The 2027 Whiskey Off-Road Biking Event Has a New Date

Epic Rides announced today that the Whiskey Off-Road will move to the first weekend in May, creating a better experience for participants while positioning the event as the capstone to one of North America’s premier spring off-road racing stretches.

For more than two decades, the Whiskey Off-Road has welcomed riders from around the world to Prescott’s soulful & gritty singletrack trails, historic Whiskey Row, and unmatched off-road cycling community. The new date offers a greater likelihood of stable spring weather and ideal trail conditions while preserving everything riders have come to expect from the event.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the rider experience,” said Todd Sadow, founder of Epic Rides. “The first weekend in May gives us a better opportunity to deliver the kind of weather, trail conditions and overall experience our participants deserve.”

The new date also reflects the continued evolution of professional cycling.

Today’s elite off-road athletes increasingly operate as prize fighters, competing across mountain biking, gravel and road disciplines. Rather than identifying with a single discipline, many now build their seasons around opportunities that maximize competition, prize purses and sponsor value.

The updated Whiskey date complements a spring calendar that begins with the Sea Otter Classic, continues through Levi’s GranFondo’s Growler, and culminates at the Whiskey Off-Road’s iconic Backcountry races.

“The modern professional isn’t simply a mountain biker, gravel racer or road racer anymore,” Sadow said. “The best athletes are incredibly versatile. They may race a gravel bike one weekend, a road bike the next and finish the stretch aboard a mountain bike in Prescott. That’s exciting for the sport, exciting for fans and provides tremendous value for the brands supporting those athletes.”

For industry partners, the progression also highlights the complete cycling ecosystem, from road to gravel to mountain bike, allowing manufacturers to showcase the full range of bicycles, components and equipment that define modern cycling.

While the professional calendar continues to evolve, the Whiskey Off-Road’s community remains unchanged.

Thousands of riders, from first-time racers to seasoned veterans, will continue to experience Prescott’s world-class singletrack, vibrant Whiskey Row atmosphere, the legendary Findlay Subaru Pro Fat Tire Crit, the Orange Seal Bike + Gear expo, Shimano’s Kids’ Fun Ride, Mother Road’s beer gardens, free live music, and one of mountain biking’s most celebrated weekends.

The 22nd Annual Whiskey Off-Road will take place April 30 – May 2, 2027.