The Chequamegon 40 2026 is 40 miles of rolling Northwoods singletrack and ski trail from Hayward to Cable, Wisconsin, one of the oldest and largest mass start mountain bike races in the country. Here's your course breakdown and Best Bike Split race plan for race day.
If you're lining up for the Chequamegon 40 in 2026, you're joining a race that predates almost every other mountain bike event in America. This isn't a race built around one brutal climb or a single defining feature. It's 40 miles of grassy ski trail, rooty singletrack, forest doubletrack, and one nasty stair step climb near the end that has humbled fitter riders than you. The course rewards fitness and pacing discipline over raw technical skill, which makes it a deceptively easy race to get wrong.
Chequamegon 40 History & 2026 Race Details
The Chequamegon 40 was founded in 1983 by a group of Telemark and Lakewoods Resort employees who wanted a way to draw riders to the Birkebeiner ski trail after the snow melted. The first edition drew 27 riders. By 1989 it was pulling close to 1,000, and organizers capped the field in the early 1990s to protect the trail system that CAMBA, the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association, now maintains. Entry has run on a lottery since 1999. Over the decades the race has drawn Tour de France champion Greg LeMond and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame riders like Ned Overend, and longtime race director Gary Crandall was inducted into the Hall of Fame himself in 2003.
For 2026, the race runs as part of the Life Time Grand Prix, serving as race four of six in the series. An elite field of 25 men and 25 women, selected by Grand Prix points and results from other major races, will be racing for series points and prize money on the same course as thousands of age group and citizen riders. Everyone starts together in a single mass start on the streets of downtown Hayward, which means the opening miles are as much about positioning as fitness.
Chequamegon 40 Course Map & Elevation Breakdown
The race starts on pavement in downtown Hayward before turning onto the Birkebeiner Trail, the same grassy ski trail used every winter for the American Birkebeiner. The trail narrows quickly, and the first few miles include some of the steepest pitches on the entire course, short punchy climbs that can hit close to 18 percent grade right as the field is still sorting itself out from the mass start. Riders who get caught behind a bottleneck here can lose real time before the race has even settled into a rhythm.
Once through the opening singletrack, the course opens into long stretches of rolling doubletrack and grassy ski trail through the Chequamegon National Forest. This is where the race is actually won and lost. The terrain rarely looks hard on paper, mostly flat to gently rolling with no sustained climbs, but the cumulative effect of 40 miles of short rises and rooty, bridge crossed singletrack adds up in a way that surprises first timers. Roughly two thirds of the course is flat to rolling, and holding a steady, honest tempo through these miles is what separates a good result from a bad one.
Around mile 26, the course hits Seeley Fire Tower Road, a stair step series of four or five short, steep, rocky pitches stacked one after another. Most riders end up walking at least part of this section, and even strong climbers often lose their rhythm here after 25 miles of flat riding has lulled them into a different gear. The cruelest twist comes right after: the trail drops fast into a descent that feels like the climbing is finally over, only to send riders right back up nearly all the elevation they just gave away before the course finally turns toward the finish. From there it's a rolling run into Cable, finishing at the Derksen Family Great Hall.
Hayward, WI Weather Forecast for Race Day
Mid to late September in Hayward runs cool and variable. Daytime highs typically sit in the low to mid 60s, with morning temperatures at the 10 a.m. start closer to the 40s and low 50s. That means the grassy sections of the Birkie Trail and the wooden bridge crossings in the singletrack can be damp and greasy early in the race, even without recent rain. Roughly three days in ten in this window bring some rain, and a light breeze out of the south, typically 7 to 8 mph, is common. The Northwoods are usually turning color by mid September, which makes for a beautiful race and a reminder that conditions underfoot can change fast if the weather turns.
How to Pace the Chequamegon 40: BBS Race Plan Strategy
The Chequamegon 40 is often described as a fitness and speed race rather than a technical one, and that's exactly why pacing matters so much here. There's no single climb to save yourself for and no altitude to account for. The danger is death by a thousand small decisions across 40 miles of terrain that never looks hard enough to justify holding back. A BBS race plan for the Chequamegon 40 2026 will:
- Set your target for the flat and rolling majority of the course. With roughly two thirds of the race on flat to gently rolling grass and doubletrack, the biggest pacing mistake most riders make isn't blowing up on a climb, it's grinding out watts they don't need to on terrain that feels easy and paying for it later.
- Give the opening singletrack its own number. The steepest grades on the course show up in the first few miles, right as the mass start field is still sorting itself out. A segment level target keeps you from matching someone else's surge just because you're stuck behind them.
