Mountain Bike (MTB)
Gravel Bike
All-Terrain Bike (ATB)
Fat Bike
Last night, Ted King became the first finisher at the 2026 Arkansas High Country Race, completing the challenging 1,020-mile route in just 4 days, 8 hours, and 58 minutes. Learn more about his record-setting ride here…
Words by Aaron Arnzen, photos by Monica Foltz and Kai Caddy
On the fifth day of riding, the race’s first official finisher rolled back into downtown Bentonville, earning his second coveted belt buckle. Six years after his rookie run around the ARHC route, Ted King reclaimed his title as King of the High Country. With an official time of 4 days, 8 hours, and 58 minutes, Ted won the 2026 edition in record time, cutting half an hour off Justinas Leveika’s 2025 time.
Nearly eleven hours faster than his rookie run, Ted’s approach changed in more ways than one. For starters, this Vermont-based maple connoisseur now calls Bentonville home—homefield advantage, maybe? Beyond the commute, Ted rode his Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty sporting 48mm Rene Herse Poteau Mountain tires in an endurance plus casing. Compared to his inaugural run, Ted credited the wider tires and a suspension fork with aero bars for improving his hands’ condition over the course of the race. Not cutting corners on rest, and unsure how the race would play out, Ted’s gear list included a full Sea to Summit sleep kit, plus his various clothing layers.
Ted prioritized quality sleep throughout the race, starting with four hours on night one at the Witt Springs community center, 208 miles into the route. A solid stop at this Searcy County cycling haven set him up for a strong second day through the remaining Ozarks and into the Arkansas River valley. At 425 miles in, Ted banked five hours of sleep in a Maumelle hotel just North of Little Rock. Day three started early, around 3 a.m., as he maintained a steady pace over Flatside Pinnacle, through Hot Springs, and across the southern portion of the Ouachita Mountains. Reaching Dick’s Gap overlook at last light in an incredibly remote corridor of the route, he stopped at a cabin in the small mountain community of Shady, 628 miles into the route. After sAfter more than six hours, he was back on the bike around 3 a.m. as he approached the route’s four tallest and longest mountain link-ups.
Aligning with his overall approach to this year’s race, he made time for a few rich cultural experiences along the way, in this case opting for not one but two of Steve’s almost-famous pancakes at the Rich Mountain Country before the 140-mile push over Poteau Mountain, Petit Jean Blue Mountain, and Mount Magazine. Rolling into the New Blaine General store just before close, he scored an ice cream and tea before cruising the flatter paved miles into Russellville. Arriving in town later than expected, he opted for a Burger King dinner and a room in the hotel next door. He lay down around 10 p.m., but this alarm came shorter than the rest, and he was rolling out of town before midnight. The final 180 miles of the route didn’t come easy, with a few early-morning naps between Pilot Rock Mountain and Oark. At first light, as he passed through the Mulberry River valley, the clock ticked as he pushed up and over White Rock Mountain, the race’s final “checkpoint.”
After keeping the pedals turning through the 30-mile stretch of Razorback Greenway, he rolled down the promenade into Bentonville Square. Surrounded by friends and family, his wife, Laura, led the champagne shower before they fitted him with the shiny ARHC belt buckle. It was an idyllic October afternoon, sprawled out on the lawn, sharing stories with locals and surrounded by food and drinks from the race organizers.
If the “spirit of gravel” is dead, how does it compare to the “spirit of bikepacking”? Despite the sport’s ever-evolving cultural trends, Ted King is doing his part to keep the flame burning, balancing his pace with grace in his recent bid to beat the fastest known time around the Arkansas High Country.
Check out the Arkansas High Country Race 2026 Tracker page to follow along on the live tracking map, watch for ongoing race updates, and tune in for more event coverage. Find it here.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.
