The Last Best Ride
- Date Sun 26th July 2026
- Time 7:15AM MDT
- Location Whitefish, Montana
- Price $191.94 - $228.97
- Races 2 races
- Distances Ultra
Event summary
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of cycling at The Last Best Ride, taking place on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in the stunning town of Whitefish, Montana. This exciting gravel race celebrates community, conservancy, and nature, showcasing the breathtaking landscapes of the Flathead Valley. Participants can choose between two exhilarating courses: the challenging Long Course, approximately 90 miles with an estimated 8,000 feet of climbing, and the shorter Mountain Goat Course, around 45 miles with about 5,000 feet of elevation gain.
As you pedal through the picturesque rocky mountains, you'll encounter vast vistas and perhaps even spot some local wildlife. The event promises a fully supported experience with aid stations, medical personnel, and enthusiastic cheerleaders to help you conquer the day. Plus, enjoy a weekend filled with camaraderie, including a welcome party on July 24 and an expo on July 25 at the Great Northern Cycle & Ski. Participants can look forward to a post-race celebration and podium party, making this cycling event a true highlight of the summer. Join us in Whitefish for The Last Best Ride and be part of a cycling celebration that supports the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award, which has provided significant scholarships to young women pursuing
As you pedal through the picturesque rocky mountains, you'll encounter vast vistas and perhaps even spot some local wildlife. The event promises a fully supported experience with aid stations, medical personnel, and enthusiastic cheerleaders to help you conquer the day. Plus, enjoy a weekend filled with camaraderie, including a welcome party on July 24 and an expo on July 25 at the Great Northern Cycle & Ski. Participants can look forward to a post-race celebration and podium party, making this cycling event a true highlight of the summer. Join us in Whitefish for The Last Best Ride and be part of a cycling celebration that supports the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award, which has provided significant scholarships to young women pursuing
Organiser's Description
WELCOME. WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT YOU ARE PLANNING ON JOINING US FOR A THREE-DAY MONTANA CYCLING CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY, CONSERVANCY AND NATURE.
The Last Best Ride is a gravel race (or ride to some) originated in the Summer of 2021 where local professional cyclists Jess Cerra and Sam Boardman dreamed of creating a local Montana gravel race where the big sky's of Montana were showcased while featuring some of the best gravel riding in the lower 48. The Last Best Ride is now in its sixth edition and we are excited that it will be lead under the new race director Brian Grubb. Brian is a cyclist, father, lawyer, local Whitefish community member and enthusiast who is bringing a new vision to TLBR.
Brian and his board are all local to Whitefish and looking to create a weekend filled with friendship, community support, a little bit of suffering and lots of celebration. In it's sixth year the race will continue to be the only supporter of the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award which has provided over $130,000 of scholarship money to financially disadvantaged young women seeking secondary education.
The mainstay of the TLBR will be both the Big Horn Sheep (Long Course) and Mountain Goat (Short Course) races held on Sunday, July 26th. Both courses will start and finish in beautiful downtown Whitefish, MT. Each course will bring you into the rocky mountains of the Flathead Valley where you are guaranteed to witness vast vistas while likely running into a few walruses, wildflowers and maybe a bear or two. The event is fully stocked and supported with aid stations, medical personnel and cheerleaders to help you conquer your day.
EVENT HEADQUARTERS:
Great Northern Cycle & Ski
A local cycling shop owned and operated by previous Co-Director Stella Hobbs and her husband Willie Hobbs.
(www.gncycleski.com)
328 Central Ave. Whitefish, MT 59937
DISTANCE OPTIONS:
* 45 ish miles (est. 5000 ft of climbing)
* 90 ish miles (est. 8000 ft of climbing)
REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
* Race entry
* Race packet/goodies from sponsors
* Post race catered food, local Sweet Peaks ice cream and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available)
* A special surprise
* A guaranteed sense of accomplishment and pride
* Post race PODIUM party sponsored by ENVE
FRIDAY, JULY 24TH
WELCOME PARTY AND BARBARA MANSFIELD SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION
Time: 5pm
Place: To be determined
An optional early evening event at a community eatery where you can socialize with the organizers, meet and make friends with your fellow cyclists, and indulge in some local grub and grog.
SATURDAY, JULY 25TH
EXPO: 8AM - 5PM AT OUR EVENT HEADQUARTERS, GREAT NORTHER CYCLE AND SKI
PACKET PICK-UP: 11AM - 5PM (TIME MAY BE ADJUSTED, BUT DON'T WORRY YOU WILL GET ALL THE DEETS)
GROUP SHAKE OUT RIDES: TIME AND INFO IN THE WORKS, BUT DON'T WORRY WE WILL FILL YOU IN AS IT GETS CLOSER
Join us for a quintessential summer afternoon in the center of downtown Whitefish, hosted by our local bike shop, Great Northern Cycle & Ski and sponsors
328 Central Ave
Whitefish, MT 59937.