- Set a realistic ceiling for Fire Tower Road. The stair step climbs at mile 26 come after 25 miles of flat riding that can lull you out of climbing mode. Knowing your sustainable number for that section ahead of time keeps you from redlining into a section that punishes anyone who arrives without reserves.
- Account for the false descent. The drop after Fire Tower Road feels like the hard part is over, right before the trail sends you back up nearly everything you just lost. A plan that anticipates this climb keeps you from coasting into it depleted.
Interactive Race Plan and Course Map
This power plan was modeled for an athlete with an average CdA of 0.4116, an FTP of 250 watts and weighing 165 lbs. Want to see what your time would be on the 2026 Chequamegon 40 course? Try the Time Analysis feature below, where you can quickly adjust Drag, Power, Weight and Crr to your own values. Check out our demo race plan to see what a premium race plan looks like.
| Interval | Int. Time | Total Time | Int. Dist. | Total Dist. | Grade | Speed | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 00:11:17 | 00:11:17 | 2.74 mi | 2.74 mi | +0.55 % | 14.56 mph | 127 w |
| #2 | 00:00:18 | 00:11:35 | 0.07 mi | 2.81 mi | -5.48 % | 14.17 mph | 0 w |
| #3 | 00:03:18 | 00:14:53 | 0.56 mi | 3.37 mi | +4.36 % | 10.20 mph | 241 w |
| #4 | 00:00:52 | 00:15:46 | 0.28 mi | 3.65 mi | -4.89 % | 18.93 mph | 0 w |
| #5 | 00:00:54 | 00:16:40 | 0.16 mi | 3.81 mi | +4.49 % | 10.71 mph | 265 w |
| #6 | 00:00:39 | 00:17:19 | 0.15 mi | 3.96 mi | -4.01 % | 14.06 mph | 0 w |
| #7 | 00:02:40 | 00:20:00 | 0.46 mi | 4.42 mi | +4.05 % | 10.35 mph | 252 w |
| #8 | 00:01:10 | 00:21:11 | 0.44 mi | 4.86 mi | -4.89 % | 22.55 mph | 0 w |
| #9 | 00:01:13 | 00:22:24 | 0.25 mi | 5.11 mi | +0.66 % | 12.28 mph | 168 w |
| #10 | 00:01:04 | 00:23:28 | 0.15 mi | 5.26 mi | +7.25 % | 8.18 mph | 285 w |
| #11 | 00:01:03 | 00:24:32 | 0.27 mi | 5.53 mi | -4.31 % | 15.57 mph | 0 w |
| #12 | 00:09:30 | 00:34:02 | 1.99 mi | 7.52 mi | +1.73 % | 12.57 mph | 205 w |
| #13 | 00:12:32 | 00:46:34 | 2.83 mi | 10.35 mi | +0.83 % | 13.53 mph | 180 w |
| #14 | 00:01:09 | 00:47:44 | 0.30 mi | 10.65 mi | -3.56 % | 15.27 mph | 1 w |
| #15 | 00:01:14 | 00:48:58 | 0.25 mi | 10.90 mi | +2.83 % | 11.97 mph | 242 w |
| #16 | 00:04:49 | 00:53:47 | 1.00 mi | 11.90 mi | +1.21 % | 12.51 mph | 180 w |
| #17 | 00:00:35 | 00:54:23 | 0.19 mi | 12.09 mi | -6.82 % | 19.63 mph | 0 w |
| #18 | 00:27:07 | 01:21:30 | 6.16 mi | 18.25 mi | +0.42 % | 13.64 mph | 175 w |
| #19 | 00:09:21 | 01:30:51 | 2.08 mi | 20.33 mi | +1.27 % | 13.36 mph | 190 w |
| #20 | 00:01:44 | 01:32:35 | 0.58 mi | 20.91 mi | -4.25 % | 20.03 mph | 86 w |
| #21 | 00:06:39 | 01:39:15 | 1.34 mi | 22.25 mi | +2.12 % | 12.04 mph | 207 w |
| #22 | 00:16:00 | 01:55:16 | 3.01 mi | 25.26 mi | +3.17 % | 11.29 mph | 199 w |
| #23 | 00:08:58 | 02:04:15 | 2.45 mi | 27.71 mi | -1.70 % | 16.40 mph | 84 w |
| #24 | 00:00:32 | 02:04:47 | 0.19 mi | 27.90 mi | -5.67 % | 20.64 mph | 0 w |
| #25 | 00:00:40 | 02:05:27 | 0.12 mi | 28.02 mi | +7.01 % | 11.00 mph | 290 w |
| #26 | 00:00:44 | 02:06:12 | 0.21 mi | 28.23 mi | -5.14 % | 17.10 mph | 28 w |
| #27 | 00:03:46 | 02:09:59 | 0.60 mi | 28.83 mi | +5.40 % | 9.49 mph | 273 w |
| #28 | 00:00:40 | 02:10:39 | 0.14 mi | 28.97 mi | -3.97 % | 12.64 mph | 1 w |
