Big Sugar Gravel 50 course preview
The 2026 Big Sugar Gravel 50 course is 58.0 mi (93.3 km) and finishes where it starts, with 3,196 ft of climbing. RideMorrow finds 12 distinct climbs and 12 descents; the listed climbs account for 55% of the total ascent, and the rest comes from shorter rollers. The hardest climb by FIETS score starts at 24.9 mi: 0.58 mi at an average 7.7%, peaking at 13.5% over 100 m. The longest is 1.32 mi, starting at 9.3 mi. The second quarter holds the most climbing (35%).
- Distance
- 58.0 mi93.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 3,196 ft974 m
- Climbs
- 1212 descents
- Steepest 100 m
- 13.5%On a listed climb
- Corners
- 15638 technical
- High point
- 1,416 ftLow 1,057 ft
Elevation profile
Shaded: every listed climb. Numbered: the hardest.The 5 hardest climbs
Ranked by FIETS score- 1Climb 6 · from 24.9 mi0.58 mi · 237 ft up · 7.7% average, 13.5% steepest0.6
- 2Climb 5 · from 20.4 mi0.52 mi · 203 ft up · 7.4% average, 11.5% steepest0.5
- 3Climb 8 · from 33.9 mi0.62 mi · 209 ft up · 6.4% average, 12.0% steepest0.4
- 4Climb 1 · from 2.8 mi0.42 mi · 138 ft up · 6.3% average, 10.9% steepest0.3
- 5Climb 10 · from 36.9 mi0.34 mi · 136 ft up · 7.7% average, 11.7% steepest0.3
Every climb, in ride order
12 climbs · top 5 highlighted| Climb | Starts at | Length | Elevation gain | Avg grade | Steepest 100 m | FIETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.8 mi | 0.42 mi | 138 ft | 6.3% | 10.9% | 0.3 |
| 2 | 9.3 mi | 1.32 mi | 148 ft | 2.1% | 9.7% | 0.1 |
| 3 | 12.5 mi | 0.35 mi | 104 ft | 5.7% | 11.6% | 0.2 |
| 4 | 19.5 mi | 0.59 mi | 101 ft | 3.2% | 8.3% | 0.1 |
| 5 | 20.4 mi | 0.52 mi | 203 ft | 7.4% | 11.5% | 0.5 |
| 6 | 24.9 mi | 0.58 mi | 237 ft | 7.7% | 13.5% | 0.6 |
| 7 | 29.9 mi | 0.26 mi | 67 ft | 4.8% | 7.7% | 0.1 |
| 8 | 33.9 mi | 0.62 mi | 209 ft | 6.4% | 12.0% | 0.4 |
| 9 | 35.6 mi | 0.35 mi | 99 ft | 5.3% | 11.5% | 0.2 |
| 10 | 36.9 mi | 0.34 mi | 136 ft | 7.7% | 11.7% | 0.3 |
| 11 | 53.3 mi | 0.60 mi | 169 ft | 5.4% | 9.9% | 0.3 |
| 12 | 54.7 mi | 1.11 mi | 156 ft | 2.7% | 8.9% | 0.1 |
Descents
12 descents drop 1,929 ft in total. The steepest:
- Descent 5 · from 21.4 mi 1.43 mi at 4.2% average, 13.5% at its steepest
- Descent 3 · from 12.0 mi 0.53 mi at 4.3% average, 12.0% at its steepest
- Descent 4 · from 16.7 mi 2.04 mi at 2.2% average, 11.3% at its steepest
- Descent 7 · from 26.7 mi 0.96 mi at 3.8% average, 11.3% at its steepest
- Descent 12 · from 53.9 mi 0.42 mi at 6.5% average, 11.1% at its steepest
Corners
156 corners detected from the course geometry, 25 of them on a descent.
- 9 Very technical
- 29 Technical
- 68 Moderate
- 50 Gentle
Technical corners on descents
- 3.4 mi 40° right bend on a 9.9% approach · Technical
- 9.1 mi 87° left turn on a 4.9% approach · Technical
- 12.2 mi 41° left bend on a 9.5% approach · Technical
- 17.0 mi 60° right bend on a 11.4% approach · Technical
- 21.4 mi 64° left bend on a 3.7% approach · Very technical
- 22.0 mi 52° right bend on a 8.0% approach · Technical
Corners describe the line on the map, not road conditions. Sightlines, grip and traffic aren't known.
Big Sugar Gravel 50 course FAQ
How much climbing is in the Big Sugar Gravel 50?
3,196 ft (974 m) over 58.0 mi, measured from the organizer's course file with the elevation smoothed and small fluctuations ignored. Other tools may show a different total because they count every small rise.
How many climbs does the Big Sugar Gravel 50 have?
12 climbs of at least 300 m with 20 m of elevation change and a 2% average grade, plus shorter rollers. Together the listed climbs gain 1,765 ft.
What is the hardest climb in the Big Sugar Gravel 50?
Climb 6, starting at 24.9 mi: 0.58 mi gaining 237 ft at an average 7.7%. Its FIETS score is 0.6.
What is the longest climb in the Big Sugar Gravel 50?
Climb 2, 1.32 mi from 9.3 mi, averaging 2.1%.
How steep does the Big Sugar Gravel 50 get?
The steepest 100 m on a listed climb averages 13.5%. Grades are measured over 100 m, so short ramps can be steeper.
Where does this course data come from?
From the course Life Time publishes on its official site (https://www.bigsugarclassic.com/gravel/), retrieved 2026-10-12. Organizers change courses, so check their site before the event.
Source and method
Course: Big Sugar Gravel 50 Mile, published by Life Time. Retrieved 2026-10-12. RideMorrow is not affiliated with the event. Organizers change courses, so check the official site before the event.
Elevation comes from the route file, resampled every 10 m and smoothed. Climbs and descents need at least 300 m of length, 20 m of elevation change and a 2% average grade. Grades are measured over 100 m. Climbs are ranked by FIETS score: height² ÷ (length × 10), both in metres, without the index's high-altitude bonus. A score of 1 is a solid climb; 5 and above is a mountain pass. Weather, surface conditions, traffic and closures are not included.
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