The Pisgah Stage Race has earned a growing reputation for having some of the best MTB trails in the USA, and this five-day, fully supported mountain bike endurance event delivers an unmatched sampler platter of some of the best singletrack in the country. The stage race course includes the Eastern United States’ most rugged trails. Come sample spring MTB riding in Pisgah National Forest with rhododendron tunnels, picturesque creek crossings, incredible leaf colors, and rooty, rocky singletrack. After spending a week in Brevard getting to know and appreciate the bounty of Pisgah National Forest, you won’t want to leave. This is a Mountain Bikers paradise!
Pisgah Stage Race – 14th Annual
April 10-15, 2023 – Brevard, North Carolina
Pisgah National Forest, NC
5 days, 140 miles, 20,000+ ft of elevation gain
76% Singletrack – 19% Dirt Rd – 5% Asphalt
5 Stellar MTB Routes in Pisgah National Forest
APRIL 10-15 2023 – BREVARD, NORTH CAROLINA
Pisgah National Forest is well known for its rooty, rocky, often slick terrain (due to the heavy rainfall in a temperate rainforest) and boasts over 400 miles of singletrack and ‘half’ track MTB trails. This backcountry MTB stage race puts internationally ranked professional mountain bike racers alongside avid community riders at the start line and finds them swapping stories at the finish line.
For 2023, all of Blue Ridge Adventures’ races help support the Bread of Life.
What You Get with your stage race entry:
- Five well marked courses.
- Instant chip timed results.
- Enduro Segment each day.
- Daily Leader’s Jersey for ALL Categories
- Rest Stops along the course each day are fully stocked with plenty of cold water, energy drink, PB & J, chips, soda, fresh fruit and Advil. Medical and mechanical assistance will also be available.
- Drop System to shuttle anything you want to the rest stops.
- Recovery Zone with fresh fruit & snacks, a relaxing lounge area to chill after each stage.
- Bike Wash Available at Sycamore Cycles and the Sunset Motel.
- Mechanic Assistance provided by Sycamore Cycles each day at rest stops.
- Medical Assistance –There will be course marshals at almost every turn to assist you with medical issues. We have coordinated with local EMS on each day’s course and time frames we are on the trail segments in the event of an extreme emergency.
- Quick Breakfast – Scones and coffee provided by Crank Coffee each morning.
- 6 Dinners – Locally sourced, farm-to-table meal. Click here for the Pisgah Stage Race menu.
- Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free options available.
- All meals include beer, soda, and water
- Finisher’s T-shirt – cool, unique MTB t-shirt to all finishers.
- Custom Crafted Prizes – Awarded to top three in each category. $750, $500, $250 to top three overall men and women for the cross country. $150, $130, $120 to the top 3 overall men and women for the Enduro.
- Starlight Apparel Pisgah Stage Race Jersey is included for all participants preregistered by midnight March 12th, 2023 – Starlight Sizing Chart
The Official Mechanic of the Pisgah Stage Race
Not only is Sycamore Cycles the official mechanic and a premier sponsor of the Pisgah Stage Race, they’re also past competitors and category winners. These guys are serious MTB racers who train on Pisgah’s trails at least 5 days a week, so they know what it takes to make your bike ready day after day.
How it works:
Drop off your clean MTB at the Sycamore Cycles tent. Our mechanic will go over any problems you have and give an estimate for the repair. They will then transport your bike to their shop to perform the specified repairs. The following morning, your MTB will be waiting for you at the start no later than 8am.
This service is limited to 35 riders per stage. By signing up early Sycamore Cycles will commit to having parts in stock to fix your bike. Of course they can’t have every part for every bike but they will have parts to fix common issues on your bike. Early sign up is highly recommended. To pre-register for mechanic service, please fill out the Bike Information Form and return it to Sycamore Cycles at [email protected]
Shipping Your Bike?
If you are interested in shipping your bike to NC, please contact Sycamore Cycles at [email protected] to discuss shipping options and fees.
RACE INSURANCE-
$50.00 gets you a 7 day window prior to the race to get a 100% refund. This ONLY applies to personal medical emergencies or pandemics. You must supply a doctors note in the case of a personal situation.
DAILY MASSAGE
Our highly trained therapists are available after the race to help you unwind and relax as well as get you back to peak performance.
With many years of accumulated experience we are able to offer numerous styles of therapy to help suit your specific needs.
Post race massage plays an important role in supporting a rider to perform at their best:
- Speeds the recovery process
- Relaxes muscle tissue
- Improves circulation
- Calms the nervous system
- Eases cramping
- Reduces and helps prevent pain and injury
We offer daily post race massage:
- 15 minute massages for $30
- 30 minute massages for $60
Please contact Randi Nelle at [email protected] with any questions regarding massages.
TRAINING PLAN FOR PISGAH
The Blue Ridge Adventures team will help you prepare for Pisgah, one of the most exciting mountain bike stage races in North America!
Follow along with our Pisgah training plan to help build your ability to climb and manage your efforts over the course of the stage race.
We are excited to release our 3 month training plan for the 2022 Pisgah Stage Race!
One our our local heroes is heading out the program this year. Legend Tristan Cowie has won this race a few times and has been a coach for years. It’s an honor to have him help guide our riders to success. Check out the info and sign up here.
FACTS & RULES:
- Check in: 12:00pm to 6:00pm on Sunday, April 9th , 2023 (please contact us for a different check in time)
- Check out: noon on Sunday, April 16th
- Quiet hours – 10:00pm to 7:00am
- No smoking
- No pets
ON-SITE ACCOMMODATIONS
All of our on-site rentals include:
- Linens and towels provided
- Parking at the cabin
- Daily trash and towel service
- No disturbances from telephones, TV, or internet; Wi-Fi available at various campus locations
Single room in Cabin Room Weekly Rental $600.00
Our cabins – tucked away in some of the most serene, peaceful locations on our 181-acre campus – offer affordable, modest lodging options for riders to be able to stay walking distance from the race.
Each cabin has a shared, screened-in, furnished porch that leads to private, secured guest rooms, complete with private bathroom. Bedrooms include one queen sized bed. These cozy cabins are tucked into the hills of our rustic campus and are sure to provide a social and restful retreat for your Pisgah Stage Race MTB week.
- screened-in porch ( shared)
- One full bathroom per bedroom
- Add a roll-away twin bed for $75
- Microwave on porch (shared)
- Mini-refrigerator on porch (shared)
- Quiet hours – 10:00pm to 7:00am
- If you are traveling solo, we will appoint you a MTB cabinmate to fill the other separate room of the cabin.
- This price is for one room of the two bedroom cabin
DAY ZERO
Monday, April 10, 2023
Brevard, North Carolina
Opening ceremony
- 5:30 – 7:30 PM – Packet Pickup at Brevard Music Center
- 5:50 – 7:30 PM – Opening Ceremony Dinner
- 6:00 PM – Welcome to Riders – Course Overview with details
- 6:30 – 7:30 PM – Social Hour