SUNDAY, JULY 26TH
RACE DAY!
Start, finish and finish line celebration are all at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish, MT (2 blocks from the site of the Expo)
Depot Park
510 Railway St
Whitefish, MT
* 7:15AM Long Course Start
* 7:35AM Short Course Start
* 6PM Podium Party sponsored by ENVE! Grab a drink and a snack. Cheer our last racers in as we celebrate an incredible day on bikes
The Last Best Ride is a gravel race (or ride to some) originated in the Summer of 2021 where local professional cyclists Jess Cerra and Sam Boardman dreamed of creating a local Montana gravel race where the big sky's of Montana were showcased while featuring some of the best gravel riding in the lower 48. The Last Best Ride is now in its sixth edition and we are excited that it will be lead under the new race director Brian Grubb. Brian is a cyclist, father, lawyer, local Whitefish community member and enthusiast who is bringing a new vision to TLBR.
Brian and his board are all local to Whitefish and looking to create a weekend filled with friendship, community support, a little bit of suffering and lots of celebration. In it's sixth year the race will continue to be the only supporter of the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award which has provided over $130,000 of scholarship money to financially disadvantaged young women seeking secondary education.
The mainstay of the TLBR will be both the Big Horn Sheep (Long Course) and Mountain Goat (Short Course) races held on Sunday, July 26th. Both courses will start and finish in beautiful downtown Whitefish, MT. Each course will bring you into the rocky mountains of the Flathead Valley where you are guaranteed to witness vast vistas while likely running into a few walruses, wildflowers and maybe a bear or two. The event is fully stocked and supported with aid stations, medical personnel and cheerleaders to help you conquer your day.
EVENT HEADQUARTERS:
Great Northern Cycle & Ski
A local cycling shop owned and operated by previous Co-Director Stella Hobbs and her husband Willie Hobbs.
(www.gncycleski.com)
328 Central Ave. Whitefish, MT 59937
DISTANCE OPTIONS:
* 45 ish miles (est. 5000 ft of climbing)
* 90 ish miles (est. 8000 ft of climbing)
REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
* Race entry
* Race packet/goodies from sponsors
* Post race catered food, local Sweet Peaks ice cream and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available)
* A special surprise
* A guaranteed sense of accomplishment and pride
* Post race PODIUM party sponsored by ENVE
FRIDAY, JULY 24TH
WELCOME PARTY AND BARBARA MANSFIELD SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION
Time: 5pm
Place: To be determined
An optional early evening event at a community eatery where you can socialize with the organizers, meet and make friends with your fellow cyclists, and indulge in some local grub and grog.
SATURDAY, JULY 25TH
EXPO: 8AM - 5PM AT OUR EVENT HEADQUARTERS, GREAT NORTHER CYCLE AND SKI
PACKET PICK-UP: 11AM - 5PM (TIME MAY BE ADJUSTED, BUT DON'T WORRY YOU WILL GET ALL THE DEETS)
GROUP SHAKE OUT RIDES: TIME AND INFO IN THE WORKS, BUT DON'T WORRY WE WILL FILL YOU IN AS IT GETS CLOSER
Join us for a quintessential summer afternoon in the center of downtown Whitefish, hosted by our local bike shop, Great Northern Cycle & Ski and sponsors
328 Central Ave
Whitefish, MT 59937.
SUNDAY, JULY 26TH
RACE DAY!
Start, finish and finish line celebration are all at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish, MT (2 blocks from the site of the Expo)
Depot Park
510 Railway St
Whitefish, MT
* 7:15AM Long Course Start
* 7:35AM Short Course Start
* 6PM Podium Party sponsored by ENVE! Grab a drink and a snack. Cheer our last racers in as we celebrate an incredible day on bikes
Races
-
Big Horn Sheep - Long Course
Incl. $13.97 Fee
Sun 26th July 2026 (7:15AM MDT)
$228.97
Want to conquer over 90 miles of Montana's finest gravel with upwards of 8k of elevation gain then this is your course. You will be guaranteed to finish exhausted with pride. -
Mountain Goat - Short Course
Incl. $11.94 Fee
Sun 26th July 2026 (7:35AM MDT)
$191.94
While shorter than the Big Horn Sheep this course doesn't lack the views, adventure or sense of accomplishment. The short course features 48 miles of suffering with nearly 5000 ft of elevation gain.
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510 Railway St, Whitefish, 59937, MT, United States
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The Last Best Ride
