2026 Montana Bike Odyssey

The Montana Bike Odyssey is a fixed-route, self-supported, single-stage, mixed-surface cycling race that starts and finishes in Bozeman, Montana. New in 2026, three different route options:

The Pilgrimage Route – This is the original 1,750-mile route covering approximately 1,100 miles of gravel and 650 miles of remote paved county roads and bicycle paths. With over 100,000 feet of climbing and descending, this route incorporates many of the mountain passes worth pedaling in Montana. The first 1,000 miles are spent west of the Continental Divide, with forests of conifers, sustained climbs, and long descents. The second half of the route drops east of it, where it becomes stark and vast, entering an area of wide-open skies with rolling climbs, heading down the plains toward the canyons of the Missouri River. Towns are scattered along the route, mostly welcoming ranching and farming communities. Everything from one-street, one-bar towns to the seemingly big cities of Missoula and Great Falls. Many times, it’s remote, passing through lonely and isolated stretches of national forest, offering access to endless wildlife and solitude. The route shares 395 miles with the Tour Divide race route along two separate sections, including a push UP the infamous Fleecer Ridge track. A true Odyssey.

The Quest Route – A 500-mile loop, 83% unpaved gravel and dirt roads with 28,000′ of climbing. This route leads riders on a journey through and around the island mountain ranges of Central Montana. These “islands” in a “sea” of prairie, including the Bridger, Crazy, Little Belt, Castle, and Big Snowy Mountains will be constant companions as riders navigate this remote route with challenging climbs, expansive landscapes and the ever-changing Montana weather.

The Passage Route – A 235-mile loop, 82% unpaved gravel and dirt roads with 17,000′ of climbing. While navigating through several island mountain ranges including the Bridgers, the Castles and the Crazies riders will experience all that Montana has to offer- big views, big climbs and expansive landscapes all under the Big Sky. Do not underestimate this route.