New Gravel Series Makes Positive Connections
Cover image: The Holo Gravel Classic-Peder Arneson photo
Kris and Mark Jessee weren’t chasing podiums or building training spreadsheets when they first started kicking up dust on Minnesota’s gravel roads. “We joke that we didn’t find gravel, gravel found us,” Mark said. “We started as cyclists who just loved long days on quiet Minnesota backroads, just following our sense of adventure.” The couple’s trajectory shifted during the COVID pandemic. Events disappeared. Calendars emptied. The community felt scattered. The Jessees found something else too: opportunity.
“The COVID pandemic came, and as we all know, left some holes in the event world. We saw a void and tried to fill it with an event of our own,” said Kris. That event became Gray Duck Grit, a gravel race that had its start on the backroads of Northfield, MN in 2022.
Mark and Kris Jessee-Kris Jessee photo
As they became more involved in gravel riding, one thing became obvious: Minnesota’s gravel calendar was rich, but fragmented. Riders would bounce from one event to another with little connective tissue linking their season together.
The Jessees began imagining something different. “The idea crept in slowly. Every time we’d talk with other event organizers, the same themes came up: shared challenges, shared riders, shared values,” Kris said. After many parking lot conversations and post-race debriefs with other organizers across the state, the idea for a unified gravel racing series began to take shape.
Gravel ‘Sota, as they eventually named it, was designed not to replace independent races, but to connect them. The 2026 inaugural season has 13 registered events so far, and kicks off on May 16 with the Spring Valley 100 in the southeastern corner of the state.
Le Grand Du Nord-Josh Kowaleski photo
“Honestly? It’s all about the people,” Mark said. Minnesota gravel organizers are thoughtful, gritty, and collaborative by nature. Once we began having real conversations, we realized this wasn’t about building an umbrella, it was about building a network. We aren’t trying to ‘own’ gravel. We’re trying to protect it while helping it grow sustainably.”
Hero Gravel Classic-Brian Headlee photo
“Gravel is grassroots, which is beautiful, but grassroots without communication can get messy. We’re trying to create clarity without killing creativity. There’s value when a cyclist knows an event will meet or exceed their perceived expectations when they show up for it,” Kris said.
The WoodTickr-Steven Hausmann photo
“We don’t see it as centralized control. We see it as a collaboration. Gravel’s independence is about spirit, not isolation. You can still have wildly unique events with different terrain, different vibes, and different communities while agreeing on shared values. Think of it less like a governing body and more like a campfire. Everyone brings their own story. We’re just making sure the fire stays lit,” Mark said.
Roswewood Gramble-Glen Kajewski photo
Perhaps the most delicate work lies in their conversations with established race directors. Many of Minnesota’s gravel events have strong identities and loyal followings, and the Jessees approach those conversations carefully.
“First, with humility. Minnesota gravel didn’t start with us. It was built over years by passionate, risk-taking organizers across the state. Any conversation about Gravel ‘Sota starts with honoring that history,” Mark said.
Heck of the North-Josh Kowaleski photo
Kris said they’ll learn how much independence truly matters in the gravel world, and where collaboration needs to happen organically rather than structurally. “We’ll also learn that trying to serve the community is always worth the attempt. Failure, in this case, wouldn’t mean harm. It would mean experimentation. Gravel itself was once an experiment. And frankly, the relationships built during the process would still be a win.”
On the side of the rider, free participation in the series comes with a leaderboard that’s updated during the season as they earn points for miles raced, and a season wrap-up event. However, there will still be entry fees for the individual events.
Gray Duck Grit-Greg Kaiser photo
“If you love Minnesota gravel, this is your season-long home. You’ll still get the unique magic of each individual event: the towns, the volunteers, the wind, the hills. Starting this year, you’ll also get a larger story to be a part of, a community that follows you all season, a shared and unique culture, and the feeling that your registration supports something bigger than a single start line.”
The Holo Gravel Classic-Peder Arneson photo
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About me
I’m Jan, the publisher of Minnesota Trails Magazine. I’m looking for that one trail, the next ride, a new discovery and other reasons to never sit still in Minnesota.