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Mt Lemmon Gravel Grinder p/b Pinal County

October 26 2024

Oracle, Arizona, USA

Unconfirmed

Distances: 60 miles

Difficulty: Difficult terrain with longer, steeper hills

Limited to: 500 Participants

Grinder Course Maps and Profiles:

The Mt Lemmon Gravel Grinder is concentrated on a 41 mile loop with an out-and-back section for the 50 & 60 mile courses. The routes take cyclists through the lush, semi-desert landscape that skirt the lower elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains and leads the way to the main climb up the "backside" of Mt Lemmon. The course consists of a mix of gravel/dirt and paved roads that wind its way through sections of the Coronado National Forest and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. Along the way, you’ll pass through local cattle ranches and former mining operations while traveling across several cattle guards, over small narrow bridges, and through dry river beds known as washes. Incredible views of the San Pedro River Valley and Galiuro Mountain Range, a sky island mountain, can been seen from virtually anywhere along the course. The route can be done on a cross, gravel or mountain bike. Three main Aid Stations will be located at Mt Lemmon “Control” Road & Forest Road 4450 “Haul Road” and Redington Road & Black Hills Mine Road and Webb Road. For the 60 mile, an Aid Station will be located at the summit turnaround checkpoint at Mt Lemmon Fire Station.

MLGG Course Map with Start/Finish Location staged at the 3C Ranch Event Venue.

The 60 Grind course: 100 years ago, in 1920, the Mt Lemmon Control Road was the first road constructed to access the higher, cooler elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For those seeking a true epic and memorable experience on one of the most iconic mountains in the sport of cycling, this will be the ultimate adventure! The 60 Grind course is concentrated on a 41.5 mile loop with an 18.5 mile out-and-back section for 60 miles of total riding that starts and finishes at the 3C Ranch and takes riders through sections of the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt Lemmon) and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. The 18 mile out-and-back section comes at Aid #1 (12 miles) and offers riders an additional 2800 ft of climbing in 9 miles. There is 45 miles of gravel/dirt roads and 15 miles of paved roads. Expect little to no motor vehicle traffic. Conditions of gravel roads can vary from hard-pack, to rutted or washboard depending on the last time the roads were graded and/or touched by monsoon downpours. Elevations along the course vary from 3000 ft to 8000 ft. At the lowest point of the course, average high temps are in the upper 70’s for this time of the year.

The 50 Grind course: 100 years ago, in 1920, the Mt Lemmon Control Road was the first road constructed to access the higher, cooler elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For those seeking a true epic and memorable experience on one of the most iconic mountains in the sport of cycling, this will be the ultimate adventure! The 50 Grind course is concentrated on a 41.5 mile loop with a 7.5 mile out-and-back section for 49 miles of total riding that starts and finishes at the 3C Ranch, takes riders through sections of the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt Lemmon), and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. The 7 mile out-and-back section comes at Aid #1 (12 miles) and offers riders an additional 1000ft of climbing. There is 34 miles of gravel/dirt roads and 15 miles of paved roads. Expect little to no motor vehicle traffic. Conditions of gravel roads can vary from hard-pack, to rutted or washboard depending on the last time the roads were graded and/or touched by monsoon downpours. Elevations along the course vary from 3000 ft to 6000 ft. At the lowest point of the course, average high temps are in the upper 70’s for this time of the year.

The 40 Grind course: 100 years ago, in 1920, the Mt Lemmon Control Road was the first road constructed to access the higher, cooler elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For those seeking a true epic and memorable experience on one of the most iconic mountains in the sport of cycling, this will be the ultimate adventure! The 40 Grind course is a 42 mile loop that starts and finishes at the 3C Ranch and takes riders through sections of the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt Lemmon) and through the neighboring town of San Manuel. There is 27 miles of grave/dirt roads and 15 miles of paved roads. Expect little to no motor vehicle traffic. Conditions of gravel roads can vary from hard-pack, to rutted or washboard depending on the last time the roads were graded and/or touched by monsoon downpours. Elevations along the course vary from 3000 ft to 5000 ft. At the lowest point of the course, average high temps are in the upper 70’s for this time of the year.

Start Located At: 36033 South Mount Lemmon Road Oracle, Arizona 85623

615-636-4828

Included

Registration Package Includes:
The opportunity to ride and race on one of the most historic, scenic, and challenging gravel + paved roads in the southwest!
Personalized Mt Lemmon Gravel Grinder number plate for your bike!
Professional timing and results provided by On Your Left Timing
Free Live Tracking and Progress Alerts on Race Day! Make sure you download the RaceJoy mobile app for live phone tracking!
Event “Goodie Bag” loaded with goodies from our great sponsors including event t-shirt!
Fully stocked aid stations with Skratch Labs product and plenty of fuel to help you in your quest to Grind the Lemmon!
Custom awards for category winners and podium placers! 40/50/60 Grind Only!
Finisher woodalian with distance indicated to show off your accomplishment!
Refreshing Finisher Beer compliments of Barrio Brewing Company, Must be age 21 or older to redeem.
Free Live Music Sessions presented by Oracle Land & Homes
Custom PACTIMO jersey for the first Man and Woman to reach the King/Queen of the Mountain locations on course and overall 40/50/60 Grind Winners! ?
Course monitoring and communications Provided by Pima County Office of Emergency Management HAM Radio Operators!
Medical Support from Dirtbag Medic and LifeLine MED-TRANS
Enthusiastic volunteers! Without them this event could not be possible!

Prize / Race Categories

40/50/60 GRIND CATEGORIES

Jr. Men 15-18
Men 19-39
Men 40-49
Men 50-59
Men 60+
Men Single Speed Open 15+

Jr. Women 15-18
Women 19-39
Women 40-49
Women 50+
Women Single Speed Open 15+
Men/Women/Co-Ed Tandem Open 15+

We have partnered with Cadence Promotions to provide the Mt Lemmon Gravel Grinder and it's participants with custom Finisher and Podium Awards. Each participant who completes their respective distance in the 40/50/60 and 13 Grind will receive a custom woodallion Finisher Award with custom MLGG logo lanyard.

Podium awards will go 5 deep for overall winners in the 40/50/60 Grind distances. All other category awards will go 3 deep in each 40/50/60 Grind distance.

PACTIMO is the Official Custom Jersey provider of the Mt Lemmon Gravel Grinder. Custom PACTIMO Jerseys will be awarded for the first Man and Woman to reach the King/Queen of the Mountain locations on course and overall 40/50/60 Grind Winners. Jerseys will also be awarded to the first U23 Man and Woman (under the age of 23) to finish the 60 Grind Course.

2019 Overall Champion and Special Recognition Jerseys

Champion Jersey p/b #1 Oracle Ford

King & Queen of the Mountain Jersey p/b the Brian Bissell Group NOVA Home Loans

Best Young Rider Jersey p/b Old Pueblo Gymnastics Academy

Facilities

Parking

Changing Rooms

Registration On the Day

Pre-Packet Pickups

Support for Participants

Route Signposted

First Aid