What Happens When the Race Is Canceled? Mid South Showed Us

The 2025 Mid South Gravel threw the unexpected our way this past weekend. I had been preparing for several months, training and designing product, and I was beyond excited to participate in my first Mid South. But when wildfires and severe weather ripped through the area, it was a stark reminder of how fragile everything is. Growing up on the West Coast, wildfires have always been a part of life - now more than ever - but seeing them devastate a place like Stillwater, where they don’t belong or make sense, was truly horrifying. With the race canceled, the focus quickly shifted to the lives affected by the fires and how best we can help.

Through all of this, the athletes, volunteers, and race directors remained strong and resolute. The conversations about climate change, how these events will need to adapt, and the deep sense of loss were hard but necessary. It was a powerful reminder that the bike community, like the land itself, is interconnected, and the race is only a small part of the larger picture.

Despite everything, we still managed to ride bikes, share meals and moments, give long hugs, and shed some tears with fellow cyclists and friends (old and new). Even though the race didn’t go as planned, the sense of community was unwavering, and I’m grateful for those connections. A special thank you to my dad for volunteering to road trip with me after Vanessa had to stay home to care for our ailing senior dog. I couldn’t have made it through the week without you, Papa Floyd.

I love you all so much, and we can’t wait to see what Mid South 2026 has in store.

<3, Jess