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 exhilarating adventure at The Last Best Ride, taking place on Sunday, July 26th, 2026, in the picturesque town of Whitefish, Montana! This vibrant cycling celebration will showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Flathead Valley, featuring two thrilling race options: the Long Course, approximately 90 miles with an estimated 8,000 feet of climbing, and the Short Course, around 45 miles with about 5,000 feet of elevation gain. Both races will kick off from the heart of downtown Whitefish, offering riders stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and the chance to encounter local wildlife along the way.
Join the community for a weekend filled with camaraderie, excitement, and a touch of challenge. The Last Best Ride not only celebrates cycling but also supports the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award, having provided over $130,000 in scholarships to young women pursuing higher education. With fully stocked aid stations, medical support, and plenty of post-race festivities—including delicious local food and refreshing Sweet Peaks ice cream—this event promises a memorable experience for all participants. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this inspiring community event and make lasting memories in the great outdoors!
Join the community for a weekend filled with camaraderie, excitement, and a touch of challenge. The Last Best Ride not only celebrates cycling but also supports the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award, having provided over $130,000 in scholarships to young women pursuing higher education. With fully stocked aid stations, medical support, and plenty of post-race festivities—including delicious local food and refreshing Sweet Peaks ice cream—this event promises a memorable experience for all participants. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this inspiring community event and make lasting memories in the great outdoors!
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
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
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
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
Races
-
Big Horn Sheep - Long Course
Incl. $13.97 Fee
Sun 26th July 2026 (7:15AM MDT)
$228.97
OPENS 21 NOVWant 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
OPENS 21 NOVWhile 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.
Reviews
Done this event?
First-hand event reviews from people who have been there, done that and got the breathable T-shirt, really help everyone choose their next event.
Add a reviewLocation
510 Railway St, Whitefish, 59937, MT, United States
Who's In
See who else is doing this event
Be the first
No-one has marked this event as 'Doing' or 'Maybe' yet. Will you be the first?
The Last Best Ride
