The Mid South 2026 pro bike checks – Part one

Josh Weinberg

The U.S. gravel season is unofficially kicking off this weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Or, at least that's the way it feels. While many pros are already a few races deep into their schedules – with notable events like BWR Arizona and Valley of Tears having taken place during the preceding weeks and months – The Mid South event weekend tends to feel more like a season premiere before the Life Time Grand Prix series begins at Sea Otter Classic in mid-April. And after the tragic fires that led to the Mid South's cancellation last year, there's a palpable buzz and excitement for fans and racers alike.

Mid South 2025: What could have beenAs smoke cleared on Saturday morning in Stillwater, OK, air quality reports drastically improved from the day prior. Yet wildfires still burned and stretched emergency resources thin causing organizers to cancel what would have been the 13th edition of Mid South.Escape CollectiveJosh Weinberg

The Mid South features a different format this year. Primarily, there is a split schedule with a 100-mile pro race on Friday and mass-start amateur races on Saturday. Various options to compete include 100-mile, 50-mile, and 12-mile gravel rides, a 50 km ultramarathon run, and a "Pro Double" that combines the 50K run with the 100-mile pro ride. Event organizers see at least two benefits to this experiment: improved course safety and more opportunities for fans to see pros out on the course and at the finish line.

It's also a good race to examine pro bike setups. Conditions can vary widely: dry roads lead to a fast, dusty race, while rain can turn the red-dirt surfaces into nearly impenetrable mucky clay. So everything from tire selection to pedals and even handlebars is up for consideration. This year looks to be quite dry, and since mud clearance isn't as much of a concern, pros seem to be maximizing tire widths in their bikes. Let's look at some examples from three seasoned pros in the women's field.

Sofía Gómez Villafañe's Specialized S-Works Crux

The two-time Life Time Grand Prix champ has already chalked up wins this early season at Valley of Tears, Santa Vall, and Castellon Gravel. For Mid South, she'll be aboard the Specialized S-Works Crux with, what you might have already noticed, an unreleased wheelset under the brand's Project Black development program.

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