XC SATURDAY
SATURDAY | MARCH 13th
SATURDAY’S XC Racing brought to you by ESI GRIPS
These events are Saturday’s XC line up! ESI Grips presents the pinnacle of XC racing offering a 40 mile is a marathon cross country bike race, a 25 mile and an entry-level event – the 10 miler! The loops are 99% singletrack that work their way in and out of washes, up and over small ridges with big cacti everywhere.
40 mile, 25 mile and 10 mile options
ESI Grips are the Original and Ultimate Silicone Grips since 1999! ESI, located in Chino Valley, AZ is family owned and operated just like the Specialized Cactus Cup! All of ESI’s products are proudly made in the USA.
REGISTRATION FEES: (fees will increase throughout the year)
- 10-MILE $
- 25-MILE $
- 40-MILE $
FEE INCLUDES:
- Custom Race Plate
- Comfy cozy T-Shirt
- Custom Specialized water bottle
- Always More swag…
The 40 mile+ category (actually its 43 miles to keep you honest) lap includes nearly all of the Competitive Loops, Pemberton Trail, part of Scenic, Cinch, Escondido, Delsie, Granite, Bluff, Coachwhip, and Dixie Mine. The XC40 mile is a one lap race, featuring desert single track and about 3,000 feet of climbing.
GPX
XC 40 MILE course map – PDF
NOTE: All courses are marked with ribbon and arrows at major intersections.
Black arrows for 40 mile.
Red arrow for 25 mile.
Riders are responsible to know their respective courses.
SINGLE PAGE MAP: 25-MILE AND 40-MILE
XC Map – both courses
GPX – both courses
AID STATIONS:
There will be two aid stations on the 40 Mile (noted on GPX course map).
They will be self-serve with water and Electrolytes product for bottle filling. Volunteers will be onsite to assist.
40 Mile Aid Stations (there are two aid stations, with 3 opportunities for water (…be prepared, this is the desert)
- 6.5 / 36.0 Miles – Alpha – Intersection of Service Road and Long Loop (outbound and inbound)
- 22.3 Miles – Zen – Jackass Junction
A shorter version of the big lap, still 99% desert single track.
GPX
XC 40km course map – PDF
NOTE: All courses are marked with ribbon and arrows at major intersections.
Black arrows for 40 mile.
Red arrow for 25 mile.
Riders are responsible to know their respective courses.
XC Map – both courses
GPX – both courses
AID STATIONS:
There will be one aid station for the 25 mile (noted on GPX course map).
They will be self-serve with water and Neversecond product for bottle filling. Volunteers will be onsite to assist.
25 Mile Aid Station (there is only one aid station, be prepared, this is the desert)
6.5 / 16.6 Miles – Alpha – Service Road and Pemberton intersection (outbound and inbound)
Get ready to dive into the legendary Cactus Cup! If you are a never-ever racer, a budding beginner or just need something shorter than 25 miles, here you go. This 10 mile desert course will have you coming back through the venue at mile 7 for high-fives or hand ups. The race begins west of the finish arch hitting the Sport Loop, connecting to Tech, to Long loop. Following the long loop to the service road. The service road is wide and mostly smooth and winds you back to the venue. You will lap past the finish line for a final 3 mile sport loop then find yourself at the finish line! You will officially be a part of history. See you in March!
