Gear Up for the 2026 Season of Cycling Adventure in East Tennessee
9 Lakes of East Tennessee Region Welcomes Cyclists to Spectacular 2026 Lineup of Events and One New Road Event
In keeping with its ascending reputation as a premier cycling destination, the 9 Lakes Region of East Tennessee is pumped up to be sharing numerous trail-riding and road-cycling events geared toward competition, outdoor fun and new buddy-making for cyclists young and old.
A range of bike events lined up over the coming months will celebrate the challenge and exhilaration of biking Southern Appalachia, featuring gnarly mountain trails, gravel backroads, and a labyrinth of blacktops connecting lakes and mountains. New this year is an event that offers the ultimate road climb to the Pinnacle.
The diversity, complexity and quality of cycling trails, bike pathways and an IMBA Epic surrounding the sprawling mountain-fed reservoirs of the 9 Lakes Region are as good as it gets on two wheels in the Eastern United States.
For rookies and grizzled vets and every rider in between, the 9 Lakes Region offers a flood of terrain options and events for cyclists to experience — so start planning now to attend or participate in one or several of the 2026 cycling events in the region.
The cycling season runs between January 1 and late October, so pack up your bike and let’s go!
Road Events
-
Jan 1- Annual Big South Fork Mail Run– Oneida- 8 to 35 miles.
-
April 25 Ride the Plains– Strawberry Plains- 13/25/33/55/66/80 mile options
-
May 23- Tour de Blount– Maryville 25/50/75 mile options
-
June 6: Cherohala Challenge– Tellico Plains- 24/62/115 mile options
-
July 11: Tour de Rocky Top– Townsend- 25/40/50/62/80/85/100 mile options
-
Aug 15: Pedal the Gap– Cumberland Gap- 30/50/60/80 and/or Take the Pinnacle Challenge
-
Sept 19: Dancing Bear Annual Bike Bash– Townsend 27/ 38/60 mile options
-
Sept 19: TN Senior Olympics– Strawberry Plains-5/20/40 mile options
-
Sept 26: Rugby Roundabout– Rugby- 10/24/40/60/75 mile options
-
Oct 10- Lick Skillet Scramble– New Market- 16/25/40 mile option
MTB
-
Mar 19-22: Tennessee National Red Bull Downhill– Oliver Springs, Windrock Bike Park
-
April 10-11: Southeast Downhill– Oliver Springs, Windrock Bike Park
-
Apr 25: NATS Poker Run– Norris, TN- 15/24 mile options
-
Jun 6-8: Annual Trail Weekend- Oneida, Big South Fork NRRA
-
Sep TBD- Wildcat Mountain Endurance – Morristown- 4/8 hour
-
Oct TBD- Hill of Truth at Haws Ridge- Oak Ridge
Gravel
-
Mar 29- The Waucheesi- Tellico Plains 63/88 mile options
-
Aug 2- Hardford Gravel Grinder – Hartford- 50/75 mile options
