The Last Best Ride presented by ENVE 2026

Description

Welcome. We are so excited that you are planning on joining us for a three-day Montana cycling celebration of community, conservancy and nature.

The Last Best Ride is a gravel race (or ride to some) originated in the Summer of 2021 where local professional cyclists Jess Cerra and Sam Boardman dreamed of creating a local Montana gravel race where the big sky's of Montana were showcased while featuring some of the best gravel riding in the lower 48. The Last Best Ride is now in its sixth edition and we are excited that it will be lead under the new race director Brian Grubb. Brian is a cyclist, father, lawyer, local Whitefish community member and enthusiast who is bringing a new vision to TLBR.

Brian and his board are all local to Whitefish and looking to create a weekend filled with friendship, community support, a little bit of suffering and lots of celebration. In it's sixth year the race will continue to be the only supporter of the Barbara Mansfield Champion Scholar Award which has provided over $130,000 of scholarship money to financially disadvantaged young women seeking secondary education.

The mainstay of the TLBR will be both the Big Horn Sheep (Long Course) and Mountain Goat (Short Course) races held on Sunday, July 26th. Both courses will start and finish in beautiful downtown Whitefish, MT. Each course will bring you into the rocky mountains of the Flathead Valley where you are guaranteed to witness vast vistas while likely running into a few walruses, wildflowers and maybe a bear or two. The event is fully stocked and supported with aid stations, medical personnel and cheerleaders to help you conquer your day.

Event Headquarters:

Great Northern Cycle & Ski

A local cycling shop owned and operated by previous Co-Director Stella Hobbs and her husband Willie Hobbs.

(www.gncycleski.com)

328 Central Ave. Whitefish, MT 59937

Distance Options:

45 ish miles (est. 5000 ft of climbing) 90 ish miles (est. 8000 ft of climbing)

Registration Includes:

Race entry Race packet/goodies from sponsors Post race catered food, local Sweet Peaks ice cream and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available) A special surprise A guaranteed sense of accomplishment and pride Post race PODIUM party sponsored by ENVE

Friday, July 24th

Welcome Party and Barbara Mansfield Scholarship presentation

Time: 5pm

Place: To be determined

An optional early evening event at a community eatery where you can socialize with the organizers, meet and make friends with your fellow cyclists, and indulge in some local grub and grog.

Saturday, July 25th

Expo: 8am - 5pm at our event headquarters, Great Norther Cycle and Ski

​Packet Pick-Up: 11am - 5pm (time may be adjusted, but don't worry you will get all the deets)

Group shake out rides: Time and info in the works, but don't worry we will fill you in as it gets closer

Join us for a quintessential summer afternoon in the center of downtown Whitefish, hosted by our local bike shop, Great Northern Cycle & Ski and sponsors

328 Central Ave

Whitefish, MT 59937.

Sunday, July 26th

Race Day!

Start, finish and finish line celebration are all at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish, MT (2 blocks from the site of the Expo)

Depot Park

510 Railway St

Whitefish, MT

7:15am Long Course Start 7:35am Short Course Start 6pm Podium Party sponsored by ENVE! Grab a drink and a snack. Cheer our last racers in as we celebrate an incredible day on bikes