| #29 | 00:03:52 | 02:14:32 | 0.72 mi | 29.69 mi | +2.87 % | 11.13 mph | 238 w |
| #30 | 00:02:45 | 02:17:17 | 0.60 mi | 30.29 mi | -0.45 % | 13.15 mph | 118 w |
| #31 | 00:04:13 | 02:21:31 | 0.92 mi | 31.21 mi | -0.36 % | 13.08 mph | 131 w |
| #32 | 00:01:10 | 02:22:42 | 0.32 mi | 31.53 mi | -4.25 % | 16.35 mph | 0 w |
| #33 | 00:15:17 | 02:37:59 | 3.72 mi | 35.25 mi | -0.21 % | 14.60 mph | 147 w |
| #34 | 00:07:41 | 02:45:40 | 1.67 mi | 36.92 mi | +1.79 % | 13.06 mph | 197 w |
| #35 | 00:00:09 | 02:45:49 | 0.06 mi | 36.98 mi | -11.91 % | 21.70 mph | 0 w |
| #36 | 00:02:25 | 02:48:14 | 0.48 mi | 37.46 mi | +3.75 % | 11.87 mph | 258 w |
| #37 | 00:02:46 | 02:51:01 | 0.75 mi | 38.21 mi | -2.29 % | 16.30 mph | 91 w |
| #38 | 00:02:10 | 02:53:12 | 0.63 mi | 38.84 mi | -0.76 % | 17.44 mph | 146 w |
| #39 | 00:01:40 | 02:54:52 | 0.55 mi | 39.39 mi | -4.05 % | 19.71 mph | 3 w |
| #40 | 00:01:11 | 02:56:04 | 0.21 mi | 39.60 mi | +4.25 % | 10.39 mph | 255 w |
| #41 | 00:01:01 | 02:57:05 | 0.25 mi | 39.85 mi | -4.06 % | 14.39 mph | 1 w |
| #42 | 00:02:56 | 03:00:02 | 0.55 mi | 40.40 mi | +2.99 % | 11.19 mph | 241 w |
| #43 | 00:01:18 | 03:01:20 | 0.30 mi | 40.70 mi | -3.33 % | 13.74 mph | 48 w |
| #44 | 00:03:56 | 03:05:16 | 0.91 mi | 41.61 mi | -0.71 % | 13.81 mph | 141 w |
| Totals/Avg | 03:05:16 | 03:05:16 | 41.63 mi | 41.63 mi | -0.55% | 13.48 mph | 165.54 w |
Climb Summary by Category
| Category | Climb Count | Total Time | Total Dist. | Avg. Time | Avg. Dist. | Avg. Grade | Avg. Speed | Avg. Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat4 | 19 | 00:37:44 | 6.10 mi | 00:01:59 | 0.32 mi | 4.87 % | 9.96 mph | 265 w |
| All Cats | 19 | 00:37:44 | 6.10 mi | 00:01:59 | 0.32 mi | 4.87 % | 9.96 mph | 265 w |
| Climb | Start Time | Start Dist. | Duration | Distance | Speed | Power | Grade | Elevation Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 00:11:35 | 2.81 mi | 00:02:03 | 0.29 mi | 8.47 mph | 281 w | 6.61 % | 101 ft | Cat4 |
| #2 | 00:15:46 | 3.65 mi | 00:00:54 | 0.16 mi | 10.71 mph | 265 w | 4.47 % | 38 ft | Cat4 |
| #3 | 00:17:19 | 3.96 mi | 00:02:40 | 0.46 mi | 10.35 mph | 248 w | 3.76 % | 92 ft | Cat4 |
| #4 | 00:24:32 | 5.54 mi | 00:01:47 | 0.35 mi | 11.58 mph | 251 w | 3.05 % | 56 ft | Cat4 |
| #5 | 00:27:13 | 6.09 mi | 00:02:11 | 0.32 mi | 8.66 mph | 247 w | 5.89 % | 98 ft | Cat4 |
| #6 | 00:37:46 | 8.52 mi | 00:01:18 | 0.19 mi | 8.52 mph | 277 w | 6.34 % | 62 ft | Cat4 |
| #7 | 00:45:32 | 10.18 mi | 00:01:02 | 0.18 mi | 10.21 mph | 269 w | 4.59 % | 43 ft | Cat4 |
| #8 | 01:14:59 | 16.70 mi | 00:01:52 | 0.35 mi | 11.08 mph | 249 w | 3.22 % | 59 ft | Cat4 |
| #9 | 01:26:11 | 19.36 mi | 00:01:58 | 0.33 mi | 9.98 mph | 264 w | 4.35 % | 75 ft | Cat4 |
| #10 | 01:32:35 | 20.92 mi | 00:01:47 | 0.33 mi | 10.96 mph | 277 w | 5.13 % | 89 ft | Cat4 |
| #11 | 01:36:55 | 21.82 mi | 00:01:34 | 0.27 mi | 10.10 mph | 246 w | 3.51 % | 49 ft | Cat4 |
| #12 | 01:51:27 | 24.91 mi | 00:03:48 | 0.37 mi | 5.78 mph | 295 w | 10.86 % | 211 ft | Cat4 |
| #13 | 02:06:12 | 28.25 mi | 00:03:46 | 0.60 mi | 9.49 mph | 272 w | 5.40 % | 171 ft | Cat4 |
| #14 | 02:12:07 | 29.30 mi | 00:02:25 | 0.41 mi | 10.15 mph | 255 w | 3.94 % | 85 ft | Cat4 |
| #15 | 02:34:12 | 34.40 mi | 00:01:19 | 0.25 mi | 11.28 mph | 268 w | 4.00 % | 52 ft | Cat4 |
