The team at Strambecco rates the Best Gravel Cycling Events Midwest 2025 based on various factors, including reputation, route quality, location, rider feedback, and the overall uniqueness of the event or race.  Spanning Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, South/North Dakota, Nebraska, Indiana, and Minnesota, the Midwest terrain features of Strambecco’s best list is generally flat or rolling. Still, routes often include steep, short climbs with a significant elevation gain over the full event route.

If we had to pick the best of the best gravel cycling events Midwest 2025, or those you’d classify as bucket list events, we’d recommend Barry-Roubaix (Michigan)  in March or Unbound Gravel (Kansas) in June.  Unbound Gravel is the event formerly known as Dirty Kanza.  Both events are quintessential gravel experiences that helped kick off the gravel boom in America.    We also strongly correlate the best events and professional event producers.  In the Midwest, premiere event producers include Lifetime Events, UCI Gravel World Series, and Monuments of Cycling.

Strambecco does not list every event.  We strive to identify and review events that are special and noteworthy.  If you have suggestions on other events we should consider or review, please get in touch with us here or send us a note at editors@strambecco.com.

Best Road Cycling Events in the Midwest 2023