START TIME: Noon on Saturday 3/14/26
LOCATION: West end of expo (near packet pick up tent) *this is NOT the same start line as the 40 and 25 mile*
COURSE MARKINGS: 1 Pink, 1 Green
CATEGORIES:
| MEN: 12:00pm start | WOMEN: 12:10p start |
| Junior Men 10 – 12 | Junior Women 10 – 12 |
| Junior Men 13 – 16 | Junior Women 13 – 16 |
| Junior Men 17 – 19 | Junior Women 17 – 19 |
| Men 20 – 39 | Women 20 – 39 |
| Masters Men 40+ | Masters Women 40+ |
| E-bike Open Men/Women | E-bike Open Men/Women |
AID STATIONS:
Aid Station #1: Mile 4: Long Loop and Service Road
Start Times:
- Start lists will be available race week
- Wave starts by age group
- All times are wave start (verified with chip), chip finish
- All riders should be ready within 5 minutes of start time
| Distance | Start Time | Category |
| XC – 40 MILE | 8:00 | Pro Men Open |
| 8:03 | Pro Women Open | |
| GAP GAP GAP | ||
| XC – 40 MILE | 8:09 | Men 30-39 |
| 8:12 | Men 40-49 (top 30 from 2025 40m XC) | |
| 8:15 | Men 40-49 | |
| 8:18 | Jr Men 16-18 | |
| 8:21 | Jr Men 13-15 | |
| 8:24 | Men 19-29 | |
| 8:27 | Single Speed Open Men | |
| 8:30 | Men 50-59 (top 30 from 2025 40m XC) | |
| 8:33 | Men 50-59 | |
| 8:36 | Men 60-69 Men 70+ |
|
| 8:39 | Jr Women 13-15 Jr Women 16-18 Single Speed Open Women Women 19-29 Women 30-39 |
|
| 8:42 | Women 40-49 Women 50-59 Women 60-69 Women 70+ |
|
| Distance | Start Time | Category |
| XC – 25 mile | 9:25 | E-Bike Open Men E-Bike Open Women |
| 9:27 | Men 40-49 | |
| 9:30 | Men 50-59 (top 30 from 2025 25m XC – if needed) | |
| 9:33 | Men 50-59 (if needed) | |
| 9:36 | Jr Men 16-18 Jr Men 13-15 |
|
| 9:39 | Jr Men 9-12 Jr Women 9-12 |
|
| 9:42 | Men 30-39 Men 19-29 Single Speed Open Men |
|
| 9:45 | Men 60-69 Men 70+ |
|
| 9:48 | Jr Women 13-15 Jr Women 16-18 |
|
| 9:51 | Single Speed Open Women Women 30-39 Women 19-29 Women 40-49 Women 50-59 Women 60-69 Women 70+ |
CUTOFF TIMES
It is expected that all courses will be clear after 5.5hrs of the last start time, this is historically in line with the last finisher – this is for safety and staffing. That means if our patrollers determine the final riders will not make this cut off time they will direct you to the shortest route back to the venue, which may be the paved road.
40 Mile Cut Offs (2): All 40 mile riders must stay on pace – this is done for the safety of the rider, as well as our staff and medical teams.
- 10:45am Mile 17 – Pemberton Trail and the 2nd Road Crossing – Riders missing this cutoff will be directed to ride the paved road back to the venue and scored as a “DNF” – Did Not Finish.
- 12:15pm Mile 29 – Pemberton Trail and Coachwhip Intersection – Riders missing this cutofff will be directed to stay on Pemberton and complete the course without Coachwhip / Dixie Mine portion and be scored as a “DNF” – Did Not Finish.
Categories:
| Pro Men Open (40 mile only) | Pro Women Open (40 mile only) |
|---|---|
| Jr Men 9-12 (25 mile only) | Jr Women 9-12 (25 mile only) |
| Jr Men 13-15 | Jr Women 13-15 |
| Jr Men 16-18 | Jr Women 16-18 |
| Men 19-29 | Women 19-29 |
| Men 30-39 | Women 30-39 |
| Men 40-49 | Women 40-49 |
| Men 50-59 | Women 50-59 |
| Men 60-69 | Women 60-69 |
| Men 70+ | Women 70+ |
| Single Speed Open Men | Single Speed Open Women |
| E-Bike (25 mile only) | E-Bike (25 mile only) |
Class 1 eMTB – Saturday’s 25 mile and Sunday’s 20 mile
Class 1 eMTB models only. Pedal assist only. Must be pedaled to activate the motor and cease to provide power above 20mph.
(All ages are based on age as of race day)
PRO AWARDS & LEADER PRESENTATION 12:15pm @ Main Stage
AGE GROUP AWARDS & LEADER PRESENTATION | KIDS ADVANCED BIKE RACE
AWARDS 4:00pm @Main Stage
- Top 3 in each category – XC
- Top 3 in each kid’s age group