| #16 | 02:37:59 | 35.28 mi | 00:01:47 | 0.28 mi | 9.52 mph | 282 w | 6.00 % | 90 ft | Cat4 |
| #17 | 02:45:49 | 37.00 mi | 00:02:25 | 0.48 mi | 11.87 mph | 257 w | 3.58 % | 91 ft | Cat4 |
| #18 | 02:54:52 | 39.42 mi | 00:01:11 | 0.21 mi | 10.39 mph | 266 w | 4.02 % | 44 ft | Cat4 |
| #19 | 02:58:14 | 40.12 mi | 00:01:47 | 0.30 mi | 10.08 mph | 263 w | 3.84 % | 61 ft | Cat4 |
Build your own personalized 2026 Chequamegon 40 power plan today! Sign up for a free Athlete Basic account to get started with your athlete profile and bike setup, then grab the 2026 Chequamegon 40 course to model your own race plan.
2026 Chequamegon 40 FAQs
Your target power depends on your FTP, body weight, bike setup, and finish time goal — not a generic number that applies to every rider. The variables that matter most are your current fitness, your aerodynamic position, and the specific demands of the 2026 Chequamegon 40 course. The best approach is to build a personalized plan in Best Bike Split using your actual athlete profile — you'll get a segment-by-segment power target based on your specific inputs rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Every course is different and requires its own unique pacing plan. On a multi-loop course, fatigue and wind shift between laps and what felt comfortable early can become unsustainable later. On an out-and-back, headwind in one direction becomes tailwind in the other — an asymmetry a flat power target can't account for. On a point-to-point or single-loop course, you only get one pass at every section with no opportunity to recalibrate. When you create a Best Bike Split race plan for 2026 Chequamegon 40, we model the specific demands of that course so your pacing strategy reflects the race you're actually doing.
Significantly — and the effect varies depending on the course profile. On flatter courses, wind and aerodynamics become the dominant variables in your speed equation, more so than on courses where gradient naturally dictates effort. On climbing-heavy courses, your power-to-weight ratio and how you manage the descents matter most. A Best Bike Split race plan lets you model the specific conditions forecasted for 2026 Chequamegon 40, so your targets reflect what you'll actually face on race day rather than what the course looks like on paper.
It depends on the course and how well you pace it. Flat, fast courses offer genuine PR potential but only if you execute correctly — without terrain to naturally regulate your effort, going out too hard early is easy and costly. Technical or hilly courses reward smart segment-by-segment pacing over raw fitness. Either way, a physics-based race plan from Best Bike Split gives you a realistic split prediction based on your actual profile so you know before race day what a well-executed bike leg looks like for you specifically.
Yes — and this is one of the most underused features. Once you've built your 2026 Chequamegon 40 race plan, you can export it directly to Zwift, TrainerRoad, or any ERG-mode trainer for indoor sessions, or push it to your Garmin, Wahoo, or Karoo for outdoor rides. Training on your actual race plan means you arrive at 2026 Chequamegon 40 already knowing what your target effort feels like at every section of the course — not just what the number says on paper.
