LET'S RIDE!

AN EPIC ALL-WOMEN+ GRAVEL RACE IN THE
MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MONTANA

JUNE 6th, 2026
OVANDO,MONTANA

REGISTRATION opens 8:00 AM Jan 12, 2026

The Bandita in us

...PUSHES LIMITS AND BREAKS BOUNDARIES!

The Dusty Bandita is more than a women+ gravel bike race— it’s a bold claim on space in a male-dominated sport, daring women+ (when we say women, that word always includes trans women) to go beyond their limits with a smirk of determination and a whole lot of grit. Together we dig deep, crush brutal climbs, and rip the inside line, all while soaking up that crisp Montana air and leaving our cares (and maybe a few competitors) in the dust. Whether you’re racing to win or adventuring for the thrill, it’s about freedom, confidence, and growing the movement of women+ cyclists locally and beyond. See you at the starting line!

Bandita's Backstory & Inclusivity Statement

illustrated by the talented
Sierra Nizhonii Pete

COURSE OPTIONS

45-ish miles

~2500' of climbing

85-ish miles

~6,500' of climbinG

*85 Mile Course Map subject to minor changes!

*courses are subject to change pending snowpack and weather conditions:

REGISTRATION INCLUDES

Race Entry

Race packet/goodies from sponsors

Post-race food and beverage for the racer only

Raffle tickets for amazing post-race raffle prizes

Finishers bandana

Podiums for top 5 in each distance, top 3 non-binary, top 3 age cat’s 40+, 50+, 60+, top 3 para cycling

Prize Purse: Gravel is still a young sport, and the athletes who make a living racing it don't always receive the financial backing they deserve. And, we all know that women face steeper challenges in professional cycling.That's why, in 2026, we are introducing a prize purse.

85-mile: $1000 1st/ 500 2nd/ 250 3rd overall
45-mile: $250 1st/ 100 2nd/ 50 3rd overall

Time Prize: If you complete the long course in under 5 hours and 30 minutes, you will receive a custom Bandana slide from VT Clayworks

Bandita status and being surrounded by fellow Bandita's!

USAC Permit #2025-10417 (2025)

PSST....REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 12, 2026!

CLOSES WHEN IT SELLS OUT (THEY GO QUICK!)

The Location

Ovando perfectly embodies the beauty of western Montana, with its sweeping vistas of rugged mountains, lush valleys, and the iconic Blackfoot River winding through unspoiled landscapes that stretch endlessly under a vast, open sky.

This is rural Montana's beauty and tranquility at it’s finest. A short picturesque drive from the bustling college town of Missoula, MT - Ovando offers a handful of quaint shops and restaurants that leave you feeling like you’re on a set for a western film.

As lodging is limited in the immediate town of Ovando, you could travel alongside local riders on HWY 200 from Missoula. If you’d prefer to be close to the start, there is limited lodging available as well as camping nearby - but be BEAR AWARE!

🐻 BEAR SAFETY!

47° 1' 13" N
113° 7' 59" W

EXPLORE
THE AREA

This area doesn’t make the “best of” lists for no reason. Come before or stay after and explore what makes this place so special!

Ovando, MT, a small town with a population of about 50, is a popular stop for cyclists riding the Great Divide and Tour Divide routes.
Originally inhabited by the Kootenai, Salish, Pend d'Oreilles, and Crow tribes—followed by the Shoshone, Gros Ventre, and Nez Perce—the town was officially established in the 1870s and 1880s. Early settlers included families like the Gearys, McNallys, and Jacobsen's, as well as Ovando Hoyt, the town's namesake.
By 1883, before Montana achieved statehood in 1889, Ovando was home to over 1,000 residents and served as a bustling distribution hub for a 75-mile radius, anticipating the arrival of the Blackfoot Railroad. However, after a devastating fire in 1919 and the railroad's failure to materialize, the town's population declined.
Today, a few historic buildings remain on Main Street and Town Plaza, including the Community Church, Blackfoot Commercial Company, the Blackfoot Angler & Supplies, and Ovando Hoyt's original home by Hoyt Creek.
Excerpts from: https://ovandomontana.net/history.html
The Missoula area was first inhabited by the Salish tribe. The Lewis and Clark expedition passed through in 1801, but it wasn’t until 1860 that C.P. Higgins and Francis Worden opened a trading post, followed by a sawmill and flourmill. Fort Missoula was established in 1877 (later a WWII Internment Center), and the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1883, transforming Missoula into a major trading hub. The iconic Missoula Mercantile, founded in the 1880s, thrived until 1920 and now houses a Radisson hotel showcasing pieces of its history.
Missoula is home to the University of Montana (founded in 1895) and became the base for Forest Service Smokejumper training in 1942. Surrounded by seven wilderness areas and three rivers, the town offers endless outdoor adventures like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and surfing Brennan’s Wave.
Missoula is also home to The Dusty Bandita crew and MT Alpha Cycling. Avid cyclists, skiers, trail runners, and explorers, we can’t wait to share our favorite parts of this vibrant, active community!
THINGS TO DO IN MISSOULA!
Seeley Lake, located an hour northeast of Missoula, Montana, was historically traveled and inhabited by the Kootenai Salish, Pend d’Orielle, Blackfeet, Crow, Shoshone, Gros Ventre, and Nez Perce tribes. The town is named after Jasper B. Seely, the first ranger of the Lewis and Clark Forest Reserve and a homesteader who settled in 1881. The first road to Seeley Lake wasn’t built until 1895. Nestled between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountain Wilderness areas, Seeley Lake spans 1,025 acres as part of the Seeley-Swan Chain of Lakes, connected by the Clearwater and Swan Rivers.
Today, Seeley Lake is a vibrant, year-round recreational destination. Visitors enjoy mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and water sports, with activities like a 5.5-mile hike or bike to Morrell Falls and paddleboarding on the lake all in one day. The area also offers fantastic gravel riding but is bear country—don’t forget your bear spray!
The 80-mile route through the area passes through the Rice Ridge Fire burn zone, where over 160,000 acres were scorched in 2017, causing widespread evacuations.
THINGS TO DO IN SEELY LAKE!