechanical but clawed her way back to Munns and Vandewalle, while Hobbs and Newsom pressed on at the front. After the race, Oliveira Parks said, “This was Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic’s debut event, and they worked so hard to put on an incredible race across Montana’s wide-open, pristine gravel roads. It’s only going to get better, and I’m here for it!” Newsom proved strongest in the final hour, riding clear to win ahead of Hobbs.
In the men’s 116-mile race, Ethan Shirey lit up the course from the start, riding with a level of heat-proof intensity that nobody could match. Caleb Swartz and Nathan Spratt were the closest challengers, but Shirey’s pace in the final miles was untouchable as he powered to victory with Swartz and Spratt rounding out the podium.
The shorter distances produced equally fierce racing. In the 62-mile men’s event, Carlo Delong dominated the day, riding away from Helena teammate Roger Cox and West Yellowstone’s Bobby Perez to secure the win. The women’s 62-mile race saw Marilyn Rayner take command on the climbs, holding off Missoula’s Marlene Hull and Bozeman’s Lisa Curry for a decisive victory.
The 38-mile categories delivered fast, tactical racing in the heat. Preston Painter was unstoppable in the men’s race, finishing ahead of Gabriel Chamblin and Michael Mccafferty. In the women’s 38-mile event, Mary Hopkins Chamblin put down one of the performances of the day, winning by more than half an hour over Amy Kammeraad and Pam Estill.
With racing wrapped up, riders and spectators rolled straight into the celebration. Prize Money – Total $20,950 was awarded, and the Awards Ceremony kicked off at Railroad Park, turning the finish into a full-blown festival. Live music began immediately after the awards, headlined by Miller Campbell, whose set carried the party into the evening. Riders were treated to free beverages of all kinds, plus a lineup of food trucks serving everything from post-race comfort food to cold treats for the 105°F heat.
The Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic didn’t just debut as a race — it debuted as a community event with a finish-line atmosphere that gravel riders across the USA will be talking about all year.
116-mile Women Top 10
1 Emily Newsom, Fort Worth TX, 5:54:43, —
2 Stella Hobbs, Whitefish MT, 6:08:54, +14:11
3 Flavia Oliveira Parks, San Jose CA, 6:23:07, +28:24
4 Laurien Vandewalle, Houston TX, 6:27:07, +32:24
5 Lacie Munns, Honeyville UT, 6:35:51, +41:08
6 Merrilee Thomas, Bozeman MT, 6:57:05, +1:02:22
7 Julia Priest, Whitefish MT, 7:14:59, +1:20:16
116-mile Men Top 10
1 Ethan Shirey, Draper UT, 5:26:38, —
2 Caleb Swartz, Missoula MT, 5:32:29, +5:51
3 Nathan Spratt, Millcreek UT, 5:35:58, +9:20
4 Jack Elder, Bozeman MT, 5:37:57, +11:19
5 Marc Spatt, Millcreek UT, 5:46:18, +19:40
6 Theodore Skinner, Bozeman MT, 5:55:35, +28:57
7 Miles Colescott, Philadelphia PA, 5:59:59, +33:21
8 Brelon May, Missoula MT, 6:11:56, +45:18
9 Aiden Sorich, Butte MT, 6:16:23, +49:45
10 Matt Butterfield, Kalispell MT, 6:21:01, +54:23
62-mile Men Top 10
1 Carlo Delong, Helena MT, 3:11:34, —
2 Roger Cox, Helena MT, 3:14:50, +3:16
3 Bobby Perez, West Yellowstone MT, 3:14:50, +3:16
4 Kyle Rust, Missoula MT, 3:14:50, +3:16
5 Aj Sobrilsky, Bozeman MT, 3:19:08, +7:34
6 Alex Hassman, Big Sky MT, 3:23:38, +12:04
7 Sean Jones, Tucson AZ, 3:24:20, +12:46
8 Steve Ouwerkerk, Calgary AB, 3:26:11, +14:37
9 Jimi Toural, Southwest Ranches FL, 3:41:48, +30:14
10 Jesse Rowden, Bend OR, 3:45:46, +34:12
62-mile Women Top 10
1 Marilyn Rayner, Missoula MT, 3:45:19, —
2 Marlene Hull, Missoula MT, 3:46:53, +1:34
3 Lisa Curry, Bozeman MT, 3:50:29, +5:10
4 Ellie Schnur, Bozeman MT, 3:50:30, +5:11
5 Lisa Palomaki, Bozeman MT, 3:54:20, +9:01
6 Robin Meguire, Great Falls MT, 3:55:52, +10:33
7 Colleen Hallock, Bozeman MT, 4:00:21, +15:02
8 Joy Ross, Helena MT, 4:06:58, +21:39
9 Aidan Myhre, Helena MT, 4:10:33, +25:14
10 Lacey Beerman, Viola ID, 4:24:16, +38:57
38-mile Men Top 10
1 Preston Painter, Helena MT, 1:55:35, —
2 Gabriel Chamblin, Fairhope AL, 1:58:42, +3:07
3 Michael Mccafferty, Helena MT, 2:10:19, +14:44
4 Troy Delong, Helena MT, 2:12:25, +16:50
5 Nord Johnson, Helena MT, 2:14:15, +18:40
6 Andrew Long, Great Falls MT, 2:17:13, +21:38
7 Peysen Webster, Great Falls MT, 2:21:06, +25:31
8 Christian Gronning, Great Falls MT, 2:22:45, +27:10
9 Paul Smith, Greensboro GA, 2:32:23, +36:48
10 Timothy Walsh, Maple Grove MN, 2:57:24, +1:01:49
38-mile Women Top 10
1 Mary Hopkins Chamblin, Fairhope AL, 1:48:22, —
2 Amy Kammeraad, Bozeman MT, 2:23:09, +34:47
3 Pam Estill, Huson MT, 2:28:26, +40:04
4 Samantha Benzing, Bozeman MT, 2:33:43, +45:21
5 Melissa Rowden, Bend OR, 2:36:11, +47:49
6 Holly Kemp, Whitefish MT, 2:49:43, +1:01:21
7 Hannah Martin, Choteau MT, 2:49:46, +1:01:24
8 Kim Much, Helena MT, 2:53:28, +1:05:06
9 Patty Logan, Missoula MT, 2:56:33, +1:08:11
10 Raequel Roberts, Missoula MT, 2:56:33, +1:08:11
Link to 2026 Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic Results: https://sites.chronotrack.com/event/93411/results?raceId=247950&divisionId=2787881
