Save the date: October 11, 2025

Wausau, WI

12, 50, 85, or 144 miles

WHY RED GRANITE GRINDER?

Ready for adventure? Our routes are designed to give riders the chance to explore the grit in the western portion of Marathon County on several gems that can only be accessed through this race.  Riders will fully experience Central Wisconsin by riding through areas not usually open to bikes through “featured sections” in addition to passing ginseng fields, dairy farm pastures, barns, and farm fields in each the 50, 85 and 144 mile races. This event is part of the Ironbear 1000 which highlights Wisconsin’s epic gravel. Bring friends & family for the weekend’s festivities (see more info below). The Red Granite Grinder was rated by Strambecco one of the top three 2024 cycling events in Wisconsin!

Featured sections include:

• Rib Mountain State Park (85 & 144 mi only)

• Wausau School Forest

• Nine Mile County Forest

• Fenwood-Edgar ATV trail (85 & 144 mi only)

• Scotch Creek Preserve & Minnow Ponds (85 & 144 mi only)

• Various privately owned Managed Forest Lands (144 mi only)

• Willow Springs corn maze (50 mi only)

DO YOU HAVE THE ENDURANCE AND STRENGTH TO FINISH THIS CHALLENGE?

If you’d like to be a part of the event but don’t want to spend hours on your bike rain, snow, or shine, consider the 12 mile recreational ride, or volunteer!

Course Description

Each race starts (with a police escort for 7 am races) and finishes in the heart of downtown Wausau on the 400 Block. 

50 Mile - A great introduction to a gravel experience

Riders start downtown and skip the grueling Rib Mountain State Park climb, but still experience gems in Marathon County. Experience Narnia at the Wausau School Forest, then take several more miles of gravel via snowmobile trail at Nine Mile County Forest! Riders then split from the 85 and 144 mile routes to return back to downtown Wausau around a romp in the Willow Springs corn maze. Due to the start/finish in downtown Wausau, this route is great for a first time gravel rider and is doable on a road bike as 67% of the course is pavement, 7% dirt, and 26% gravel road/snowmobile trail. This course typically has nearly a 100% finisher rate.

85 Mile - A taste of Xtreme Gravel
Taste Xtreme Gravel which is anything we want it to be, combined with what Mother Nature decides it's going to be. Riders leave the city, where the race gets serious in a hurry - climbing 800 feet to the top of Rib Mountain, then white knuckle down, mustering every ounce to maintain focus on the unpracticed, yet technical descent.

After a spin in the Wausau School Forest, riders take several more miles of gravel via snowmobile trail at Nine Mile County Forest. After a few miles of gravel riders detour through a farm field then head to Fenwood - wind blasting (and maybe rain or sleet to add to the challenge), riders finally can catch their breath on a rail-to-trail all the way to Edgar. In Edgar, riders take on more wooded trails and even some singletrack at Scotch Creek Preserve.

Riders get some reprieve and are energized at the aid station at mile 51 with drop bag access before the 85 mile route splits off the 144 mile route and heads east, where riders will finally have the wind at their backs. Riders enter Red Granite country with a final aid station at the before tackling the final gut-wrenching climbs. In Maine, riders will fly down Billy Goat Hill only to gut it out on the final hills before heading back to downtown Wausau. Riders can finally relax as they welcome flat, smooth pavement all the way to the finish line in the heart of downtown Wausau.

THIS COURSE FEATURES SEVERAL GEMS IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN - A GREAT FIRST OR FIFTY-FIRST TIME GRAVEL EXPERIENCE - if you have it in you!

144 Mile - Full-fledged Xtreme Gravel
Experience Xtreme Gravel which is anything we want it to be, combined with what Mother Nature decides it's going to be. Racers are immediately tested on this challenging course - climbing 800 feet to the top of Rib Mountain, setting the tone for the day. Riders white knuckle down, needing every ounce to maintain focus on the unpracticed, yet technical descent.

After a spin in the Wausau School Forest, riders take several more miles of gravel via snowmobile trail at Nine Mile County Forest. After a few miles of gravel riders detour through a farm field then head to Fenwood - wind blasting (and maybe rain or sleet to add to the challenge), riders finally can catch their breath on a rail-to-trail all the way to Edgar. In Edgar, riders take on more wooded trails and even some singletrack at Scotch Creek Preserve.

Riders get some reprieve and are energized at the aid station at mile 51 with drop bag access before heading north into Lincoln County on several miles of Managed Forest Lands on private properties with a mix of gravel, dirt, and just plain grit awaiting you. Be sure to dismount on the Averill Creek crossing right after the mile 101 aid station with drop bag access. Riders enter Red Granite country with a final aid station before tackling the final gut-wrenching climbs. In Maine, riders will fly down Billy Goat Hill only to gut it out on the final hills before heading back to downtown Wausau. Riders can finally relax as they welcome flat, smooth pavement all the way to the finish line in the heart of downtown Wausau. Friends and families can follow their racer all day with live tracking included in registration!

