Gravel Worlds bring bikers from across the world to Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – It’s an annual event that has spanned decades and it’s back again at the Sandhills Global Event Center. Gravel Worlds is taking over northeast Lincoln and roads around the county.

The sound of bikes heading out onto the road is a welcome sound to Lincoln. Gravel Worlds, an annual event where riders of all ages and experiences come together and race in different distances.

There are almost 1,500 participants this year and organizers expect 3,000 to 4,000 people to show up for the event, generating upward of $2.4 million for the city and surrounding communities.

“It’s bringing people in from all over the world to come experience Lincoln NE and visit nice, right,” said Jason Strohbehn, chief excitement officer for Gravel Worlds. “We get a have people come in here and and and be treated well and celebrated here in our home town.”

In total, 48 states and 17 countries are present at the event this year. One organization from Florida is represented and is called Adventure for All. Their goal is to bring youth with autism or down syndrome into the world of cycling and teach them how to bike.

How they got to Gravel Roads in Lincoln is a story kids with disabilities experience all too often.

“Josh, our athlete, you know, we were calling around, we probably called 10 to 15 gravel races and none would take him because he has an exceptionality,” said Alli Williams, head bike coach for Adventure For All. “He was diagnosed with autism and they thought it was a liability issue or they wanted to create an, you know, another race for him.”

Gravel Worlds was the only event that would take him without any restrictions. One of their other athletes is from Lincoln. Lukas Coon trained with the organization while they were in the city in the summer of 2023 and raising money this past spring to make it to the event.

“Garmin Gravel Worlds is for everyone,” said Sofia Gibson, Assistant Lead Promoter for Gravel Worlds. “Whether you’re in first place or last place, and on Saturday night, we’re going to be having a first to last party where we’re going to have a live DJ, a bubble and smoke machine, a red carpet, a 360 photo booth, free Casey’s pizza, discounted drinks. It’s really going to be a party”

For more information on routes and schedules for the event, click here.

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