DAY ONE
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Squirt’s Looking Glass Loop
- 7:15-8:15 AM – Racer Sign-In at Black Mountain Trail
- 8:15 AM – Rest Stop Shuttle Items Must be at Designated Area
- 9:00 AM – Stage 1 MTB race start at Railroad Depot
- There will be a controlled 5 mile ride from the Black Mountain Trailhead at 8:15 AM
- 11 AM – 3 PM – Recovery Zone Open with Massage Available
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM – Brevard Music Center
- Daily Awards Ceremony
- Dinner with Stage 1 Video
- Stage 2 Discussion & Helpful Facts

DAY TWO
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Sunset Motel’s Promised Land Loop
- 8:00-9:00 AM – Racer Sign-In at Black Mountain Trailhead
- 9:00 AM – Rest Stop Shuttle Items Must be at Designated Area
- 9:00 AM – Stage 2 MTB race start at Black Mountain Trailhead
- 11 AM – 3 PM – Recovery Zone Open with Massage Available
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM – Brevard Music Center
- Daily Awards Ceremony
- Dinner with Stage 2 Video
- Stage 3 Discussion & Helpful Facts

DAY THREE
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Sycamore Cycles’ White Squirrel Loop
- 8:00-9:00 AM – Racer Sign-In at Black Mountain Trailhead
- 9:00 AM – Rest Stop Shuttle Items Must be at Designated Area
- 9:00 AM – Stage 3 MTB race start at Black Mountain Trailhead
- 11 AM – 3 PM- Recovery Zone Open with Massage Available
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM – Brevard Music Center
- Daily Awards Ceremony
- Dinner with Stage 3 Video
- Stage 4 Discussion & Helpful Facts

DAY FOUR
Friday, April 14, 2023
FOX Factory’s Carl Schenck Loop
- 8:00-9:00 AM – Racer Sign-In
at Cradle of Forestry Discovery Center - 9:00 AM – Rest Stop Shuttle Items Must be at Designated Area
- 9:00 AM – Stage 4 MTB race start at Cradle of Forestry Discovery Center
- 11 AM – 3 PM – Recovery Zone Open with Massage Available
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM – Brevard Music Center
- Daily Awards Ceremony
- Dinner with Stage 4 Video
- Stage 5 Discussion & Helpful Facts

DAY FIVE
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Industry Nine’s The Land of Waterfalls Loop
- 7:00-8:00 AM – Racer Sign-In at Brevard Music Center
- 8:15 AM – Rest Stop Shuttle Items Must be at Designated Area
- 8:15 AM – Riders Depart for Remote Start
- 9:00 AM – Stage 5 MTB race start at Selica Methodist Church
- 3:00-4:00 PM – Brevard Music Center
- Closing Awards Ceremony Dinner
- 3:00 PM – Rest Stop Shuttle Items Return
to Brevard Music Center
Awards Banquet & Auction at The Brevard Music Center
- 2:00-4:00pm – Food served
- 2:00-4:30 Auction with items from local merchants
- 3:30-4:30pm – Pisgah Stage Race Awards

- 2023 Pisgah Stage Race – Overall Results
- 2022 Pisgah Stage Race – Overall Results
- 2019 Pisgah Stage Race – Overall Results
- 2018 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2017 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2016 Pisgah Stage Race: Overall Results
- 2015 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2014 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2013 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2012 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2011 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2010 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results
- 2009 Pisgah Stage Race Overall Results