THIS Xtreme COURSE IS DESIGNED TO FIND OUT WHO IS THE TOUGHEST OF THE TOUGH.

12 Mile - Recreational ride sponsored by Kocourek Kids
The 12 mile recreational ride is a family friendly, timed, non-competitive ride in downtown Wausau for those wanting to participate in this event. This beginner route is designed to showcase downtown Wausau’s bicycle accommodations for all ability levels. We welcome all ages on this family-friendly route – so bring the tag along / bike cart for the kids or tandem for your significant other.  This is not a gravel route, with the majority of the route pavement and the entire route is marked.  

All participants under age 18 are free and those racing in the longer events may also participate for free with their families and friends (if they are able to finish in time for the 12 mile start!)

Riders head out of downtown, starting with the only major climb and then ride down Sylvan Hill. Riders then circle back to downtown on the new River Edge Trail along the Wisconsin River. The River Edge trail passes Riverlife Park where kiddos can hop out for a ride down a couple story slide and big kids can try the American Ninja course. Riders get some dirt in their treads with a segment through Barkers-Stewart Island Park then roll along the world-class whitewater course at Wausau Whitewater Park. Riders loop around Isle of Ferns Park, experiencing nature in the heart of downtown Wausau.  After exiting Oak Island Park, riders complete the downtown loop on the 400 Block where they can enjoy the experience with all the other riders. This 12 mile route totals less than 400 feet of climbing for the entire route.

To encourage family participation, all 12 mile participants under age 18 are free!

Race Support
Spectators and crew are encouraged as riders will need all the support they can get to muster through these courses.  Riders are responsible for arranging their own mechanical, medical, and transportation needs.  Aid stations will be available at specified locations with drop bags transported for the 85 and 144 mile routes. Otherwise, you are expected to be responsible for your own nutrition / hydration for the entire route.  The race will go by a few gas stations so you can buy a leathery hot dog if you are so inclined, but beware you may see it again during the day! All roads are open to normal traffic, including the ATV trail. You are required to follow the rules of the road and stay alert.

Both a GPS file and map/cue sheet will be available for download the week of the event but you are expected to find your way through the course (except for the 12 mile route which will be marked but still must bring map/cue sheet or GPS file download in case signs altered by vandals), so a compass and odometer are highly recommended.   For a few trail sections, there will be markers to ensure racers ride the correct trails.  

Cell phone coverage is good for most of the route (except northern portion of 144 mile route) but best to bring a friend to race with in case you need help.

All crew members and spectators are required to follow the rules of the road and stay off private properties not included as part of the route. Recommended spectator areas are noted in the race guide.  Crews can follow their racer with live tracking!

Stay the weekend

Women’s skills clinic

Laura Hrubes will lead a women’s skills clinic on Friday. Thanks to Embark Maple Energy’s sponsorship, the clinic is free to any woman racing the 50, 85, or 144 mile routes in the Red Granite Grinder. Laura will demonstrate skills and offer feedback, share about the emotional and mental side of doing things like this, and answer questions a safe and supportive environment based on her riding experiences, including multiple Red Granite Grinder finishes. Participants may sign up by selecting the option on the Red Granite Grinder registration page here.

Group ride

Join race director, Shane Hitz, on a group ride. Shane designed the route specifically for riders to shake out their legs or for friends/family/crews to get a taste of Central Wisconsin gravel. Racers can get some race day tips from Shane or other locals.

• Friday free group ride Big Ring Fridrate

  Shift into the big chainring on this fast, super easy spin while you hydrate before the big race. Ride some of the best gravel surfaces in the Wausau area on fast rolling, low traffic eastern Marathon County gravel. Highlights of this 90% gravel route include the Hewitt-Harrison Forest Unit, Ackley Wildlife Preserve and a few small farms including an apple farm scattered throughout.

Post-race food and drink
An even better way to get a taste of our city - the best morning brew provided by Ruby Coffee and the well-deserved post-race party being held on the 400 Block upon your finish! Family, friends, food, music, and most importantly, beer (including local craft brews) and drink, are there to congratulate you, an IRONBULL finisher.  All racers will receive a free meal they can enjoy at their convenience from the Urban Street Bistro food truck.

Green Initiative

In order to maintain the beauty of our community and environment, we will have ways to enjoy the race with minimal impact!

• Compost and recycling onsite with compostable food trays - last year we generated less than two bins of garbage on the 400 Block!

• Aid stations are cupless

RACE TEAM PROFILES

• Race Director Shane Hitz

• Executive Director Andrea Larson

OFFIcial CoFFee

official protein

Kids Ride sponsor